Author's Note: I own nothing. I think Azmuth would think Cooper was alright you know for a human.

24 Father Figure

Campouts with the Tennyson's now included Pierce, Ethan and Kevin as well, and as most of them ate more food than was normal for teens their age they also included two grills. One for Grandpa Max and his culinary concoctions. The other was for Pierce who was actually a fantastic chief something the others were all grateful for when they discovered that Max was making squid burgers. But all of them grew worried when Max cried out and fell, taking his grill down with him.

"Grandpa!" Jen vaulted over the picnic table and she and Gwen were at his side in an instant, shooting each other worried looks. No one ever brought it up but he was nearing sixty six, and he wasn't exactly a spring chicken anymore. Pierce abandoned his grill and helped the girls guide Max into a chair but after a moment he was fine. But he had no memory of overturning his grill nor the loss of his squid burgers. Both girls insisted he take it easy as they cleared up the mess and Pierce fried up a few more burgers. Ethan filled a glass with water and went to hand it to Max, but he was muttering something eyes vacant.

"Jen?" Ethan called out and the brunette stepped over to them just as Max jerked slightly and went back to normal again.

"What? Why are you staring? Do I have something on my face?" Jen's frown deepened as she looked over her grandfather.

"It happened again. We should get someone to take a look at you." He shook his head.

"I'm fine. Never felt better." He faltered at the look in every eye. "I probably just need some sleep. If I still feel a little loopy in the morning we'll go see someone ok?" Both girls agreed a bit reluctantly, wishing that he would go now. But all of them were aware of the stubbornness that was Max Tennyson. So they ate their burgers in silence and set up their tents. Max was sleeping in the Rustbucket while the others took the two tents. They'd been on a lookout for further tremors but nothing had happened after the initial earthquake.

The girls disappeared into their tent quickly and Pierce frowned as he sat out on the dirt looking up at the stars. Ethan frowned but didn't say anything. He wasn't sure he liked Pierce. He'd seen the way the spiked teen looked at Jen and it made him nervous. Ethan knew he wasn't as good at the weird alien stuff as Pierce and without a gun he wasn't too much help in their regular fights. Pierce had a natural talent he didn't. He sighed and stepped into the tent the boys were sharing. Kevin sighed and sat down next to Pierce. He stayed quiet though. Eventually the other boy spoke.

"Do you think Max is gonna be ok?" Kevin nodded.

"He's the toughest guy I've ever met." It wasn't a yes or no, but it was what Pierce needed. He nodded still looking up.

"I never knew my dad." The admission was quiet. Kevin nodded.

"I don't really remember my old man." He picked at a steel fingernail with a stone one. "He was the Plumber, one of Max's old partners. Mom used to tell me stories about him but he wasn't really around much when I was a kid, off saving the world. Then he died. Sometimes I think I remember how he laughed but I'm not sure if it was even him." Pierce nodded.

"Yeah." They were quiet for another minute. "Hellen and I have the same mom, different dads." Kevin shrugged.

"I thought that might be the case."

"I sort of remember her dad, but he wasn't around for long. It's funny. Whenever I try to picture my dad all I can think of is Max." Kevin grinned.

"I don't think he minds." Pierce grinned clearly placated. He stood and stretched.

"We should hit the sack huh?" Kevin nodded.

Waking up the next morning the teens found the Rustbucket gone then tracking Max to a weird orb where he was trapped with several other people. It quickly grew into an eighty story monster Highbreed made from foliage. Jen pulled herself to her feet from where she'd been thrown as Humungousaur.

"Nothing we do is stopping that thing." Gwen called out. Jen's eyes narrowed.

"We might not be able to stop it but I think I know someone who can. Keep it busy, slow it down as much as you can. I'll be back." She went Jetray and took off at full speed.

"You know letting us in on the plan couldn't hurt!" Ethan called out after her aiming the cannon he'd retrieved from the Rustbucket at the knees of the thing.

There was no time though, Jen landed at Julie's and whistled. Ship leapt into her arms and Julie stuck her head out the back door.

"Jen, thought you were…"

"No time to explain, need Ship, back soon." With that she took off again sending Julie's hair flying around her face.

"Camping." Julie finished before blowing a strand of hair out of her face and closing her door again.

Jen flew with Ship to her house. She opened the windows and seized the green backpack she'd brought home from her trip with Paradox and Azmuth. She pulled it open tossing aside the outfit on the top. Metal clattered as it hit the floor and she let out a triumphant sound as she grabbed a wrist mounted device. She strapped it on next to the Omnitrix and pulled up the coordinates for the Highbreed home-world. She whistled and Ship leapt onto her shoulders. She tapped the device the way Azmuth had shown her. White light flashed and she and Ship vanished.

Reinrassic III was having a lovely day. He'd received some fantastic news just that morning and affairs of the day were flying by. Then the white light of a teleport beam formed in the center of the audience room.

"Were we expecting further delegates today?" His assistant shook her head.

"Not for several more hours Highbreed Supreme." The room tensed but relaxed as the light formed into a familiar figure in a green jacket.

"JenJen Tennyson! It is lovely to see you, though we had not expected this honor." He bowed and every Highbreed in the room followed suit. She smiled a little awkwardly.

"Reiny, it's good to see you too. But this isn't a social visit. I need your help."