The kingdom's capital city is a beautiful mix of many cultures. Alien and human alike. While surrounding towns can vary in their population and seem much more rural, the city's population reflects the best parts of the kingdom.
The city is vibrant with a mixture of alien technologies being gifted from different planets and the simplicity of human technology. The city grows almost every year with new buildings that can house the ever-growing population. The city now has sky bridges that connect many local housing complexes to each other and store fronts, to avoid the large industrial public transportation on the city's main streets. Steam powered trams run on their tracks through the heaviest streets, picking up aliens and humans alike. Smaller personally owned vehicles share the streets with the trams, from scooters to small town cars crowded next to one another. Then there are the aliens who fly above the city, coming and gliding in their own traffic patterns. It was all such a beautiful coexistence of cultures, and the food shouldn't be passed on either.
At least that's how Ben Tennyson always saw it. The city was his home and he's experienced very little outside of it. According to his Grandpa, that wasn't a good thing.
Speaking of his Grandpa Max, it seems Ben's lost him, again.
Ben can see his partner Rook Blonko though, a Revonnahgander whose height and bright blue color makes him easier for Ben to find amongst the many different humans and aliens Ben is surrounded by at the moment.
"Rook!" Ben waves at his partner and walks over to him, squeezing past people.
Rook moves his head until he finds the source of the sound. He smiles down at his partner, his feline ears perking up.
"Ben! Have you seen some of the presenters today? I really think we will find some new recruits!" Rook says excitedly once Ben meets him.
This Engineer Fair was the most talked about event in a while. People from all over the kingdom, aliens and humans, were coming to present their work. Almost all Plumbers who weren't on a call were pulled in to help assess the fair. Ben wasn't too invested at all. He would have much rather stayed behind with Kevin and snoop through his coworker's belongings. Ben, being the wielder of the Omnitrix, made his appearance vital. Much to his annoyance.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm sure they've all been great." Ben waves a hand dismissively at Rook. "Have you seen Grandpa Max anywhere? I lost him at some point in last three hours." Ben asks.
Rook holds his chin in his hand and ponders, "I do not think I have seen Magister Tennyson since this morning Ben. He has been watching almost all of the presenters though, we should look there."
Rook grabs hold of Ben's hand and drags him through the crowd.
Many people in the city were at the fair to watch the presenters as well. Some scouting for new engineers themselves if they weren't recruited by the Plumbers and some just to have an event to look at throughout the past two weeks.
It was coming to an end soon, with today being the last day of the whole event. Ben couldn't be happier. He just wanted to go back home to the castle and ask Kevin what he had found.
Ben groans as Rook drags him, "I'm so over seeing all these inventors and engineers Rook! They're all the same with little differences."
Rook looks curiously at Ben as he leads them to their destination, "What do you mean? There have been many different items that have been displayed just this week! Did you see the one who redesigned the Plumber uniforms to be more resilient to heat and below zero temperatures! It was amazing and more fashionable." Rook smiles thinking about that one in particular.
"Yeeaaaaah," Ben draws out rolling his eyes, "I'm sure that's great Rook. I just really need to find Grandpa right now."
"Ben I do not think Magister Tennyson would like to hear you complain again about this fair. It is almost over anyway." Rook states rather irritated.
Ben huffs out, "It's not about that Rook!" Ben looks around him quickly before pulling Rook down to whisper to him, "I just got a call from Pierce's team."
Rook shares a concerned look with Ben, "What did they find?" He asks.
"They found another one of our vehicles, ya know, the decoy we sent out with the fake cargo." Ben continues in a hushed tone. Rook has his full attention. "It was looted, totally empty and the drivers were knocked out and tied up."
Rook nods to him in understanding before trying to maneuver through the sea of people and aliens alike.
"Which teams did we notify of that truck Ben?" Rook asks casually.
"It wasn't many, but that's why I need to find Grandpa. He knows exactly what teams knew." Ben replies in a serious tone.
"Magister Tennyson should be in the main atrium. That is where all of the largest presenters are displaying." Rook replies as he sees the building he was referring to just ahead of them. "It is this way Ben."
"Thanks Rook." Ben grins at his partner as the two find their way into the main atrium of the fair.
The two Plumbers enter the building and are once again surrounded by a large crowd. Ben sighs but does his best to navigate around. He's unfortunately shorter than average and can't see much further than a few heads in front of him. He can barely see the displays from the door.
Ben groans in frustration before his eyes land on his Omnitrix. He knows he shouldn't be using it unless he needs to, but finding Grandpa seems to be important right now.
Ben flicks the Omnitrix on his watch and searches until he finds the right alien. He finds exactly who he's looking for and slaps his hand down.
A bright light engulfs Ben and his bones and flesh twist and turns to change his DNA into that of an Aerophibian, who Ben has so named Jetray.
He widens his arms and pushes the air under his wings and lifts above the crowd easily. Once up he searches for the signs of his grandpa from the obnoxious red and orange floral print he loves to wear.
Rook is looking up at Ben in disappointment but also embarrassment. Ben has suddenly drawn all the attention to himself in the atrium and a crowd is starting to form to look at the famous Ben Tennyson, royal knight of the kingdom, Plumber, and the owner of the Omnitrix.
"Magister Tennyson is not going to like this Ben!" Rook yells up at his partner as he is getting pushed by the crowd. "You were supposed to lay low remember?"
"Grandpa will be fine! This is important-Oh! I see him!" Ben shoots down into the crowd to land in front of his Grandpa Max who is startled, but only for a second.
Ben releases his form and returns to his human self, looking at his Grandpa.
"Ben!" Max hisses at his grandson, now seeing the mass of people try to push towards them. "What did I say about using the Omnitrix so casually?" He pushes Ben and starts directing them into a private room. The crowd seems far too interested in Ben and Max has no time for this today. He warned Ben about being too flashy in public.
Rook makes his way towards the two Tennyson's and follows them into a side room.
"Ben I can't believe you, I thought we discussed how to use the Omnitrix in public-" Max beings reprimanding.
"Grandpa I had to! Who knows how long it would have taken for me to find you? Anyway, this is important! Pierce's team found one of our trucks." Ben rushes out his explanation, cutting off his Grandpa.
Max looks over to Rook for confirmation and the blue feline nods back to him, "It is true."
Ben fishes for his Plumbers badge and pulls it out to show Max. He taps one of the buttons and it starts playing back the message Pierce left for Ben on his communicator.
Pierce's voice cuts through the silence repeating the information Ben told Rook previously.
Max nods in understanding, "So it was the decoy we sent out. He's sure?" Max asks.
"Yes, I'm sure. It was the only one we sent out with human drivers who weren't registered Plumbers. They only knocked them out and tied them up. Besides that, they remained untouched." Ben states.
Max nods his head in understanding. "I only gave the information to that truck to Pierce's team." He responds quietly.
Ben and Rook look at each other in confusion. "That does not make any sense, why would Pierce be the mole?" Rook asks.
"Maybe it's not Pierce, but someone on his team." Ben guesses.
"His team is made up of the most trusted Plumbers descendants though. None of them would betray the kingdom like this. Stealing technology and kidnapping aliens. All of them are aliens." Rook states, holding his chin in confusion.
Max nods his head in agreement. It didn't make sense at all. Besides Ben and Rook, Pierce was the person he trusted the most. Some things weren't adding up.
"I'll talk to Pierce when we get back tomorrow. We'll figure this out. Right now, we need to get back out there and judge the last few displays." Max says, placing his hands on both Rook and Ben's shoulders.
The two young men agree and walk out with Max back into the atrium. The crowded sea of people had yet to let up and Ben began itching to get out.
Max's grip tightened onto Ben's shoulder, making him shriek.
"Grandpa!" Ben's head whips around to look at Max.
"I know that look Ben, you aren't going anywhere. I've barely seen you look at or listen to any of the presenters. You are staying and helping." Max states casually, his grip not letting up.
Rook snickers as Ben mumbles in frustration.