A/N: Yep, so, new story, just as promised! What can I say, I like to diversify! Also, shoutout to King0fP0wers, who I appreciate is enjoying my other story (which will be updated mid-September), and my beta reader, nintendoplayer96v8. Enjoy!

Your alarm clock blares openly. You're half tempted to chuck it across the room but settle for smothering it under your pillow. You get up, stretch, yawn, scratch, and start getting ready for the day.

After vacating your bladder, you brush your teeth with that awful cinnamon toothpaste Mom keeps buying. After washing that disgustingness out of your mouth, you get dressed in your favorite green hoodie and black scarf. You slap on your LGBT wristband just before putting on your shoes and sliding down the stairs.

As you travel to the kitchen for some grub, you find a box on the counter… "Mail? This early?"

"Hey, Mom! We got mail!" you call upstairs. When there's no answer, you go up to her room and knock. "Mom! You up?"

"When am I never?" She called back, "Just come in. Almost done." You roll your eyes as you enter the room; your mother was always surprisingly laid back. Even when exercising with Aunt Luna, she never looked like she was ruffled by the workouts.

You see her at the vanity, just putting in her contacts. As she places the last one, you catch a glimpse of her real eyes, before covered by gray. "There!" She smiles at her reflection, then turns to you, wearing her usual slacks and a baggy shirt. "Be honest. How do I look?"

You're a smidge irked about how much she covers up herself. "Like a perfectly ordinary human. Which really bites."

She gives you a sad but recognizable smile. "We've been over this, Wayne. Earth isn't ready to learn they aren't alone in the universe yet. And they certainly won't take it well if Bellwood's most prominent medical examiner walks around like an actual zombie."

She claps to lighten the mood. "So, come on, you little miracle, buck up! It's field trip day! Where are you heading today again?"

"I think it was that science lab…Billions Corp, yeah, that was it!" You snap your fingers as you recall the name.

Mom nods. "Well, get your ass in gear! I won't be driving you there if you're late."

As you make your way back downstairs, Mom heading to the fridge, you look over at the package. Right…forgot to ask about that…

You pick up the brown box…to see it addressed to you. Looks like it came from a place called Shay D. Antiques and Oddities.

"Wayne, meet me at the car. Remember, no lollygagging!" Your mom races off to the front door, with a thermos in one hand and keys in the other.

Well, you have a little time…you rip open the package, finding inside a letter, some sunglasses and a…really weird looking watch thing.

You glance at the clock – Shit! The time! You choose to read on the go, as you grab the objects – watch, letter, and glasses – and stuff them into your book bag, and spirit for the car! You crash into the passenger side, and Mom begins the drive to Madison High.

As she turns on her music player, the dulcet sounds of an aria resounding throughout the car, you inspect the letter. The paper feels rough, the envelope yellowed like it was sealed centuries ago. The seal is a wax stamp, a very clear D shape. You open it carefully and read its contents.

Dear Wayne Moore-Akakaze,

You are about to step over the threshold of what is seen and what is true. A great adventure awaits you, but the choice to begin lies with you. In this package, you will find two objects: a "watch" and a pair of sunglasses. These sunglasses will help you see the hidden, shedding light where those would cast darkness. As for the "watch," well… I think I will let her explain its purpose.

I will say this once more, Mr. Moore-Akakaze. This is a bell that cannot be unsung. Once you put on the "watch," you can never turn away from what is true again. I trust you will choose wisely.

Respectfully,

Shay D. Mann

"Uhhhh, Mom?" You try to show her the letter, but she pushes your hand down.

"Careful! Driving! Remember, I've seen car accident victims – I know that most of them died being distracted!" Guess trying to show her the letter was a little difficult…

So, you put the letter aside to put on the glasses. Pretty neat looking, it's like you're a Man in Black. "Sorry, Mom. But this package had a – whoa!" As you look over at Mom driving, you almost jump through the roof as you see her…the real her.

Somehow, these glasses were…like, showing the ghost beneath the disguise. Where most of the Ectonurite resided in its host, both torso and head, pink formless energy was coloring the black-and-gray form your mother appeared as under the glasses' tint. There was even a label for her species you could read!

Your yelp causes your mom to serve the car, but she got control quickly. "What was that!? Why are you screaming!?"

You open your mouth to explain, but either your brain stalls or you were close to school because Mom parks the car right out front. "Well, never mind! Go, don't be late!"

Wishing you had explained that outburst, you sigh and leave the car, taking off the glasses in the process. As you enter the school building, you see a sad, distraught blonde kid sitting at a bench.

You walk over to the pudgy child, who seems to be holding the remains of some device. What was his name, again? Cooper?

You wave as you rip out your glasses and put them on. "Hey, uh, Cooper, right?"

The glasses light up, notably around his eyes, brain, and hands. So, is he like Mom, or something else? The blonde boy, Cooper, looks up startled, before calming down. "O-oh! Wayne… Hey."

You take off the glasses, hanging them behind your scarf. Better keep these away from prying eyes. "You look down. What's up?"

Cooper sighed. "It's nothing…really… I'm fine." He was most certainly not fine…better dig deeper.

"If you want, I can fix that for you." You gesture to the pieces he is cradling.

"What?" Cooper looks surprised, glancing back and forth from you to his busted tech. "Oh no, I don't think…"

"Don't worry! I can handle it." You don't really give him a chance to rebuff again, as you sit down and take the device. Miraculously, you actually manage to fix enough of it that Cooper, seeing some of your slips, is able to help you fix the rest of it! The guy's like a wizard…

"I-I can't believe it! It's fixed!" Cooper's entire demeanor brightens up as he shows off what looks like an MP3 player.

"And what did I just fix?" You wonder to the hopping tech wiz.

Finally calming down, Cooper shows you the box. "I made this last Saturday! It picks up radio waves – ones created by electromagnetic energy! You see…" He then goes on to talk endlessly about electromagnetism…at least he seems better…

Before long, you are on the bus, next to your best mate, Lance McClain. Next stop, Billions Corp! Next to you, Lance talks endlessly about his latest date. If any of the story's true or not, you really can't tell…

"…and after I scored a perfect game, she was all in on the Lance ship! Took her up to Make Out Point, got my arm around her, leaned in, and – hey! Are you listening, man?"

"Yeah, Make Out Point, right?" you say as you turn back from the window.

Lance punches your arm. "Damn right! Bet you can't even guess what base I got to! Huh? Huh? Go on, try – you won't-" You begin to drown him out as…she walks by. It's weird to think about having a crush on her since you were kids…but whatever it is, that spark no other girl has…Gwen Tennyson had it!

Looks: supermodel. Brain: rocket scientist. Eyes: entrancing. Legs: for days! She was as fiery as her hair, like a distant star! She was-! "OW!"

Lance pulled back from pinching you. "Sorry, you were beginning to drool…" He raises his hands as if that would stop you from glaring a hole into his head. "Mooning over Gwen again? Dude, you know Kevin would split you if he caught you looking at his girl!"

"Yeah, well, they're on a break, so I'm totally in the clear." You defend.

Lance digs in his ear, then wipes it on his shoulder. Real chick magnet. "I'm pretty sure that was a rumor. Still though…" You and he watch as Gwen sits down to talk to one of her friends (Heather? Hela?), and crosses her legs. "Chica does have it going on…"

Almost sensing your looks, she glances over. Crap! Do something! Anything! Just don't look weird!

Blushing as red as a Tetramand, you manage to wave…hopefully not as stiff as you feel. And then the best thing happens… Gwen waves back! She goes back to her conversation, but there were at least ten seconds of eye contact!

You face forward, grinning like a loon. You're so high on this feeling you almost don't notice Lance elbowing you, and gesturing toward…a low land gorilla glaring at you from the front seat?

Oh, no, that was just Kevin. Kevin, who…dates Gwen…

You look slowly back at the window like 500 pounds of held-back-a-year delinquent isn't trying to melt you down with his eyes alone. "Is he still looking?"

Lance, who had his head between his knees, just moaned. "Dead. Murdered. Abuela will never find the body…"

Sometime later, you arrive at the Billions Building, the Bellwood HQ for Billions Corp. As the class enters, the tour guide is there to greet you. "Hello, bright and hopeful stars! I'm Kerry! Welcome to Billions Corp!"

After that, the tour began in earnest. As you went through room after room, with a constant stream of scientists all working on something, Kerry chattered away. "Billions Corp is an international, multi-billion-dollar company! Its bread-and-butter is advanced prosthetics and robotics engineering! Can anyone guess who our CEO is? Anyone?"

While no one tried to answer, there was a rude sound from the back, followed by Kevin and two others snickering. Not an ounce of pep lost, Kerry answered her own question, as the group entered a viewing room, that showed an assembly line. "Our CEO was, may he rest in peace, William Billions, Sr. But due to his tragic passing, his surviving heir, William Billions the 2nd, took the reins of the company!"

Gwen raised her to ask a question. "Yeah, about Billions? Isn't it true you only did prosthetics, and then Billions Jr. turn the company into a government contractor?"

Kerry's toothy grin twitched at the corner. "What an astute observation, lil' miss-"

"I'm 15."

"-To answer your question, Billions Corp was in a state of financial disaster. But as soon as Mr. Billions took control he steered the company into new avenues, such as law enforcement, crowd pacification, tools to help our boys abroad…"

"So, you guys make weapons now?" You casually point out. A point that seems to make Kerry's toothy mask spasm a bit… "I mean, it's not a bad thing, necessarily. Technological advancement in one sector typically leads to advancement in another, even in seemingly unrelated industries. Like how the MRI was…"

You trail off when you see a lot of people just looking at you with blank faces. So, you studied a bit? Is that a crime? Well, with the way Lance was mouthing "Geeks don't get girls!" it might have been…

Kevin coughs 'nerd!' before speaking. "Hey, heard Billy Boy slept with like every chick he hires? Even the old ugly ones?"

As two laughs were silenced by the teacher ("Cash, JT! Quiet!"), Kerry seemed to freeze for a dangerous amount of time, before robotically walking again. "This way, children."

Soon enough, you were in a room where there was clearly about to be a lecture. The scientist giving the lecture was not here though, so Kerry when off to find him.

As you walk around, looking at all the top-of-the-line equipment, you spot Gwen, looking at a few of the equations left on a whiteboard. Looks like Kevin's not nearby…this is your chance! What do you say to her though?

For extra flair, you slip on the glasses and look at Gwen-HOLY SHIT! THE SUN IS FURIOUS! You rip off your glasses, looking to see no one saw your response. When you're in the clear, you glance at Gwen through the specs from a side-eye…and damn, she's glowing. Not like how she always glows, no like literally blinding as the sun! What the fuck…

You stow the sunglasses; ironically, you thought it would take sunglasses to look at her…these would render you blind! As you saddle up to her, so as to not destroy her concentration, take a deep breath, then: "Hi."

Gwen looks over, not even startled. "Oh! Hey, you're… Wayne, right?"

'She knows my name!' you think, but aloud, you say, "Yep. That is I. Wayne. We are in the same class together." … Wow, that was bad.

Gwen doesn't seem to notice your shaky nerves. "I really liked what you said back there. Or what you were going to say."

"Huh." You eloquently ask, before your brain catches up. "Ah! Right – the advancement parable! I was…well, I have to be the smart one at home…" You glance at the board, totally not because her just looking at you is breath-taking.

You blink as you read the whiteboard. Hold on, Auntie Luna talked about something like this… "The quantum thrust principle!" Realizing you said that out loud, you look over at Gwen. She's not making fun of you, so that's good. You continue, "I…learned about this before! It's when you calculate the force needed to escape a black hole! It…" You pause, catching yourself. "I'm sure you don't want to hear me ramble like that though…"

"No!" Gwen touches your shoulder, drawing your attention back onto her. "I…want to hear what you're going to say. Please…continue."

Ignoring the blush threatening to envelop your whole head, you swallow and continue, not looking away from Gwen. "Well, basically, escaping Earth's gravity requires the velocity of around 11,186 m/s! But the mass of a black hole is three times that of our sun, so the quantum thrust principle is designed to analyze the joules needed for a good-sized rocket to reach escape velocity from a planet with much stronger gravity!" You catch yourself, then add, "That is if other life existed on other worlds…which it does not…at all…"

Gwen didn't seem to catch the slip; she was too busy maintaining eye contact way longer than ten seconds! "Wayne…that is…wait." You suppress a whine as she removes her hand to cup her chin. "Billions Corp works with robotics, not aerodynamics."

You catch on to her meaning. "So…why is there a formula for escape velocity from a black hole in their building?" You both trade puzzled looks, that are drowned out by…horns?

Suddenly, the room resembles a disco tech – flashing lights, smoke machines…background dancers? Well, at least Lance was enjoying the floor show. Finally, a kid no older than you slid into the room – literally, on Heelys no less! "Sup, party people! Billy Billions is in the hiz-ouse!"

The kid looked like the poster boy for decadence – gold chains, which a gold clock hung from, a purple silk vest with gear patterns on it, and snakeskin sneakers! It was like Armani had a stroke while smoking the bad kush!

Eventually, the light effects calmed down and Billy took a microphone from a blonde-haired chick who was really quiet despite all the excitement, and screamed, "WHAT'S UP, MADISON HIGH! LEMME HEAR YOU SAY 'HO!'"

"HO!" Yelled Lance, pumped up by the music. He was the only one, and he quickly put his fist down and looked around like someone else said it.

Billy was undeterred. "Love that enthusiasm, guys! Love it!"

"Mr. Billions!" Kerry and the found scientist rushed over. "I wasn't aware you were coming today! Your itinerary said…"

Eeeeer! Halt!" Billy raised his hand, stopping the tour guide cold. He then looks over to the blonde girl, still standing unfazed. "Mazuma, who is this biddy?"

The girl named Mazuma changed from blank to animated, like a corpse with new life. "Kerry Xandra, one of sixteen tour guides of Billions Tower, young master."

"Oh-ho-ho, right! Listen, Carta," Billy didn't even pause at Kerry's expression, "two things for ya to remember…one, I hate schedules! I purposely skipped grades because I hate f**king schedules! Two, I own the building! Hell, I own you and…" he gestured to the scientist, paused, then snapped his fingers.

"Dr. Livingston, young master."

"-Dr. Rottenstone! So, if I want to pop in brighten the place up with my whimsy," he leaned in and gave a dangerous leer, "Cool your flat-ass tits, and sit the hell down!"

Kerry, not knowing what to do she looked so upset, promptly just ran off, a sniffle or two escaping. Billy's eyes followed her for a bit, before he said, "Mazuma…"

"Human Resource and legal team have been alerted, young master."

He snapped his fingers. "Groovy!" He turns back to address the room. "Alright, kiddies! You get a once-in-a-lifetime chance! You are standing in the presence of sha-greatness! Your teeny tiny brains must be overflowing with questions! Who's got first dibs!?"

You raise your hand. "I've got three. Why is the quantum thrust principle on this board? Is your assistant some sort of cyborg or android? And finally… What is the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow?"

Gwen giggled next to you, while Lance muttered something that sounded like 'never getting laid.'

Billy paused, smiled at you, then snapped his fingers. "Mazuma!"

The assistant sprang to life and stepped forward. "William Billions the 2nd, sole heir to the Billions' 'Empire,' is legally obligated as of August 2XXX to only answer questions from, in the young master's verbiage, 'bombastic, bodacious babes – booyah.' End of quote."

"So," Billions reinserted himself as he walked off the stage, "You, my little not-yet-employee, do not qualify." He steps in front of you, and despite looking up to you, it feels like he's looking down from a throne. He smirks before turning his attention to Gwen. "Your girl, on the other hand…" As he reached her, he took her hand and kissed it. "Bonjour, mi femme rouge."

By the sounds of the scuffle in the back, Kevin had just been stopped from stopping a mudhole into Billy's face. Can't say you would not have joined…

As for Gwen, she pulled back her hand and made a show of wiping it off. "My question is the same as his…even the swallow part." She gives you a subtle wink you are glad you're too focused to melt from.

Billy, for his part, is unfazed as he walks over to the project under the sheath. "If you really want to know, dollface…getta look at this sumbitch!" With that, Mazuma ripped off the sheet to reveal…a weapon that resembled a rocket thruster. "The boys got a fancy name for it…but I call it… The BFG!"

The boys of the class clap and holler at the huge piece of armory, while you roll your eyes. That did not answer your question. "Let me guess…BFG means Big F**king Gun?" you groan as you resist rolling your eyes.

Billy's wide grin stretched wider. "0 outta 3, beanpole! Try…Blackhole Filtration Generator!" Billy charged on, getting worked into a frenzy. "The latest in Billions Tech, the BFG can create its own gravity field! Just imagine those spacemen living nice and cozy as they travel the stars! No more of that useless training – why train for atmosphere-less, when you can bring a slice wherever you go!

"But wait! There's more!" Mazuma gave Billy some water before he continued. "Dealing with a crowd of rowdy rabble-rousers? With the BFG, just remove the weight of their argument! Why, with enough testing, the possibilities of artificial gravity could have countless applications!"

The students were buzzing with excitement at Billy's spiel. Even Lance was crowing about talking a chick to zero-g levels of 'Lance-itude.'

You, however, look around everyone. Is no one seeing the ramifications of this?

"Are you all serious!? How is no one here seeing the ramifications of this!?" Gwen, once more on the same wavelength as you, speaks up. "He has a gravity generator. In the middle of Bellwood!"

Billy just laughed her off. "No prob, doll. I looked over this project myself. This puppy will only work with my say-so."

You snort. "Yeah, until it doesn't. Rule one about tech – it always breaks inevitably."

Billy grimaces at your stubbornness. "Quit harshing my buzz, beanpole! Even if it did malfunction, Billions Corp can handle whatever fallout follows!"

"Ah yes! You seemed very deadest on controlling fallout! Any 'rabble-rousers' bugging you? Maybe need to 'change the weight of their arguments?'" Billy's face is starting to resemble the purple of his vest, but you don't care. "Oh, hey! Here's a way to deal with all those protests! Just fling them off the planet!"

CRACK!

Everyone, you included, is startled by the face Billy makes…

"Listen here, you little-"

Mazuma intervenes by jabbing a needle into Billy's neck…a needle that comes from her finger. As Billy collapses into her arms, she looks at everyone. "Excuse us. Young master requires a short break." With no more preamble, Mazuma marches off deeper into the lab.

The students break into whispers, as Dr. Livingston finally takes the stage. He's saying something, but you're not really listening… Lance pops up and shakes your shoulder. "Whoa, dude, …did you see that face! What the hell was that!?"

You make to answer, but a noise interrupts you…what is beeping on you?

"Uh, yeah, gonna have nightmares for a long time to come, listen, Lance. I need to check something. You…keep everyone away from that." You clearly gestured to the BFG.

Lance looks puzzled. "Why? It's awesome!" You glare at him, your eyes screaming, take this seriously! "Okay, okay! I swear on my parents' grave. Happy?" You nod. He may sound flippant, but he never swears on his parents' grave lightly.

With that, you take off to the bathroom to check what's beeping. First, you check your phone; you know it's not, but you're grasping at normalcy right now. When you confirm it's not your phone, you check the glasses…and they are beeping incessantly.

Putting them on, the words 'Danger!' blare on the lens. "What is it!? What is the danger!?" That seemed to be the password because the blinking word fades to show a planetoid-like being, a scar under its eye, on one lens, and several words on the other.

Name: Lensharr

Species: Galilean

Level: AAA

… Right, you have no idea what those words mean. But, as the words fade to show a map, you get the picture: Lensharr, whoever he is, is on his way to Billions Tower. You gulp nervously. And why wouldn't you? This guy looked terrifying! Maybe he'd be non-hostile, but…for Lance's sake…for Cooper's…for Gwen's…

Steeling your nerves, you recall Shay D.'s letter and know what to do. Pulling out the watch, you take one look at it, and hesitate. A minute of thought, as the lens flare about Lensharr's incoming. You swallow once and put on the watch.

Slurmp!

-And it grabs on tight! Feels like it grew onto your skin! Suddenly, on the glasses, the warning lights turn off, and a green hourglass in a black circle comes on. "Greetings, [new user]! Thank you for accepting the Omnimatrix Life Form Simulation Device. I am the A.I., [no name chosen], I will guide you as you come to understand the true purpose of the Omnimatrix Life Form Simulation Device."

"Um, Hi-"

The voice continued, heedless of the danger about to befall. "The basic function of the Omnimatrix Life Form Simulation Device is to augment your DNA and biology to match that of a different sentient life form in the known universe. The creator of the Omnimatrix Life Form Simulation Device created this device for the purposes of bridging peace and prosperity across the known universe."

You try again. "Ok, I just need help-"

"Before we continue," the AI interrupted, "would you like to register your name, [new user]-

You explode, "YES, IT'S WAYNE!"

"From here onward, [new user] will be addressed as [WAYNE!]. Is this alright?"

"Yes…"

"Very well. Now-" You did not catch the rest of that, because of a building-shaking BOOM! That shakes you to your core.

"…are a Terran. Is this correct?" The AI rambled on.

"Yes, correct. Now, listen! I am very convinced that there is a being attacking this building!" You hiss out the last part as gunfire sounds far away, only to be silenced by another earth-shaking slam.

"Indeed. A AAA threat is near your location. As this is your first transformation, would you like some assistance?"

You barely have time to answer before a much closer explosion sounds in the room outside…with a lot of familiar screams being heard. "YES! NOW! PLEASE!"

"Very well. Hold please." And then, the glasses went dark.

You go very pale. What happened? Did it shut off? Why is it so quiet outside?

Suddenly, the watch's face glows, the whole face springing up, while a holo-display comes out of the side of the watch. As the display rotates, different beings in holo-projection pop in and out of existence: one that reminded you of Auntie, one that looked like a giant clock, and finally a moth-like being, its wings acting as a shroud.

"To combat a Galilean, a Necrofriggian's intangibility could be useful. If you choose this form, simply press the faceplate down firmly. Thank you for using the Omnimatrix Life Form Simulation Device."

"Intangible? How do I… You know what, screw it!" With that, you jam two fingers down on the faceplate…and feel a surge of energy course through your veins. Everywhere it goes, you feel the changes… Bones getting denser, muscles growing bigger…you feel itchy as the second set of arms grow out from your sides-second set of arms? That form didn't have-

The light and energy recede, as you look in the mirror…you see-

"Hey!" you say with your new gravelly voice. "This ain't no Necro-whats-its!"

"Indeed." The AI agrees. "You have chosen the form of a Tetramand-"

"I know what the hell I am!" You do a quick inspection, and yep, male Tetramand. The watch even changed your clothing; blue jeans had become blue bike shorts, your green hoodie now a green muscle shirt with no sleeves for either set of arms…oddly though, your scarf had become a bandoleer, with that same hourglass symbol on it. The sunglasses became a little Bluetooth-like device on the side of your head.

You sigh; well, time to make lemonade out of lemons…just as soon as he can get through the door…

FILE END

A/N: So, thoughts? Love it, hate it? Tell me - I can take it!