Chapter 27

All of my Kindergarteners, put on a great show for the audience. They did a few Christmas songs and performed a dance they put together all by themselves. I looked out into the audience. Bryan was sitting alone. I looked around again. Charlie seemed to be missing. I quietly exited the theatre and entered the lobby.

"There you are babe."

I turned to see Mr. Matthews. His son was in my class. During our last teacher conference he told me his son hasn't been doing his school work since his mother walked out on them. I remember trying to help as best I could.

"What did you just call me?" I asked.

"Don't get testy now, I guess you're the kiss and run type."

"Wait...we kissed?"

"Are you okay doll, you act like what happened between us didn't happen."

"First off...Mr. Matthews whatever you think I did...it wasn't me...I'm happily married...and do you see this...I'm carrying that man's children...but you saw me before, where did I go?"

"You're right sorry I'd never touch a pregnant woman...I don't want anymore damn kids...I must be drunk...anyway you stormed outside just that way."

"Thank you." I responded breathlessly. I swiftly walked down the steps and looked around. There was a car there that appeared to be damaged. I understood now. If Mr. Matthews saw another version of me, I must have seen another version of Charlie. It made sense now, but why, and how?

I looked down and gasped. It was Charlie's insulin pump crumbled into tiny pieces. Someone had him, but I was about to get him back. I heard the audience cheer and surround my students with applause. I went back in to get Bryan.

"Where's Daddy, Momma?"

"I...I don't know sweetheart...but I'll find him...don't you worry."

I couldn't pick Bryan up, so I held his hand as we exited the building. I drove over to my parents house. Whoever had Charlie must want Bryan too. I knocked on the door loudly. Justice answered.

"Oh hey are-"

"Charlie's missing!"

Justice moved out of the way of the door. Bryan walked up behind me. Justice picked him up and patted him on the back.

Mom entered from the back bedroom. Dad stood up when I entered the living room. I told them everything. Even what happened between Charlie and I just a few weeks before.

"I know I can track him with this."

I held out my hand. In my palm was a small piece of Charlie's insulin pump. I could feel his energy signature and his blood in my hand.

"But...I don't know if I can fight whoever took him on my own."

Dad put his hand on my shoulder.

"And you won't have too...we'll find him...just like we did last time...but you should stay here...you can't put the babies in danger." Dad replied.

"Daddy...please...I...I need to make things right with him...I need to save him."

"If I can't talk you out of it then fine...but please be careful...Angel, you stay here and watch the kids."

"Okay..."

Mom hugged Dad.

"Good luck, and please be careful."

"I will."

Dad kissed Mom, then we were off.

The piece of Charlie's pump I had lead us to an old warehouse down by the waterfront. Dad and I entered around the back way. We hid behind some boxes. I saw Charlie. He looked beaten and drained. Around his wrists were a pair of heavy metal chains. A strange like creature walked out in front of him observing a monitor.

"Psyphon." Dad whispered softly to himself.

"One of Mom's?" I whispered back.

"No...one of mine...he used to work for Vilgax years ago...he's dangerous and highly intelligent..."

"What does he want with me?'

"I don't know, but he's not going to get you."

Dad stood up.

"Dad wait, no!" I shouted softly.

"Psyphon!" Dad shouted. "You dirty coward of an alien thief! Let my son-in-law go!"

"Ben Tennyson how nice to see you...I was hoping to lure your daughter here so I could lure you...but she saved me the trouble; seeing as she can't fight her own battles."

"My daughter fights just fine. What do you want?"

"It's simply really Ben Tennyson...I will be able to do what Vilgax could not...he maybe in the Null Void now...but he will escape...imagine how he'll reward me when I tell him it was I, that took the Omnitrix off Ben Tennyson's cold lifeless body."

"Try me."

"Oh I won't be fighting you...I'd like you to meet a friend of mine...much better than the drones I made for Vilgax...this model is called SAD-13."

I watched from a distance as an android walked over to Dad from out of the shadows.

"SAD represents search and destroy. It will do whatever I tell it to do because that's how it is programmed, it can change its appearance at will and is vulnerable to fire and bullets. It is also very capable Benjamin of predicting your moves and knows your weaknesses. It is the ultimate war machine. Soon I will build a thousand just like it to stand at Vilgax's side...and with your Omnitrix in its system's main frame it will be unstoppable. Able to turn into anything you can without the touch of a button or a voice command. You and your pathetic world belongs to Vilgax! Kill him!"

The android morphed into Kevin. He jumped forward and punched Dad across the room. I covered my mouth and watched in horror.

"Spidermonkey!" Dad screamed as he transformed. He attempted to block the android's blows. He created a web around the robot's fists. Psyphon watched as Dad fought.

"That won't be enough to stop my creation Ben Tennyson!" He snared. He walked over to the fight to get a closer look. This gave me an opening to get Charlie out of there.

"Remotionem torque." I whispered and waved my hand. Tiny pink sparks flew into the chains around Charlie's wrists. He fell forward onto the ground. I ran over to him.

"Charlie...Charlie I am so sorry."

Charlie groaned and rubbed the back of his neck.

"No...Har...It's okay I know."

He stroked my cheek. We smiled at each other and he kissed me.

"I don't know what that Miranda girl felt...but it certainly wasn't a kiss like that..." I said with a smile.

Charlie winked at me. I blushed.

"Come on, let's get out of here."

"Yeah." Charlie replied.

I helped him to his feet. He grunted loudly and tried to hang onto me.

"Easy...easy Harmione my arm's broken."

I looked back at Dad then at Charlie.

"Cura corpus!" I waved my hand over Charlie's arm. He grunted then fisted his hand.

"I never get tired of that one." He said with a grin.

I smiled. He placed his fringe on my forehead.

"Where's Bryan?" He asked sternly.

"Mom...she and my brothers are looking after him. I took him there just as soon as I found out you were-"

Suddenly I heard Spidermonkey scream. Psyphon had hit Dad with an energy blast.

"Daddy!"

"So you did come with your father...just to save your man...hm?"

Charlie stood in front of me.

"You touch her I swear I'll kill you."

"You boy...are nothing but a human...how could you do what Tennyson could not? Take the Omnitrix from him!"

As Dad lay flat on his back as Spidermonkey the android walked over to him.

"No!" I screamed.

I threw an energy blast at the robot. He fell over into a pile of boxes. I used my powers of levitation to move Dad toward me and Charlie. He awoke and rubbed his head.

"Thanks sweetie...now hurry and get out of here...I'll handle this."

He then screeched like a monkey and turned into Swampfire. Charlie and I ran out of the building.

"Was it a good idea to leave your Dad with those two?!" Charlie asked.

"He can take care of himself Charlie!"

Charlie and I got to Dad's car. As soon as I reached for the car door I felt a jolt of pain.

"Har? You okay?"

"I...I'm fine...I just..."

The pain hit me again only this time it was worse. I whimpered and started to sit down; because when I tried to stand up straight, the pain seemed to grow.

"Harmione!"

Charlie got on his knees next to me. I began to breathe heavily. I felt as if they were possible contractions all though I had at least 10 weeks left until I delivered full term. They had to be false contractions triggered by my movement. Charlie stroked my head with his thumb.

"Easy...all this running around hasn't been good for you and the babies."

"Charlie...I'm sorry I had my doubts and fought with you..."

"I know...it's okay...don't talk about that right now I forgave you."

He kissed my head.

Back inside Dad was actually having a terrible time. The android turned into Mom. Dad refused to fight her.

"What's wrong Ben, can't fight your true love?" Psyphon asked cruelly.

"I...That's not my Angel!"

"And yet you're trembling, you don't want to hurt her...no matter what you promised her she would never be hurt again...especially by your own hand!"

Swampfire powered down and Dad turned back into himself.

"I did promise her that...but that doesn't mean I can't end what began here...if I don't stop you I'll break my promise!"

Dad transformed into Way Big. The warehouse collapsed at his massive height.

Charlie and I looked up to see the explosion. Charlie covered me with his body. The pain I felt started to cease. I was going to have to rest once I got home.

The android was destroyed under all of the rubble. To make sure it really was defeated, Dad crushed it under his foot.

"Nooo!"

"And as for you Psyphon..." Way Big announced in a booming voice.

"You are going to spend an awful lot of time with your Master...in the Null Void...perhaps that reward of yours will be that he'll go easy on you."

Psyphon gulped.

A couple of hours later into the night the Plumbers arrested Psyphon. Azmuth took the pieces of the android for futher studying. As for me and my family things were back to normal.

I let Bryan stay with mom and dad. He enjoyed his time so much he wasn't ready to go home that night.

Charlie and I were finally talking again. He slept on the couch that night though, just so I could have the bed to myself. He did everything he could to make sure I was comfortable.

Our relationship is more than anyone can hope for. That trust we have, the love and support we have is something that is never going away. Not even when some android decides to to tear us apart.