CHAPTER ELEVEN: ALL STAR
Early the next day, Gwen, Kevin, and I decided to meet up at Burger Shack to discuss how to build the team. Gwen and Kevin were already sitting at a table in the outside area, and I was the last to arrive. Our plan was to use the entire day to search for other Plumber's kids, but unfortunately, my parents decided that today was Spring cleaning day, and the three of us were going to clean the house from top to bottom.
"Dude, you're late." Kevin scolded.
"Sorry, I slept through my alarm." I chuckled.
"And in other news, the sky is blue." Gwen sarcastically replied.
Although she always looked good, there was something different about her this day. Was she wearing extra makeup? I would say she didn't need any extra, not even the foundation she typically uses to cover up her freckles, but either way she looked nice.
The other noticeable thing was her hands. Gwen rarely wore nail polish, and if she did it was something plain like a basic red, this time she had on deep blue nail polish with yellow roses on them.
"Yo, Earth to Tennyson. You gonna take a seat or what?"
"Oh yeah, sorry." I replied as I took a seat at the table. "And why do you care if I'm late or not, Kevin?" I asked as I took a seat at the table.
"Hey, I may be a former crook, but at least I'm punctual."
"Right. So shall we…" I began to say before my stomach spoke for me with a loud growl. "Order some grub?" I chuckled "There's this new chili fries breakfast burrito I've been dying to try."
"A chili fries breakfast burrito?" Gwen said as if she needed clarification.
"Yeah, an extra-large flour tortilla filled with a three-cheese blend, nacho cheese sauce, extra-crispy fries, and a generous heap of chili."
"In what world is that a breakfast burrito?"
"Oh yeah, it's also got scrambled eggs in it. You guys want one? I'm buying."
"Yeah, that does sound pretty good." Kevin replied.
"I'll just take a ham and cheese, Shackmuffin, and a small orange juice." Gwen replied, politely declining what was sure to be breakfast nirvana.
After coming back with our grub, I sat, and we began to discuss how to go about building the team, but not before stuffing my mouth full of the blissful burrito.
"Sho howsh do we go abosh…"
"Ben, please don't talk with your mouthful." Gwen sighed.
"Sorry." I replied after swallowing the awesomeness in my mouth. Wait, I probably could have phrased that better...Oh, well. "I was saying, How do we go about locating other Plumber's kids?"
"Well, we already know one Plumber's kid, Alan."
"Actually, there's another one we know." I replied as I looked at Gwen.
"Who?" Kevin asked.
"My older brother." Gwen replied. "His name is Ken."
"Ben, Gwen, and Ken. Got any more relatives? Like Jen or Len? How about Ren?"
"Yes, all our names rhyme. Hilarious, Kevin." Gwen rolled her eyes. "Ken's out traveling North America in the 'Rad-Mobile,' completely off the grid. He sends a postcard every month. The last one we received came from Canada."
"It's a shame too. We could really use his help." I sighed.
"So I take it Ken knows about the Plumbers?"
"Yeah, Grandpa offered to bring him along during the Summer we found the Omnitrix, but he decided to go to music camp instead. He doesn't have any powers, like Gwen's magic or my Omnitrix, but he can hold his own in a fight."
"Well, we know we can call on Alan for help." Kevin stated before tearing into his burrito. "Sho, that's shone, at east."
"Come on, Kevin. Not you too." Gwen sighed.
"Sorry, it is pretty good, though."
"Boys." Gwen sighed again.
"Well, there's a girl right there." I pointed as Julie approached us.
"Hey, Kevin." Julie greeted him as she gave him a quick peck on the cheek, "Hey, Gwen. Hey, Ben."
"Hey, Julie." Kevin replied with a big grin, a major difference from the usual frown or smirk I'm used to seeing. "Didn't expect to see you here."
"Yeah, there's a new chili fries breakfast burrito, and I just had to try it."
Gwen then noticed Julie was holding a tray with said burrito on it and briefly held her head in defeat.
"See, I'm telling you. You're missing out." I teased.
"So, what are you guys talking about?" Julie asked.
"Oh, that's um…"
An excuse didn't come to me.
"It's alright, she knows." Kevin said to Gwen and to my surprise.
"Oh, you guys are talking about aliens."
"Kevin, care to explain." Gwen said sternly.
"It's a long story. But the short of it is we had an encounter with a Galvanic Mechamorph. I kinda had to show her my powers. I'll tell you the full story later."
"Kevin filled me in on some of the details on the phone over the weekend. Can you really turn into 10 different aliens?"
"Sure can."
"Mind if I sit with you guys?"
"I don't mind." I replied. "Gwen?"
"Be my guest. You sure seem to be taking all of this pretty well."
"I've always been pretty open-minded about the unknown." Julie replied as she took a seat next to Kevin. Admittedly, a secret alien invasion is a lot to take in."
Julie was friendly and all, but we barely knew her. I wasn't sure about letting her in on so much, but Kevin trusted her, and that had to be worth something.
"So, what's the topic of discussion?" Julie asked.
"We have to put together a team of Plumber's kids to take on the Highbreed and their army." Kevin answered.
"The only problem is we don't exactly know where to start." I added
"Hmm, Kevin, may I see your badge?" Julie asked.
"Sure, why?"
Kevin handed Julie the badge. She tapped it a couple of times, bringing up the map before spreading her fingers across the display to expand the range.
"This green dot is us, right? So that means all these other blips are Plumbers badges."
"How did you know how to do that?" Gwen asked.
"Oh, my new phone has a pinch and navigate feature. I figured it might work similarly to that."
"This will help a lot." I replied.
"The only question is how do we know which badges belong to Plumber's and which one's belong to Plumber's kids?" Gwen wondered.
"I think there's a slight color difference between some of the dots." Julie observed. "See, our dot is green and so are some others, some dots are more of a yellow-green. You said you got your badge from a Plumber right?"
"Yeah, Magister Labrid." Kevin replied.
"So it would stand to reason that the green dots belong to Plumber's and the yellow-green dots belong to Plumber's kids."
"That seems plausible." Gwen replied. "But can we be sure?"
"There's only one way to find out." I replied.
"This looks like the closest yellow-green one." Kevin noted.
"I think that's near Brightridge." Gwen added.
"Brightridge? Ain't that where all the hoity-toity elite types live?" Kevin asked.
"Yeah, those houses make my house look like a shack." Julie replied.
"We should check it out when we can." I said after finishing off the rest of my burrito.
"Can I come with you?" Julie asked.
"Um, well…" I replied as Gwen and I each looked at Kevin.
"Please, my schedule is pretty clean this week. Mom even canceled practice this week because of her job."
"Wait, I thought being an instructor was her job?" I replied.
"No, that's just something she does part-time. She's the head of a private security company."
"Huh, guess you learn something new every day."
"There was an influx of new clients, and she has had to go into the office more than usual. So, please, can I go?"
"She's your girlfriend. You make the call." I said to Kevin.
Kevin hesitated to answer, but then Julie gave him 'the look.' You know the look only a significant other can give? That look.
"Well, it is just a recruiting mission, so I doubt we'll be lookin' at any trouble. I guess you can come."
"Man, you've been dating less than a week, and she's already got you whipped."
"Laugh it up, Tennyson."
"I have to do some house cleaning. We'll meet up again here later." I told her.
The house cleaning ran longer than I had hoped. It was already nightfall by the time we reached Brightridge.
"I still don't get how she gets to sit up front. I called shotgun." I complained.
"I invoked girlfriend privileges." Julie replied.
"What even is that?"
"It means she gets to sit up front and you don't." Kevin 'explained.'
"Look on the bright side. We get to be backseat buddies." Gwen joked.
"I guess it's not all that bad then." I chuckled as my hand brushed against hers.
I didn't think anything of it, but Gwen seemed startled by it. She snapped her hand away, placed them on her lap, and turned her head towards the car window.
"Something wrong?" I asked.
"Sorry. I, uh, just got my nails done."
"Oh yeah, I noticed the polish. They look nice."
"Thanks." Gwen smiled, she still had her head turned, but I could see her reflection in the window.
"Where do you get your nails done?" Julie asked.
"This was my first time getting them done actually. I just went to the salon on 5th." Gwen replied.
"Eh, they're alright, but I know a much better place on Maple. I'll take you there sometime. Ooh, and afterward we can get some Miss Milkshake. We'll make it a girl's day."
"Ew, Miss Milkshake? That place sucks." I replied. "They use soy milk for their shakes. Mr. Smoothy is where it's at."
"No way. Mr. Smoothy uses way too many artificial ingredients."
"The artificial ingredients are what make it taste good." I argued. "Gwen, she is besmirching the great name of Mr. Smoothy. I forbid you to hang out with her." I pouted.
"Oh no, whatever shall I do." Gwen replied sarcastically. "I'd love to have a girl's day with you, Julie."
During all of this, Kevin simply chuckled and shook his head while privately communicating something to me.
"Our girls are getting along pretty good."
"Gwen's not my girl." I replied
"Not with that attitude."
"That fancy prep school is near here, isn't it?" I asked out loud.
"I heard that place was only for the douchiest of douches." Kevin replied.
"I almost went there, actually." Gwen replied.
"But you didn't, which means you're not a douche."
"Can't argue with that logic." I added.
"I guess not." Gwen agreed.
"How come you didn't go?" Julie asked. "Douchey or not, most people would kill to attend a place like that."
"Even with the top scholarship, it wasn't enough to cover the tuition. Both my parents would have had to put in extra work to pay for it, and I couldn't put that on them."
"You're very considerate." Julie replied.
"Yeah, she's one of the most considerate people I know." I replied just as Kevin brought the car to a grinding stop.
A girl around our age, wearing a school uniform, was wandering in the middle of the road.
"Hey, are you crazy! You could get hurt!" Kevin shouted out of the driver's side window.
"Kevin, wait. Look." Julie said as she pointed out the girl's status.
She appeared to be in some sort of trance and was muttering something to herself.
"We should get her out of the road before…" Gwen began to suggest before the headlights of a large semi-truck speeding down the road came into view.
"She's going to get hit. Ben, hurry!" Gwen shouted.
"On it." I replied as I readied Manta-Sonic on my Omnitrix, but before I could bring my hand down, a blinding golden light engulfed the windshield.
The light quickly disappeared, and the girl was gone from the road allowing the semi to pass by.
"Where…" I began to ask.
"There." Kevin replied.
The girl was now a little further away, lying safely on the side of the road, but there was someone else with her.
"Who is that?" Julie wondered.
"Let's go find out." I replied.
"Maybe you should stay in the car." Kevin said to Julie. "Just in case he's hostile."
"Kevin, your concern is sweet." Julie replied. "But he just saved that girl. I doubt he's up to no good."
"I guess so. It still doesn't hurt to be cautious."
The four of us got out of the car and approached the girl's rescuer. It was then I got a good look at him. He was tall, blonde-haired, blue-eyed, and also appeared to be around our age. Judging from his posh dark gray overcoat, black shirt, ironed khakis, polished black dress shoes, and an unnecessary scarf in upper seventy-degree weather, he was loaded.
"Is she alright?" I asked as we approached the mystery man.
"Yes. She was just sleepwalking."
"Do you know her?" Gwen asked.
"Yes, she goes to my school."
"I need to get...I need to get…" The girl suddenly began to mutter.
"Shh, it's okay, Trina. You can relax now." Michael assured her as she fell asleep.
It was then I noticed another detail about his outfit, his belt buckle.
"You have a plumber's badge."
"My dad gave it to me. You guys know about the Plumbers?"
"Quite a bit, actually." Kevin replied as he showed off his Plumber's badge.
"I'm Ben. This is Kevin, Julie, and Gwen."
"Wait, Ben as in Ben Tennyson?"
"You know who I am?"
"Of course. I'm a huge fan. Tales of your exploits traveled a lot around my circles, but then you just sort of disappeared."
I was used to being recognized by the bad guys, but to be admired like this from the other side was a bit refreshing. I wonder if this is what celebrities feel like?
"I'm Michael, Michael Morningstar. You can call me Mike and…"
Michael suddenly turned his attention to Gwen.
"Gwen, right? I think we've met before."
"Oh yeah, you're the one who led the tour when I visited West Prep."
"Nice to meet you again." Michael replied as he held out his hand for a handshake.
"Likewise."
As Gwen went to shake his hand, something odd happened. There was a spark that shot between their hands.
"That's odd. I can't say that's ever happened before." Morningstar chuckled.
"Maybe it's because we both have powers." Gwen replied as she formed an energy ball in her hand.
"That is an interesting theory." He chuckled.
From his slight change in tone to the small grin; It didn't take a genius to realize he was flirting with her. He wasn't the first guy to flirt with her, nor was Kevin, and of course, there was that part of me that wanted to tell him to stuff it, but getting off on the wrong foot with a potential ally might not be the best idea. But this time was different; Gwen's never been receptive to guys trying to flirt with her. But, this time she smiled at his advances. Seeing it wasn't a good feeling.
"I should get her back to her room. My house is nearby. It's the big one on the top of the hill. Meet me there, and we can talk more."
"Alright." I replied.
Michael picked up the girl he called Trina while a thin golden aura surrounded him, and he flew away, leaving a sparkling trail behind. So, we hopped back in Kevin's car and headed for Morningstar's house. There were multiple mansions on various hilltops that we could see in the distance, but when he said his house was the big one, he meant it. His house-made the others in the area look like huts in comparison.
We pulled up to the main gates which were emblazoned with a large Golden M. The gates opened and we pulled up to the mansion. Morningstar opened the door and waved us in.
"Welcome to my humble abode." Morningstar greeted us.
'Humble isn't exactly the word I'd use.' I thought.
As we entered the mansion I suddenly had this odd feeling I was being watched from the outside. I stopped briefly and turned to look behind me, but there was no one there.
"Something wrong?" Morningstar asked.
"It's nothing." I replied as I entered the mansion with Morningstar shutting the door behind me.
"So what exactly brings you out to this area?" Morningstar asked, "Something to do with the Highbreed invasion I assume?"
That caused all of us to raise an eyebrow.
"How did you…"
"Follow me." Morningstar smirked.
Michael led us to a room lined with several large monitors and a single massive computer console.
"Whoa." I simply said.
"What is this room?" Gwen asked.
"This is where I monitor various goings-on. Using various relays. Along with the Plumber's badge communication network, I'm able to keep track of a fairly wide area. Helps me better protect people."
"Communication network?" Kevin replied.
"Plumber's badges can be used to communicate with other Plumber's badges. You didn't know that?"
"We do now." I replied.
"So what exactly brings you out to this area?"
"We tracked your badge." I began to explain. "We're putting together a team of Plumber's kids in order to bring down the Highbreed."
"You know, This should make getting into contact with other Plumber's kids easier." Gwen noted.
"That is an excellent idea." Morningstar replied. "If you don't mind my asking, why are you recruiting Plumber's kids? Why not just work with the actual Plumbers?"
"We…" Kevin began to speak up.
"It's complicated." I interjected.
While I was open to the idea of working with Morningstar, there was something in the back of my mind telling me to be careful with just how much information I was willing to share.
"But I take it you're here to recruit me?"
"We could use someone with your powers." Gwen replied.
"I don't know...I have some things to take care of around here and some people to look after. I'll tell you what, give me the night to think it over, and in the meantime why don't you stay the night? I have plenty of spare rooms."
"Spending the night in a mansion? You don't have to ask me twice." Kevin replied. "Are you down, Julie?"
"Sure. It sounds fun."
"Yeah, I suppose we could take you up on your offer." Gwen replied. "Right, Ben?"
"Yeah, it's a pretty tall order to ask. I think we'll take you up on your offer."
"Great. I'll show you to your rooms. There's Gamebox 3 in each room. I also have the new Sumo Slammers reboot."
"Wait, that's not supposed to be out till Christmas." I replied.
"I have some connections. They hooked me up with some copies. I put one in each of the guest rooms."
The thought of playing an unreleased Sumo Slammers game was tempting. The franchise had been lacking in great content for awhile, but that wasn't enough to put my unease about Morningstar to rest.
As Michael led us to our rooms, Kevin decided to voice some concerns about my behavior.
"Dude, what's up with you?"
"What are you talking about?"
"You don't trust him."
"I'm just taking my Grandpa's advice."
"Really? I thought it had something to do with the fact he's been flirting with Gwen."
"I...It has nothing to do with that."
"Really?"
"...Okay, maybe you're right. But it's more than jealousy. I'm telling you there's something off about this guy."
"Look, I have a natural distrust for rich pretty boys as a principle, but it's not like you to be this petty."
"Maybe you'd change your tune if he were flirting with Julie."
"Come on. I'm a bigger man than that."
"Oh, Really?" I replied as I pointed ahead of us. Michael, Gwen, and Julie had stopped in front of one of several doors. He was kissing Julie on her hand, a kiss that seemed just a second too long, but Julie didn't seem to mind.
"I hope you have a wonderful night's sleep." Michael said softly, but loud enough for us to hear. "The beds are quite comfy. So I'm sure you will."
"Thanks." Julie replied, blushing slightly.
"Alright, maybe you're on to something." Kevin murmured.
Morningstar gave Gwen a similar good night greeting, who also blushed in return, but I chose to let it go. I had to. Michael was too good of a potential ally to throw away that easily.
"If any of you feel a little peckish there's plenty of snacks in the first kitchen. Feel free to help yourself."
"Thanks." I simply replied.
I walked up to Gwen, who greeted me with an unusual half-smile. Maybe it was just the lighting, but her skin seemed a shade paler than usual.
"Do you want to come over to our room to play some games before going to bed?" I asked.
"I think I'll pass." Gwen yawned. "I'm starting to feel pretty tired. I think I'm going to turn in."
"Alright then. Good night."
"Good night."
I hugged Gwen goodnight. That's when I noticed her skin wasn't just paler; it was colder too. Not freezing cold but noticeable enough.
"Gwen, I think you might be coming down with another cold."
That was my way of rationalizing the little red flags.
"I'm fine. I'm probably just exhausted from helping out my parents earlier."
That also seemed like a reasonable excuse, so I decided to push the mute button on the little voice in the back of my head telling me something was wrong.
"Either way. Make sure you get a good amount of sleep. Okay?"
"I will."
Kevin said goodnight to Julie, and I gave her a quick goodnight hug as well before entering our rooms. The room was spacious with two king-size beds, a large 120-inch flatscreen TV, and a video game console.
I hopped into the bed closest to the window, and just like Morningstar said, it was the comfiest bed I've ever laid in. I could hear Kevin let out a contented groan as he plopped into his bed, but as comfortable as the bed was, I was anything but content. The lingering feeling that something was enough to overpower any sort of relaxation the bed might offer.
"Hey, want to play some Sumo Slammers?" I sat up and asked Kevin.
I thought maybe a few rounds in the game might help take my mind off things.
"Sure, but I won't go easy on you." Kevin replied.
"Please, you'd be lucky to pull off one combo against me."
I hate to admit it, but Kevin was pretty good. After a few rounds, we were tied three to three.
"This whole Morningstar situation is really eating at you isn't it?"
"Yeah."
"If you don't want him on the team. I'll back you. Just say the word."
"I…"
Before I could say another word, the lamps, the tv, and the console all shut off, leaving us in complete darkness. 'Phew' was my initial thought because I still wasn't ready to commit one way or the other.
"Power must have gone out." I said.
"Gee, ya don't say." Kevin snarkily replied. "Guess, I can't break that tie now."
"Like you were going to. You have a flashlight on you?"
"Usually, yes. But I left it in the car."
I thought for a second before looking at my Omnitrix.
"Hey Omnitrix, do you have a flashlight function?"
"Torch function activated." The Omnitrix replied before a green-tinted light bright enough to just illuminate the room began to emanate from its panel.
"It can talk?"
"Yep. It…" I stopped my sentence short as that lingering feeling suddenly shot up to eleven.
"Gwen? Gwen, can you hear me?"
"Something's wrong. Gwen's not answering."
"Maybe she's just sleeping. "
"No, something's off, I can feel it. Come on, you're telling me you're not getting any sort of feeling about Julie."
I could tell the wheels were turning in Kevin's mind. It didn't take long for his expression to change to a concerned one.
"Alright, after you."
Kevin and I made our way to Gwen and Julie's room. I knocked but didn't get a response. I knocked a couple more times and still nothing. So I just went for it and opened the door.
"Gwen? Julie? Are you girls asleep?" I asked softly before holding the Omnitrix out to illuminate the room.
My eyes widened at what I saw, or rather what I didn't see.
"They're gone." I said to Kevin.
"Okay, consider that bad feeling a terrible one…"
"What feeling?" A voice from behind us asked.
I know he won't admit it, but I know I saw Kevin jump with my peripheral vision.
We turned around to see Morningstar pointing a flashlight at us.
I couldn't help but squint slightly at him. I could swear his complexion had somehow gotten even better and it was almost as if his skin had a slight glow to it.
"Is there something wrong?" Morningstar asked.
"Gwen and Julie aren't in their room." I told him
"Perhaps they went to grab a snack?" He replied.
"I doubt that." Kevin replied.
"Gwen, Kevin, and I have a private way of communicating and she's not answering."
"Well, first things first. We have to get the power back on." Morningstar told us. "Normally the backup generator would have kicked in but it hasn't. I was on my way there now. I think it would be best if we stick together. Then we can look for them."
"I guess you're right." I replied, not seeing many other options.
"Alright, follow me."
After a short walk, we came to a padlocked door.
"Here we are."
Morningstar unlocked the door and stepped inside while we followed closely behind him. The room was barely illuminated by some battery-powered security lights, but it was enough to make out the generator in the distance surrounded by a large fence.
"What the…" I muttered as I noticed the girls surrounding the generator.
"Do you see that?" Kevin asked.
"Yeah." I replied.
There were six of them, each wearing the same school uniform Trina was wearing. In fact, as we got closer we noticed. One of them was Trina.
Morningstar remained silent as we approached the generator, eventually speaking when we got close.
"Ladies, tsk tsk tsk. Where are your manners? I told you I'd bring you more energy later. Lucy, did you put them up to this? You're such a bad influence."
The girls were barely coherent. Simply responding with moans and groans. But it wasn't just their responses that were off; it was their looks. Their skin was pale gray and shriveled, and their eyes were sunken.
"Morningstar, what's going on?" I asked.
"Ben." Morningstar chuckled ominously before slowly turning his head toward me, giving me a smirk that, as much as I hate to admit, sent a slight shiver down my spine . "Didn't I tell you to call me, Mike?"
"I don't think we're doing pleasantries right now, Morningstar." Kevin replied. "What the hell did you do to these girls!?"
"Girls? No, they're my pets. My wonderful pets. You and I are sort of like kindred spirits, Kevin. You absorb matter and energy. I absorb energy as well. My favorite is life energy. All it takes is a little touch to sink my teeth in. Once I take enough they, unfortunately, become like this, but don't worry. I keep them well fed by siphoning off energy from the town's power grid, but occasionally they get a little too rambunctious and crave a bit more. Oh, and where are my manners? I almost forgot to thank you, Ben."
"Thank me for what?" I asked.
"For bringing me such a blue ribbon prize."
"Prize? You mean Gwen…"
"Of course, I mean Gwen. Don't get me wrong that Julie was mighty fine, but she couldn't hold a candle to the energy of that girl."
"Julie…" Kevin replied with venom in his voice. "You monster…"
"What the hell did you do to them!?" Kevin and I both shouted.
Morningstar simply grinned at us before breaking into a laugh starting slow and gradually getting more crazed.
"Ha. Ha ha. Ha ha ha. Hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!"
I was seething with anger. Kevin too. I popped up the display, not even bothering to look at what alien I was going to select. I didn't care as long as it could smash his face in. Meanwhile, Kevin absorbed some of the material from the concrete platform the generator was on. I went to bring my hand down on the Omnitrix while Kevin attempted to throw a punch at him, but before I could activate the Omnitrix or Kevin could land his punch, Morningstar thrust his left hand in the air and released a flashing golden light that temporarily blinded us. It was very brief, but it was just enough from him to slink into the darkness of the room. Before Kevin and I could completely regain our bearings, the girl Morningstar called Lucy shrieked and ripped a large metal pole from the gate that surrounded the generator and swung it at us.
Kevin and I jumped off the platform before the pole could hit us and backed our way into the center of the room.
"Where are you, you shifty son of a bitch!?" Kevin shouted.
"Oh, I'm around." Morningstar's voice echoed through the room, making it impossible to tell which direction it was coming from.
Though I was still mad, the distraction caused by Morningstar allowed me to focus on selecting an alien.
"Alright, I've been wanting to try this one out in combat."
I attempted to bring down my hand, but was, once again, interrupted, this time by a bolt of energy that hit my hand.
"Ah!"
I tried moving my hand faster, but it wasn't fast enough as another bolt hit my hand.
"I don't think so!" Morningstar's voice rang out.
He then began to pelt Kevin with energy bolts too, preventing him from helping me.
It was obvious he did not intend on letting me use my Omnitrix. And to make matters even worse, the girls from the platform had begun to make their way toward us. They were quickly followed by a few more zombified girls, one of which was…
"Julie!" Kevin gasped.
But not Gwen, she wasn't among them.
The energy bolts coming from Morningstar allowed the girls to easily swarm Kevin. The other girls pinned him down while Julie sat on his chest and began to choke him.
Morningstar then began to focus all of his energy bolts on me, doubling his rate of fire.
'Damn it, Ben. Come on. You need to do something now!' I thought.
Doing the only thing I could think of, I fought through the pain of the energy bolts enough to drop back, landing on the ground wrist down, letting the ground activate the Omnitrix.
"Chromathyst!" I shouted as I stood up from the ground in my new alien form, a tall humanoid figure with a dark indigo stone body with the Omnitrix in the center of its chest, magenta crystal hands, four magenta crystals jutting out of the pectorals, and shoulders, and one out of the top of the head, a pink triangular face with a single solid green eye.
Morningstar continued his assault of energy bolts, but I began to absorb the blasts into Chromathyst's body. I quickly channeled some of that energy into an ultraviolet beam that I shot through my hands at the girls, knocking them away from Kevin.
"You haven't won yet!" Morningstar shouted as he increased the rate of fire again.
I channeled the energy through the crystals on Chromathyst's body, using them to illuminate the room and expose Morningstar's location.
"There!" I shouted at Kevin.
Kevin ran at Morningstar, who began to show signs of fatigue, as Kevin easily weaved through his energy bolts.
"It's over Morningstar!" I shouted.
But that exclamation of victory may have been a bit too premature. Before Kevin could reach him, I was suddenly hit from the side by an unseen energy blast, but I didn't have to see to know who it came from. The blast was just enough to knock me off my feet and onto my back.
"Ben!" Kevin shouted.
This brief distraction allowed Morningstar to hit Kevin directly in the face with an energy bolt, knocking him down.
"Gwen…" I said as the unseen attacker came into view.
Gwen looked down at me. She was only about halfway zombified, but that sense of familiarity in her eyes was nearly gone.
"Yes, my new prized possession. Come to me. I need your energy."
"Gwen, no…" I could see Gwen hesitate slightly; there was still some fight in her, but whatever Michael did to her proved too strong as she made her over to him. "Gwen!"
Morningstar grabbed her arm and began to suck the energy out of her. In just a few moments, Gwen had become like the others, while Morningstar's skin, eyes, and even hair glowed with a bright golden shine.
Kevin and I both rose to our feet. Kevin being closer to Morningstar, attempted to attack first, He threw the hardest punch he could but Morningstar caught his fist with little effort and countered with an energy blast to the chest which he quickly followed up with a large two handed blast that easily chipped away all of his protective stone coating causing Kevin to fall to the ground unconscious.
"You're not going to get away with this!" I shouted as I fired an Ultraviolet beam at him.
Morningstar countered with a blast of his own, which instantly began to overwhelm mine.
"Let's see how much of this you can absorb!" Morningstar shouted as his blast hit Chromathyst's body.
Morningstar's energy proved too much to channel and redirect back at him. It was taking everything just to withstand the blast.
"Man! I've never felt this much power! Your energy is something else!"
Despite my best efforts to withstand Morningstar's attack, I knew it was only a matter of time before the Omnitrix timed out. I had to do something. I had to say something. I knew no matter what, Gwen couldn't be completely gone.
"Gwen! I know you're still in there! You're stronger than this! You're stronger than him!"
"It's no use! She's mine! Your precious Gwen is all mine!"
"Gwen, please! You have to fight him! You have to...AAAAAH!"
"B...Ben…"
Gwen grabbed Morningstar by his arm.
"Yes, give me just a bit more and I should be able to turn him into dust!" Morningstar cried.
"N...no...B...Ben."
"What are you doing!?
"Taking back what's mine."
Just as the Omnitrix began to time out, Gwen began to reverse the effects of Morningstar's energy drain causing Morningstar's attack on me to stop. It didn't take long for Gwen to return to normal. The reversal seemed to cause a bit of a backlash as Morningstar was sent flying back by a shockwave while I dropped to my knees as the Omnitrix timed out.
"You...How could you…" Michael snarled as he barely managed to stand on his feet. Morningstar's hair had turned completely white and his skin had started to resemble that of his victims. "You think this is over….Girls, come to me. Give me your energy."
The rest of the girls, including Julie, began to stumble over to him, but it wasn't to help him. Maybe they sensed his weakened state, or maybe Gwen's comeback stirred some fight in them. Whatever the reason, they began to swarm him.
"Girls? What are you doing? No...no...noooooooooo!"
The energy reversal seemed to create more feedback as a shockwave knocked the girls away, but thankfully not too hard.
"Ben, are you okay?" Gwen said as she rushed to my side.
"I'm fine, just exhausted, but I should be asking you that, are you alright?"
"I'm okay. I was able to take back everything and maybe a little extra. Here let me help you up."
"Feels like we've been having to do this a lot lately." I chuckled as I took Gwen's hand.
The warmth of her hand was comforting, but that paled in comparison to her eyes. As I returned to my feet, our eyes met. I couldn't help but stare deeply into them. That warm, familiar glow was back. She was my Gwen again.
Gwen took her other hand and placed it on my lower cheek. She smiled at me with a smile that no one else could replicate and nodded. She didn't say it, but I could tell she was letting me know for sure she was herself again.
"We should check on Kevin and Julie." Gwen said softly.
"Yeah."
Turns out we didn't have to do either as Julie had already recovered and made her way over to Kevin, who had recently come too.
"How are you two feeling?" I asked as Gwen and I approached.
"Besides the splitting headache, sore ribs, and bruised ass, I'll live." Kevin replied.
"I'm alright. No worse for wear. I did get my outfit all dirty though."
"Yeah, one of the hazards of the job." Gwen joked.
I helped Kevin up and the four of us went to check on the other girls.
"How are you girls doing?" I asked.
"I feel like I just woke up from a long nightmare." Lucy replied.
"Except it wasn't a nightmare...Although I wish it was." Trina added.
The rest of the girls seemed fine, too, that just left checking on that vain prickbag.
We walked over to Morningstar who was still conscious but now looking even worse than before closer to something out of a Romero movie.
"You're done, Morningstar." I declared. "You can't hurt anyone anymore."
To all of our surprise, Morningstar began to chuckle through labored breaths.
"It may be over...for me...ha ha...but if you think you can stop the Highbreed you have another thing coming."
"What do you mean? You know something else about them?"
"Yeah...I don't think you realize...just how deep this thing goes...The Plumbers...There's…"
Before Morningstar could say another word, the door Generator room was busted open, and several people in Plumber's suits, some helmeted, some not, ran in carrying weapons and some other pieces of tech, and if that wasn't enough of a surprise, who followed them was. The Plumber's formed two lines and stood at attention as a familiar face walked in wearing a slightly modified, lighter-fitting Plumber's suit.
"Guru Liwanag?"
"What are you doing here?" Julie asked.
Liwanag directed some of the Plumbers to surround Morningstar before addressing us. One of them placed a pair of large metal cuffs around his wrists.
"Containment cuffs have been placed, Proctor Liwanag."
She nodded at the Plumber before addressing us.
"Julie. I see you're okay." She said briefly to Julie, but otherwise, she ignored her question. "Hello, Benjamin, Kevin, and you must be Gwendolyn. Nice to formally meet you."
"Um, likewise." Gwen replied.
"You're a Plumber?" I asked.
"Yes, I…"
"You knew…" Kevin said to Julie, interrupting Guru Liwanag.
"What do you mean she knew?" Gwen asked.
"Julie, you knew your mother was a Plumber this whole time. You just asked her what she was doing here. Not why she was dressed like that."
"Don't be ridiculous, Kevin. Julie didn't…" I began to say.
"I'm sorry…" Julie said apologetically as she turned her head away.
"I gave her strict orders not to say anything, but you can discuss that later. I apologize for keeping my status as a Plumber a secret from you, Benjamin, but I have a very strict policy on who outside of the Plumbers knows my activities. Even if it's someone of your status."
"I guess I understand, but why are you here?"
"We've been doing reconnaissance on Mr. Morningstar for some time now. It was a bit of a surprise to learn you had come into contact with him. But now that we're here you can rest easy. We'll take the rest from here."
"Actually, there's still a couple of questions I'd like to ask him."
"I'm afraid not. Morningstar is to be taken into custody immediately."
"But…" I stopped myself. I could tell from the look on her face there wasn't room for argument. "Alright."
"I'm sure there's more you'd like to discuss with me, Benjamin, and I with you. Meet me at my house tomorrow three.
"Okay." I replied.
"Julie, I will see you later. Make sure you drive safely, Mr. Levin."
She gave Kevin a subtle but intense glare.
Kevin simply shrugged it off and nodded.
We left them to deal with Morningstar and headed to the car. Before Kevin could even put the key into the ignition, Julie spoke up.
"I'm sorry. I didn't want to lie to any of you. Especially not you, Kevin."
"So even at the Pier, you knew about aliens and the Plumbers?" Kevin asked.
"Yes, I even knew who Ben was before I met him."
"I see." Kevin simply replied.
"I wanted to tell you, But Mali ordered me not to say anything. She's a very private person. Not even my dad knows. He thinks she actually runs a security company."
"How long have you known?" Gwen asked.
"I've known since I was 10. My mom, my real mom, was also a Plumber and Mali's partner. She told me about them...right before she was killed in the line of duty."
"Oh, I'm sorry." Gwen replied.
"It's okay. My dad married Mali a year later. I think Mali's strength and conviction reminded him of my mom, but she was much more bubbly, but Mali can have her kind moments too, but I digress. I really am sorry. I hope you can forgive me."
That last line felt mostly directed at Kevin.
"It's water under the bridge." I replied.
"Yeah, after all, your hands were tied. It's understandable." Gwen replied.
Kevin sat in silence for a moment before taking a deep breath.
"I forgive you, Julie. Because you weren't the only one keeping a secret...My father was also a Plumber."
"See Julie, all is forgiven…" I said, before that last sentence was fully processed in my brain. "Wait, what?"
A/N
Hope you enjoyed my spin on Michael Morningstar's debut, and I sincerely hope this chapter was worth the wait for everyone. Let me know your thoughts. What did you think of Chromastone being renamed Chromathyst. I feel like it has a nice ring to it. I changed it because I always thought the crystal features of his body reminded me of crystals you'd see in a geode, like amethyst. I'm also very curious about what people think of Mali Liwanag being revealed as a Plumber. And, of course, I hope you like the Bwen moments. Cya.