Author's Note: I own nothing.

21 Public

The next day Jen got a phone call. It had been a while since she'd gotten a call like this and was curious how Mrs. Natalie Alverez had gotten her number, apparently one of her classmates was helping to run the Old Bellwood Days festival. He'd given the organizer her number. But she hadn't done a personal appearance in ages, it was probably time to do another. She agreed as she headed into the school building. It was Tuesday and she had a class after all she was a bit annoyed though so when her class ended and the normal lunches began she didn't leave like she normally did. Instead she headed to the cafeteria and found the person she was looking for. Cash and JT were sitting together.

"Hey JT." JT looked up and smiled slightly.

"Hey Jen. What's up?" She leaned closer to the table.

"I would appreciate it if you didn't hand out my phone number anymore. I like to keep my private life just that." JT balked slightly though she never raised her voice. He nodded.

"Sorry, the kids were so excited for you to be at the Bellwood days though." Jen softened slightly.

"That's fine but next time don't hand out my number." JT nodded.

"Will you be there though?" She nodded.

"Yeah I already talked to your boss I'll be there." JT grinned and Cash threw an arm around him.

"See you there Tennyson!" She nodded and waved them off as she left, she was already late for patrol. As soon as she was outside the school she transformed into XCLR8 and took off for the base. Patrol was routine, nothing big, just a mugging in Undertown. After they'd caught the guy Jen broached the topic of the festival with Rook.

"Have you ever been to a festival?" Rook frowned.

"Not an Earth one. We have harvest festivals on Revonnah, in fact the biggest one of the year is coming up soon. I have requested some time off to participate." Jen nodded.

"You'll more than likely get it. We could use a break." Rook nodded. "But I bring it up because this weekend is the Old Bellwood Days Festival. It's a yearly thing to celebrate the founding of Bellwood. I'm going for a public appearance and I was wondering if you wanted to come." Rook nodded.

"It sounds interesting I would be more than happy to accompany you." Jen grinned.

"It's probably nothing like the ones on Revonnah. There are a few small roller coasters, a lot of junk food, some games, last time I went there was a dunk tank. I think they had the mayor in it." She laughed lightly. "And all proceeds go to charity. So you know good cause." Rook nodded.

"That sounds interesting and no nothing like the festival on Revonnah. Ours revolves around Amber Ogia. Many families come together to harvest the Amber Ogia and share in the harvest. There are fireworks, made from the remains of the last years harvest. It is quite beautiful." Jen nodded smiling slightly at her partner.

"It sounds like fun." Rook nodded.

"Perhaps you will be able to accompany me this year." Jen nodded.

"I mean possible universe ending catastrophe not withstanding I think it would be nice." Rook laughed recognizing her humor by now. She joined him after a moment as they ended their patrol at their regular Mr. Smoothie.

In a darkened throne room across the galaxy red eyes peered through dim lights at a holographic image. A low rumbling growl rolled from the large figure sitting on the throne. He leaned forwards, the tentacles that made up his chin twitching slightly.

"Rewind." The image blurred. "Stop. Playback." The image stopped blurring and began again.

'Give up the Omnitrix and I let them live.' Vilgax leaned forward.

"Zoom in on her." A single figure filled the space the large holo viewer took up on the floor. She was only about five feet tall. Brown hair was tousled as she pulled off the watch around her wrist. "Freeze it!" The image stilled. There was a crackle of green energy frozen in time, connecting the Watch and the girl. Vilgax stood from his throne and stalked up to the image leaning down slightly so he could look closer into her eyes. The pupal of her right eye had split, the effect turned her iris into the Omnitrix symbol.

"Resume playback." The effect vanished as quickly as he'd noticed it. He frowned as she went pale the Omnitrix handed over out of the zoomed in image. All the color seemed to drain from her face. He frowned as the holo was interrupted by the arrival of her grandfather who spirited her and her comrades away.

"Fast forward." The image blurred again and he frowned thinking. The Omnitrix hadn't worked properly for him. Oh it had transformed his army as he wished it too but it had not granted them the insight the girl had when she transformed. He frowned deeper.

"Pause." The image stopped again, on the bridge of his ship, the one she'd destroyed. This was a bit further than he'd intended, the original Omnitrix lay on the ground smoking in front of her in a puddle of her blood. The spiked boy was trying to steady her but there was more blood seeping from her nose and the corner of her mouth.

'You're dying Tennyson.' His own voice rang through the room.

'No shit squidface.' He watched again as she took the Ultimatrix from Albeda, her reversed copy. The Galvan turned human was of no consequence to him any longer but Tennyson seemed to recover as she placed the new device around her wrist. As she turned to face him again he spoke once more.

"Freeze the image." The image stopped still, determination gleaming in green eyes. He circled the image contemplating his enemy.

"Without the Omnitrix you are not only powerless, you are dying. But without you the device doesn't work right." He reached out to the holo image his hand stopping just short of her face, claw-like fingers just under her chin. "Could it be there cannot be one without the other?" He frowned at that.

He had long sworn to end the child nemesis of his, the thorn in his side for years. The one being in the universe who'd had the audacity to stand up to him and inspired others to follow in her footsteps. He frowned again, was it worth losing the Omnitrix to kill the girl? He stepped back away from the image.

"End playback." The image stuttered out and vanished leaving the throne room dark. He frowned. "If that is how it is I will take both."