Tower of Fate: Very Early Morning…
Hal and Ben had received word from Kent to meet him at his tower. Upon entering, they oddly enough found Speedy and Robin already in there. The later had been Batman's sidekick for about a year while the former was a relatively new sidekick to Green Arrow.
The archer has auburn hair, is tall in stature, and has a muscular developing upper body. He wore a yellow, sixteenth century-style hat complete with feather, yellow gloves, boots, belt, and a red suit. A bow and quiver, full of trick arrows, was on his back.
The boy wonder was short for his age, but he did have a lean, well-toned build reflecting his ability as an acrobat. His hair was left unkempt and hanging over his forehead. His uniform was a red vest, black leggings, boots and gloves, and a cape.
"Okay, this is officially awkward." Ben was looking more to Speedy and Robin. "Why did we all get called here for?"
"Don't question me Chimera." Speedy had been informed of the more experienced sidekick. "I was in town to look into Lex Corp.'s shell company when I heard Kent Nelson calling out to me through my mind."
"Batman sent me to aid Lucky Girl when I got the same." Robin added.
"So, we four are all in a similar situation then." Hal stated.
"I am sorry about that, but I was preparing what Gwen's spell caught on her covert mission." Kent declared as he appeared in the study.
"Wait, where is Gwen?" Ben asked.
"It would be easier to show you." Kent stated. "Fortunately, the spell she used can be waved by the right people."
He waved his hand causing the portrait to become a screen which showed Gwen being ambushed at the front company by Sportsmaster, Malware, and some robot guy none of them recognized. Clearly, he had the ability to shut down magic from what they saw.
"No!" Ben growled upon seeing his cousin being captured. "Where are they?" He looked to Kent. "You wouldn't have called us here if you didn't know."
"Ben, easy." Hal put a hand on his shoulder. "Anger is fine, but uncontrolled anger won't do you any good. Remember what we've talked about before and don't let it affect you."
Ben took a deep breathe managing to calm down a bit.
"I naturally know where my student is, but I am not in the right shape to save here as much as I would love to." Kent stated regretfully. "That is why I originally contacted just you and Ben, Green Lantern. Then, these boys also showed up; however, you two don't need to join."
"You kidding?" Robin smiled. "Batman sent me to help the girl, so that's why I'm here."
"At this time, I'd have been the one falling into the trap." Speedy stated firmly. "Might as well help pull the one who triggered it out."
Kent looked to the two he originally called in. "I don't think I need to say it…"
"We're both in Kent." Hal stated. "Just send us where she is."
"I know you all have your reasons for going, but I do thank you nonetheless." Kent waved his hand and a golden ankh appeared. "Step on through, and you'll arrive approximately at her current location."
Salem: Underneath the Front Company
The thrown together team stepped out into an underground system that seemed to go in two directions. Considering one direction had the Synthroid with their back to them, it was plain to see that they were supposed to move forward.
Since Sportsmaster and Malware were still hanging around, Hal decided to take this path allowing the other three to move on. Essentially, he felt Ben could handle Malware. As for Sportsmaster, he was confident Batman and Green Arrow taught their wards enough.
Hal nodded to the three of them before shoeing them onward and walking back to the Synthroid silently. The other three nodded and walked away quietly as Hal approached the Synthroid and tapped him on the shoulder.
Once he turned, Hal created a large green fist using it to punch the Synthroid down the hall. "Sorry about that, but to be fair, you were part of the group who stole my student's cousin."
He approached as the Synthroid recovered. "Reclamation of the magic user is prohibited."
"We'll just have to see what happens won't we." Hal replied.
With Ben, Speedy, and Robin
The trio were now running down the long, earthen hallway.
"Here's the plan…" Ben began.
"Why do you get to be in charge?" Robin asked.
"I'm in charge because that's my cousin they took." Ben declared firmly
"Alright, you're in charge." Robin relented.
"Thank you." Ben stated. "As loathe as I am to say it, I think I got to take on Malware, so you two got to free Lucky Girl. Though, that's hopeful since we have little to no information to go on." They ran past a turn which only Robin seemed to notice. "Got it?"
"I hear you." Speedy looked over to where Robin was, but he had vanished. "Looks like the boy wonder found some other way to go."
"Is that going to be a problem?" Ben asked.
"I have no idea." Speedy shrugged. "Based on what I know about Batman, maybe Robin's on the right path to get your cousin."
"I hope so." Ben stated as they came to a fork in the path. "You take left and I'll go right."
"Rodger that." Speedy stated.
They split off.
With Speedy
Eventually, he came to a seemingly normal room with a doorway at the other end. "I don't see anything that triggers any flags." Speedy walked into the room only for both doorways to seal shut. "Well, I was asking for that."
Then, parts of the wall slid opening letting in men with suits and Sportsmaster. "I'll confess, we were hoping to cage the boy wonder, but you'll do just fine in his place."
"Caged is a strong word." Speedy took out his bow and knocked an arrow. "After all, there's a lot of room to work with here."
With Robin
Robin ran down his hallway figuring that this must be the path to Lucky Girl. While he didn't like heeding that guy's orders, this was Chimera's cousin which did make it a little easier to swallow. Eventually, he entered a modern looking room with Lucky Girl in a cryo-chamber.
As far as he could tell, he had observed his surrounding before rushing in, there was nothing else in that room. "This is bizarre." He approached the pod. "If they've left her unguarded, then Lucky Girl may not have truly been their target."
He walked up to the interface next to the pod and accessed it. "This is troubling because I'm not certain that these people know the relation between Chimera and Lucky Girl. Still, they clearly want something from all of this. The question is, what?"
With Hal
The Synthroid moved to punch Hal, but he erected a barrier which blocked a couple of punches allowing him to back up. Once the barrier shattered, Hal created a minigun and opened fire. The Synthroid took the hail fire while moving in. He punched Hal causing him to stagger back.
Alright tin can, what's say we call it there, and you surrender before this gets ugly." Hal offered.
"Negative." The Synthroid declared. "Power for my world is on the line, so I will continue to fight."
"Can't say I didn't try to end this peacefully." Hal declared.
He flew back while constructing multiple green beams above the Synthroid and lettering them crash on top of it. Eventually, he was flattened to the ground where Hal flew forward and removed his head which tended to depower these people.
Hall then flew off down the tunnel. "Now, I need to see about rejoining the others."
With Ben
Ben ended up running into a wide-open cavern with no way out, literally, as the way back closed behind him. A section of the room opened, and Malware entered the room before his door closed behind him.
"Chimera." Malware spat angrily. "I am glad you choose my route because now I can get my revenge on you for denying what was my right."
"I don't care what right you think you had to anything Malware." Ben prepared his watch and had an alien ready. "What I care about right now is where my cousin is. You can tell me, or I'll force the answer out of you."
He slammed the dial down becoming a Tetramand. "Four Arms!" He looked at himself. "I was trying to become Feedback, but this should do in his place." He clenched his fists. "Alright, you want me; here I come!"
Four Arms ran in and dodged a napalm blast sent his way before slamming two of his fists into the red lantern knocking him back. Malware quickly recovered and summoned red energy from his ring which wrapped around Ben drawing him close even as he struggled.
The Mechamorph kept it up as he reached out with his free hand grasping the Omnitrix. Malware's touch stopped Ben just before he could break out and darker red lines spread throughout the Tetramand.
His eyes glowed red and there were sparks as Malware forced Ben out of Four Arms. This left the form staring down and unmoving. He was just trapped in Malware's grasp while it was still restricted by energy.
"Isn't this a surprising turn of events." Malware chuckled as he tossed Ben away. "If I'm not mistaken Chimera, or should I say Ben, this is your favorite aliens for combat situations, correct? Not anymore."
The form became completely red before disintegrating.
"No!" Ben screamed.
"Though my rage burns brightest for Azmuth, I will hold off on my revenge until I can do it with his most prized creation. The Omnitrix." He turned to Ben. "Give it to me!"
Ben was enraged as he fiddled with the watch entering one of the codes Azmuth had shown him which opened the face plate to the circuitry inside. "You want it so bad?"
He teared up as he threw back his fist. Ben wavered where he may not have as that conversation he had with Hall played through his mind.
"Ben, you've run into some pretty bad people in your time; however, you've never killed them, right?" Hal asked.
"Haven't you and the leaguers watched me?" Ben asked. "That's one mistake I've never made."
"You're right." Hal stated. "We've watched it all, but I wanted to hear it from you. I just hope you never make that mistake because killing someone is a line that should never be crossed. Not by a hero like me and certainly not by a kid like you. Killing someone changes a person."
Ben lowered his arm only for Malware to grab at the Omnitrix. "I want it Tennyson!"
"What?" Ben questioned with rage, confusion, and sadness. "No, let go!"
"Yes! Yes!" Malware celebrated. "The power of the Omnitrix flows through me. It is me."
Hal flew into the room, quickly assessed the situation, and flew at Ben using all his strength to rip the kid away from Malware before something irreversible happened. The Galvanic Mechamorph collapsed on the ground.
"I thought… about it." Ben stated disoriented. "I-I-I stopped myself though. He grabbed it. I didn't…"
"Ben, it's okay." Hal assured him. "I know you'd restrain yourself." He looked back at Malware only to see that the Red Lantern was gone. "No matter what it is he did to you, take your time and calm yourself."
Sure, Hal's seen the kid cry before through watching him, but this was the first time he's seen it in person. Whatever Malware just did, it really must have hurt his protegee.
Wrap Up
In the end, Malware got away, the Synthroid was brought in, and no one was quite certain what happened to Speedy. It was theorized Sportsmaster made off with him, but Kent Nelson couldn't track him like he did Gwen. Last anyone heard, Green Arrow was trying to track him down.
As for Gwen, Robin was able to get her out, but she was disoriented. Kent had immediately called them back as he could use his magic to treat her. The boy wonder returned to Batman while Ben returned to Coast City with Hal.
Coast City: Days Later…
Ben walked up to Hal's apartment with his head lowered and school bag on his back only to find his mentor standing outside the door. "Hey Ben, how was school today?"
"It was fine." He walked up to the door. "I think I'm going to turn in early again."
Ever since they returned, and Hal found out why his protegee was bummed, he had tried to be positive in helping him move forward from it. Maybe that wasn't the right call. At this point, the kid needed a reality check.
Hal entered the apartment after Ben and put a hand on his shoulder. "Kid, have a seat because we need to talk about what happened."
"Okay." Ben put his bag down and plopped into the seat. "What do you want to say?"
Hal sat next to him. "Ben, I know you've pretty much never lost since getting the Omnitrix. I mean sure, you've had set backs, but you've always come out the winner in the end."
"So?" Ben questioned.
Hal continued. "Given what you've already gone up against, I don't think there are many heroes that could claim the same. Maybe that's a bit of the problem here." Ben looked at him. "Victory only teaches you so much. Losing Four Arms is a major blow, right?"
"Yeah, it stinks." Ben stated sadly. "I know I have other forms capable of fighting, but for as long as I've had the watch, he was one of my best. Even if I have or gain aliens capable of filling his spot, it doesn't change that he's gone. Beyond that, his loss almost drove me to something I didn't want to do."
"Yes, it did; however, you managed to grasp onto something stopping yourself from becoming judge, jury, and executioner. In the end, you stopped yourself from crossing the line. That's commendable." Hal stood up. "Hey, maybe you consider that to be part of your failure.
Regardless of your failure or failures that day, what matters now is that you can let this loss define you or learn from it." Ben opened his eyes in shock. "In the end, that. and whether or not you want to remain are hero, are your choice to make."
With that, Hal left him to think on it.
Tower of Fate
Gwen was reading over her assigned books when Kent entered the study and sat in the remaining chair. "Gwen, I wanted to give you time to recuperate physically before checking on you mentally and emotionally." He gave her a concerned look. "Are you alright after everything?"
"To be honest sir, I'm not." Gwen sighed. "Realistically, those three didn't do anything except capture me and put me in that cryogenic tube. Still, I'm disappointed in myself because I couldn't do much of anything once my magic was cut off."
"I understand." Kent nodded. "Feeling powerless is a position no hero wants to be in, and I bet you felt more powerless than ever in that situation. I'm sorry I put you in it to begin with."
"It's fine sir." Gwen assured. "You couldn't have known that some villains had trapped it in preparation for my arrival. Honestly, I could have been a little more vigilant especially after that summer with my cousin and grandpa."
"I should have better prepared you for such a situation." Kent admitted. "Gwen, do you still want to become a hero… even after what you were just put through?"
"With all due respect sir, even though that was the first time I truly felt powerless, I've still been put through worse situations. Even after coming out the other side, I chose to come learn under you. That has not changed, but I need to step up my training in both fields."
"I can understand that and will help you hone both." Kent nodded. "For your martial arts, I'll need to call in someone to come teach you. As for magic, there are a few tricks I can show you to circumnavigate such a device as the one used against you. That is, if you are ready."
Gwen gave a small smile. "I think I still need a couple of days before we jump into it, but I'll be ready then."
"You have earned that time in my opinion." Kent stood up. "In the meantime, I shall prepare what is necessary to teach you."
Coast City: Days Later…
Ben stepped out of his bedroom and walked into the living room getting his mentor's attention.
"Hal, I've thought a lot on my failures and what you told me." Ben stated. "Honestly, I have been spending too much time beating myself up over what happened. That's only doing anyone I'd go up against a favor.
Even though I've permanently lost Four Arms, it's not the end of the world. That's why I'm going to save the beat downs for whoever I go up against. Next time I go up against Malware, I'll be better ready."
"Is that really your choice?" Hal stood up clearly hopeful but genuinely concerned. "If you want, we can remove your watch, and you don't have to be a hero."
"No way." Ben declared firmly. "I still got people to prove myself to, and even thinking of taking it off would be to go back on what I just said." He nodded. "Hal, I'm ready to get back to training."
"Alright then." Hal smiled. "Let's get to it."
Salem: Park, Days Later…
"Hey Gwen." Gwen was look up at the Tower of Fate when Ben joined her with his hands in his pockets. "I'm sorry."
"Sorry for what?" Gwen asked genuinely.
"I'm sorry I didn't check on your sooner." Ben replied. "No matter the details, you were captured, and I should have made time to come check on you rather than wallowing in self-pity. It wasn't cool, and I'll be better from now on."
"It's fine Ben." Gwen stated. "What about you? I know losing Four Arms must have really hurt."
"He was one of the first ten aliens I started with." Ben nodded. "Hey, losing him taught me something important." He looked at the watch. "I have potentially the most dangerous object in the world on my wrist, but I didn't fully understand how to use it.
That's something I'm going to learn and improve on." He smiled. "With Azmuth being more open on how it works, there is a lot for me to learn. The next time I face Malware, or someone stronger than him, I think I'll be ready."
"Looks like we both got a lot of work ahead of us then." Gwen smirked. "You know, you sound a lot more mature." She nodded. "I like it."
"Yeah, well…" Ben grinned. "I know I may already be a hero, but I'm not certain it fit who I was. Looking back, I played the part far too often where I shouldn't. Now, I want to really become a hero people can look up to like… Like how I look up to Grandpa Max."
"Hearing you talk, I think you can do it." Gwen looked at him. "Have you heard anything about Speedy?"
"I wish I had." Ben stated. "I may have just met the guy that day, but he was still willing to lend a hand in getting you back. Despite how serious he may have seemed, that makes him okay in my book. Even if he weren't, I wouldn't wish being captured on him."
"I hope his mentor finds him soon." Gwen stated. "Hey Ben, would you like to come get a smoothie with me. It has been a bit since we could catch up."
Ben smiled. "I think I'd like that."
Unknown
"It seems that everything went according to plan." A man shrouded in shadows stated.
"How long until everything is ready?" A woman asked.
"What we hope to accomplish is going to take a few months." Another man stated. "Unfortunately, the one sample we managed to get from here doesn't seem like it'll yield a magic user. Still, a useful trial can only help before we move onto our new captive."
"As for the schematics Malware provided, they aren't nearly enough to create our own; however, it is enough to power up my ward." A man declared. "Even with that, my team will need years to be ready."
"That is fine." The gravelly voiced man stated. "The Light has time."
Before I get the reviews, I'm going to address a concern many of you brought up, so it won't be addressed in every single review that brought it up below. Many of you were concerned about Gwen becoming the mole. I will admit, she was one of three choices I had been thinking of cloning. After many of you raised concerns over it, I decided to go with... well, you can probably tell who is getting cloned by this chapter. As for that sample they managed to get off Gwen before she was rescued.
That's for another character that will end up looking like Gwen, but you couldn't mix her and the original up. Also, that clone will not be magical. Basically, it's just to Red Arrow and Arsenal as a pair. I also must apologize for that botched explanation at the end of last chapter. That was potential misdirection or an explanation depending on who I choose. It has been deleted. Hopefully, you enjoyed this chapter. As for Ben losing Four Arms, it made the most sense.
No offense to Granpa Max because the guy was a hero in his own right, but given his mentoring under a super hero, he wouldn't become too attached to Feedback like in canon. I still wanted Ben to lose a transformation, so I was left with four choice I saw as viable loses. XLR8, Diamondhead, Heatblast, and Four Arms. Diamondhead pretty much gets a direct equal in Chromastone while Heatblast and Wildvine get a pretty direct equal in Swampfire.
The lose didn't seem as major there as it would for XLR8 or Four Arms. Yeah, you could equate Humungousaur to Four Arms and Jet Ray to XLR8, but in my mind that isn't as direct as the prior examples. Also, other heroes more directly related to them came far later. In the end, a hero had to go, and I made my choice. You can say Four Arms should have been strong enough to break out; however, Malware quite easily did the same thing to Feedback in canon.
this Malware is a Red Lantern making him that much more powerful. As for Ben not 'killing' Malware like in canon, it again comes down to being under a superhero, and how Young Justice clearly states that superheroes should not kill. Evidence is at the end of season three with Bryon; however, Malware clearly still got away with what The Light wanted. As stated, it's not enough to concoct any sort of trix, but it'll have its use.
Really quick, the Gwen concerns any reviewer gave me is answered just above, so they will not be answered below.
Ibrenneke: I'm fairly certain you're either think of when Ben managed to break off the face plate in the original, or one of the future Ben who had the Bionmatrix.
kirito21naga: A lot of people really are interested in Kevin going in a multitude of different directions. Honestly, it is helping me in establish a character arc. The only thing I can guarantee you is that he won't have spent years in the Null Void.
Maximum Rhapsody: I think this is the last chapter before I jump ahead to the start of the Young Justice timeline. It's definitely a possibility that we could see Ben butting heads with the league.
Jay(Guest): Agreed on the consequences part.
reader2020italia: You might be waiting on that interaction
Guest: Thank you