After a minute or so of whizzing about, Ben's watch timed out, producing the familiar green flash, turning him back into plain old Ben.
"Quick Rook! Sunscreen!" Ben yelped. "Don't worry, you'll be fine Ben. That stuff that absorbed into your skin was to protect you from the temperature difference and works as a sunscreen." Gwen replied calmly.
"Did I mention that I love magic?" Ben replied cheerily. "It is not magic Ben, it is science. The heat suppression multiplier is an important field supply for aliens with unique physical attributes." Rook stated. "English, Rook, speak it." Ben replied.
"I am. You simply have a lesser understanding of it than I." Rook calmly replied. "Gwen, care to translate?" Ben asked, looking at Gwen who was now ahead of them. "It's plumber tech for aliens really weak to heat." Gwen tossed out.
"See! Was that so hard?" Ben asked Rook. Just then Ester broke in, "Um, guys, that plant just moved."
"What? Plants don't move!" Ben exclaimed in a demeaning manner, then paused, "Oh wait, duh. Okay, they do move, sorry Ester." Ben began to take in the surroundings for the first time.
Directly in front of them was a very overgrown forest area. "Ben, I would surmise that water is in that direction, given the large increase in overgrowth." Rook stated.
"And water equals civilization!" Ben extrapolated. "Onward Rook!" he continued. Rook pulled out his proto-tool switching it to the power sword mode and began slicing through the vines.
As Rook began cutting through the vines, a yell came from above him. A strange female voice shouted, "Hey! Do you mind? I'm collecting beranthiums!" The voice reminded Ben of Gwen 10's Wildvine transformation, making him quickly realize that it was likely a Florauna speaking.
"What's a beranthium?" Ben asked, as Rook had ceased his cutting. Three vines regrew themselves as the head of a female Florauna appeared from what could arguably be called the ceiling. "Oh, sorry, I thought you were part of the forest alteration committee." spoke the head. Allow me to introduce myself, I am Alaxa, a herbalist. And you are from where?"
"I am from Revonna, and these other two are from Earth, while I am unsure of Ester's origin." Rook volunteered.
"I assume you took proper precautions against ship invasion as well?" Alaxa asked. "Part of standard plumber procedure." Rook replied. "So... Why are you here?" the Florauna asked, switching subjects. Ben began to eye her suspiciously. "Why shouldn't we be?" Ben asked. "We hardly ever see plumbers here, so there must be a reason you're here." she explained.
"We are currently just canvassing the area." Rook replied. "I was bored of space." Ben stated. "So you came here?" was her puzzled response. "Sure, I figured, why not?" Ben replied.
Alaxa gave him a quizzical look. "Excuse my partner if he has offended you." Rook started. "Offended me? No, made me concerned for your well-being? Yes." Alaxa stated. "We're still under Xarl reign. We will be for another 5 years, at least."
The group as a whole released varying looks of confusion, Gwen and Ester stared at each other hoping the other might have an answer to what this meant. Rook, after a long pause, stated, "I am sorry, I lack context for me to understand the meaning behind your declaration."
"You have three suns time to leave the planet after arrival." Alaxa informed them. "What? Why?" Ester asked. "That is their laws, after which you become a fugitive that can be detained indefinitely." The Florauna replied.
Rook began using the device on his wrist calculating something. "That gives us precisely 5 days, 4 hrs, 23 minutes and 43 seconds."
"Why are we just standing around? Let's get moving!" Ester grabbed Ben and began charging off, Rook and Gwen looking silently as the other pair left. "Well, we've lost them..." Gwen looked at Rook and Rook at her. Both shrugged and Gwen said, "We'll find them later when they've calmed down."
"I apologize for our comrades rude behavior, but could you possibly direct us to the nearest town?" Rook asked ever so politely. "Perhaps I should take you there, seeing how you might not find it otherwise. Here, this way."
Ester began to slow down, The Worst trailing behind her, attached to her arm. "Well, at least I'm indestructible." Ben stated walking up next to her. "What is that form?" Ester inquired incredulously.
"I call it The Worst." Ben responded. Ester gave him a quizzical look that indicated she thought it was a bad name. "Okay, not my finest name," he commented, "But he really is the worst! Being a punching bag is no fun!" "But you're indestructible!" Ester exclaimed, throwing her hands up in the air as she did so.
"Doesn't mean I feel no pain, I feel every punch, every stab, ALL of it!" Ben complained. Ben's loud response seemed to have some affect on the surrounding area as multiple flowers growing on trees closed up and some mosses on the trees turned from green to orange or purple. Ben and Ester paused. With a flash of green light, Ben appeared, once more in Ester's favorite form.
"I hate you too, omnitrix." Ben said. Ester, having decided they were safe, began removing her jacket. Ben flinched, but maintained his gaze as she removed her jacket.
Ben fell over when he saw what was underneath, a purple shirt. "What? Were you expecting something else?" Ester teased Ben. The shirt was low cut with short sleeves, very simple. "It's nice not wearing a jacket here. Catch!" She said throwing the jacket for Ben to catch. Luckily, no plants caught the jacket before Ben did.
Only then did Ben realize how heavy the coat was and that the gloves were part of her jacket. "You packing lead in there?" Ben jested hinting at the heaviness of the coat."Good guess." Ester said as she began walking. Ben blanched, then began trying to catch up.
"So... Where are we going?" Ben asked. "Someplace pretty I hope." Ester responded.
