"How are you feeling Ben?" her Grandfather asked her.

Green eyes searched for the Magisters brown ones, through the glass, before she was able to reply, "Fine." she lied. Uncomfortable silence filled the empty void between them.

"You should have trusted me, Ben. There's a reason I withheld that information." the old man started. Ben knew what he meant.

"Because you know what's good for me?".

The words had a hard and sharp edge to them and Ben fell silent after they'd escaped her. No, she had not meant for them to come out like that. Didn't her grandfather always know what's good for her? Or maybe he didn't. Maybe he wasn't that great, after all. The brunette turned around and gave him the silent treatment. She had enough of people telling her what was good for her.
This was her life! She was supposed to live it the way she wanted to. Yes, she had done it. The Magister told her the hearing was tomorrow and she could hear his steps walking away.
Her shoulders sagged down and she fell on her knees. Better start picking up the pieces soon.

...

It was the big day, the day of her hearing. Her mother told her to at least wear something more appropriate. There was still that suit hanging in her closet that Ben never wore. It was such a nice suit, but Ben refused to wear it. Her old clothes were fine, they were always fine and always had been.

Her life right now couldn't get any worse. The hearing was restricted. The people sitting in the room, in front of a long white table, could be counted on one hand.

There was her Grandpa, the Magistrata, Judge Domstol and, of course, her lawyer, Chadzmuth. The Galvan coughed as he started, "Your honor", he addressed Judge Domstol, "it's a pleasure to meet you, again."

The judge could just contain himself from rolling his eyes at Chadzmuth's attempt at burrowing up his non-existent bowels. To be completely honest, the Sylonnoid didn't like Chadzmuth. In this case, 'dislike' might even be a word too mild to use.
"No formalities are needed in this hearing. We're here to discuss your client.", the Judge motioned towards Ben who felt kind of lost, sitting in the middle of the room.

The Magistrata looked at the papers in front of her then summed them up," Benjamin Kirby Tennyson copied sensitive intelligence to the data-pad assigned to his name, which was released in public. He is therefore going to be charged with treason against the Plumbers- But I'm sure, we can come to an agreement in this hearing without having to go on a trial.".

Judge Domstol gestured towards the brunette, "Seeing as you are the one who has to face the charges you can defend yourself."

"I-" Ben had just said a word, well, letter, as Chadzmuth interrupted her.

"- I, myself would like to clarify a few things first.". Ben and Judge Domstol took a deep breath, but only Judge Domstol nodded, putting his head into the palm of his hand. He was bored, playing with the pen in front of him as he told Chadzmuth to continue. If the lawyer kept it short he could be home for dinner early and call it a day. "My client is currently put under a lot of stress. And he started menstruating. Humans are sensitive creatures!". Ben rolled her eyes at those words. Sensitive would be the last word anybody would use to describe her. Wait a minute, had he just told everyone in this room she was menstruating?

"Benjamin Kirby Tennyson experiences currently a high level of gender dysphoria! And not only has his current hormone imbalance caused a lot of stress for him, but there are also the power incontinence problems he has developed.". At this point, Ben looked quite uncomfortable and turned her gaze towards the wall, avoiding eye-contact.

"Sum it up, Chadzmuth," Magister Tennyson demanded. He hadn't had all day.

Chadzmuth cleared his throat. "I demand that my client is to be freed of all charges. He had not been in his right mind by the time he committed the crime.". The three leaders exchanged glances with each other. They counted to three before they nodded to each other. Just like they had practiced.

"We will have to discuss this in private." the Magistrata declared and showed them out of the room.

Ben's face was the color of radish as she faced the frog-like extra-terrestrial. "Are you out of your mind?" she snapped at him. To say that she was upset would have been an understatement. 'Pissed off' would be a better description.

The Galvan was not impressed," In your current disposition you're forced to act irrational. You're in a state in which you have trouble thinking of the consequences of your actions. I am sure that the committee will take my suggestion at least into consideration."

Irrational? Ben wasn't irrational! She was angry at the Galvan for talking over her. The brunette exhaled audibly and tried to get the heat out of her face. "And what was that with- with everything? You don't have to tell them that I'm on my period!" she demanded, her voice dropping down to a whisper as a Plumber walked by. It was obvious that he tried his hardest to ignore them.

The Galvan made a dismissive noise and wiggled a finger at his client. "There is nothing shameful about shedding your uterine lining once a month. It's completely natural for your species.". Ben's face became bright red, again, and Chadzmuth decided to just continue speaking, "Actually, I had led some conversations with certain magically inclined people and they suggested, with your current stress level a type of sexual, physical activity might be helpful for your current condition."

The brunette gasped and stared at him, eyes widening in shock, "Have you- Are you saying I need to get laid? I am not having that discussion with you- or anyone!"

"I am not saying that you need to engage in a sexual activity with someone, but I heard that humans can release stress through masturbation-". It was obvious that the Galvan either didn't care, was obvious to Ben's embarrassment or found a sort of sadistic delight in it.

"No!" Ben interrupted him, putting her hands on her ears, refusing to listen to her lawyer any longer. "Please stop talking! Please. Stop. Talking!", she pleaded. She was glad as the door opened and Magister Tennyson stepped out.
"Grandpa!" she walked up to him, then immediately took a step back as she recalled the events of yesterday. They had not parted on a good note. "-Magister Tennyson," she corrected herself.

The Magister closed his eyes before he started to speak, ignoring Ben's behavior. "We talked. After what happened yesterday we cannot afford another scandal by kicking out someone like you. We had to take in consideration that you're still carrying the Omnitrix and that, until now, you have done great work. We believe you haven't done any of those actions out of spite or malice.". The Magister put a hand on Ben's shoulder, "We think it's best to put you on a sabbatical for a year, until you have dealt with your problems. Until then- you're banned from HQ."

She repeated her grandfathers words, unsure if she had not just imagined them: "I am -banned from the HQ?". Ben was shocked.

"It's the best possible action for everyone involved. I am glad you're taking this so well." the older man stated. "I have already ordered another Plumber to gather your belongings and get them back to your home on earth. They should already be there. Rook will be around soon and escort you back. You can't use the teleporter anymore, we have deleted you out of the registry. It'll also be better if you give up your badge for the time being.".

Ben stared at her Grandfather for a while, frowning at the old man. "You're kicking me out?", she stated, bitter at the revelation, then she laughed up, raising her voice. "Of course! You call it a Sabbatical! A way for you and the rest of the Plumbers to let some grass grow over all that shit that has been going on lately!".

As Ben rose her voice a Plumber walking by perked up, eyes wandering to the little group. "Ben," her Grandfather commanded, "stop it.".

"I am not a Plumber anymore, Grandpa!" she shoved her badge into his hand, "And you're not the boss of me anymore."

...

They stopped in front of Ben's house. After getting kicked out of the Plumbers the brunette was less than happy. Which was understandable. Her ex-partner offered to go in with her and spent some time with Ben before he went to work where he was going to get a new partner.
Being put on a sabbatical meant she'd have more time to think about her life and the situation she was in, Rook argued. Besides, it would also give her time learning some magic from her cousin, as Bezel had suggested.

The Revonnahgander asked Ben about her well being. "I'm okay, I guess-" she stopped mid-sentence and turned towards Rook a little pale around the nose.

"You get a new partner? Who?".

Rook sighed. He knew this was coming to him sooner or later.

"Magister Tennyson told me that it is someone you know well and who took his Plumber-exam alongside you.", the alien hinted, looking just somewhat less uncomfortable than in the waiting room of the gynecologist. He slipped back a little in his seat as Ben came face to face with him. Ben's breath was warm on his skin and the brunette was smelling a little like lime, for some reason. Did Ben have a new deodorant?

"Who is it?" she demanded to know.

"It is Tack. The new Plumber transferred to the jurisdiction of earth.", he sunk a little deeper into his seat as Ben started to scowl at him.

"I can't believe it!" the brunette sunk back in her own seat, proclaiming her displeasure with the current changes. She pressed down the doorknob, as she continued to rant on, "I'm being replaced! Replaced by a rookie."

Rook wanted to remind her that he himself had been a rookie as he'd started with Ben, but the brunette was already shoving open the door with full force still continuing with ranting. They froze as a loud clang was heard- the door hit a soft subject who yelled out in pain.

Outside Ester had been on her way towards the Tennyson household. She assumed that Ben might have had searched for a save haven against the media-storm against him and the Plumbers under his parents roof. As she saw the truck she had skipped along towards it in the believe Ben and Rook were there and was surprised by the metal door hitting her in the face. Falling back down on the dirty ground, her head started to ring and her eyes searched for a fixed point landing on the chest of a busty brunette who offered her hand to Ester. The hybrid held her nose, blood trickling down her hand in a steady stream, while her eyes wandered from the brunettes chest to the arm offered to her. Then it landed on the watch on her arm. to the watch on the arm.

"Ben?" she asked in disbelieve, her hand grasping for Ben's.

She was pulled up and Rook offered her a kerchief for her nose, which she took, thanking him. Yes, she had heard that Ben changed appearances, but she hadn't actually seen those changes.
The hybrid had trouble believing it. As the bleeding had halfway stopped she started to talk, giving away the reason why she came to the Tennysons in the first place: "My mother is coming to Bellwood. She's been released from jail.".

Ben shrugged her shoulders, "And why should I bother?"

"My mother",Ester started to explain, "should be closely observed! She's a criminal. She- she's a mobster and leads a gang and is an arsonist and- and-"

Rook shook his head, "Ester. Your mother just came out of jail. It is impossible for us, the Plumbers, to take any action against someone who has not done any crimes. She was in jail, which meant she has done her time."

"Besides," Ben turned around towards her,"isn't your mother human? The Plumbers can't do anything against ordinary humans."

Ester looked less than happy, "But-" she took a deep breath, then she looked up, her gaze directed at Rook.

The Revonnahgander looked thoughtful. "Ester, maybe it is better when you talk to your mother about your feelings?" he suggested.

He tried to lay his hand on her shoulder but she shook her head and took a few steps back, "I knew none of you would get it!". Ester turned around and ran away.

Ben and Rook looked at each other, shrugging as they walked towards the entrance door. They knocked at the door to Ben's childhood home and were greeted by Sandra Tennyson, who didn't seem surprised that her son turned into a daughter.
Ben's mother took the madness of existence in stride. "Ben! Come in!" Sandra stood back and let her and Rook in. "Oh, by the way. A friend of yours, came over too. She was so excited to see where you grew up!"

Rook and Ben exchanged worried glances, "A friend?".

...

Ben ripped open the door to her room and saw the frog-princess sitting on her couch, eating her chips and playing her video-games! She walked in front of the television, obstruction her view on the TV-screen. Attea was trying to see past her but gave up and instead just glared at the brunette from where she was sitting, not bothering to stand up.

"What are you doing here?" Ben asked, putting her hands on her hips.

"What does it look like? I'm staying here!" she declared, an empty bag of chips landing on the floor.

The princess caught sight of a new bag of chips and grasped it with her tongue. As she ripped it open and shoved a chip into her mouth another one fell on the floor. The bag was ripped out of her hands by an infuriated Ben."You have some nerve to- How did you even get in here?" the original owner of the room demanded to know.

"Your mother let me in- told her I was a friend of yours- Oh, by the way-" she handed her a letter, "as Magister Zorian dropped me off here -together with your stuff- he told me to give this to you. He wasn't happy- oh wait- that was the guy you drugged, right?".

Ben gave her a glare, as she took the letter from Attea. "Don't worry", she put up her hands, "I haven't read it.".

"Get out of my room!" Ben demanded shoving the green alien out of the door.

She grabbed Rook by his uniform as he wanted to leave too, "Not you Rook! Just her!". The brunette shoved a finger into Attea's direction and shut the door as soon as Attea was outside.
"That's-" Ben took a deep breath, sitting down on the couch, trying to calm down before she continued reading, Rook sitting down next to her. "The Magistrata decided that Attea will be staying with me until they can find a suitable place to hide her." Ben summarized.

The alien was confused: "But you are currently on your sabbatical.".

"This letter had been signed before I'd been sent on my sabbatical." Ben pulled on her hair, "You know what this means? That letter had been signed yesterday. The Magistrata knew the outcome even before the hearing! The whole hearing was just for show!"

Rook looked at the letter, thinking, as Ben handed it to him. Reading through it, while Ben walked through the room.

"This is-" Rook tried to find the right words.

Ben took the letter and shook it in front of her partners face. "I am sure there's a law against this! I- I go and- and tell Chadzmuth! I can't sleep with Attea living in the same house as me!". The brunette stopped right in her tracks, an idea forming inside her head, "I go and live with Gwen!". She pulled out her sports-bag and filled it with underwear and socks.

Rook stood up from his place on the couch and tried to calm down Ben. "Just imagine how Gwen will react when you come to her like this. Also, she already lives together with Kevin and Zed. Maybe you are acting too hasty? You should at least stay for one night." the Revonnahgander suggested. For a moment Ben stopped cramming a shirt into the already full bag and started chewing her bottom lip, nodding.

"Yeah, I guess you're kind of right. But there's no way Attea is going back into my room! She can sleep on the couch for all I care!", with those words, she emptied the bag into her drawer.

Rook excused himself. The Revonnahgander wasn't able to stay longer and join them for dinner. Sandra and Ben saw him off and Ben's mother disappeared into the kitchen to prepare the dinner for the evening. Ben and Attea sat on the couch staring each other down. They weren't sure who should start their verbal fight. But after a while Ben decided to begin. "I heard of your mother." Ben began, "So, she was like a biological weapon? Polema. It does sound like a virus."

"You can read?"the Incursean retorted, raising a fascinated eyebrow, "What else did you get from those files you stole?".

Ben did not go into anther attack. Instead she went into the defensive. "How'd you know that?" the brunette inquired.

The princess produced a dismissive sound, "News travel fast around the base. By the way: how was your date with the resident lesbian?"

"That's none of your business!" the brunette snapped at her, heat traveling up her head.

"Neither is you getting into my family business. Or you know, general Plumber business. Not like you're a Plumber anymore- actually you never were a Plumber!". Attea grinned, "Not only are you a high school drop-out, you're not even a Plumber! And the best part" she noticed the expression of anger on Ben's face and the way she formed her hands into fists, "you can't do anything against me being here!".

The brunette balled her hands into fists and did her best to suppress the need of punching Attea's smug grin off her face. This was a fight Ben was unable to win. If she wasn't able to win she better leave the battlefield.

Ben stood up. "I'm going out!" she yelled towards the kitchen, ignoring Attea who was within celebrating her conquest.

"Wait, Ben!" Sandra quickly walked out of the kitchen but Ben was already gone. The blonde put her fists on her hips and sighed, looking at the door. Then she turned towards Attea, frowning, "Was that really necessary?".

...

Raff walked into the damp bathroom. One of the great things about being royalty: the expansive and wide accommodations. Polema could do without all this. Could! But she had taken a liking to it. It was so much better to molt in a nice hot bath, instead of trying to dry rub the old skin off.

The steam from the hot bath rose up, coating the mirrors and the walls. The Sylonnoid had slight trouble navigating through the vast bathroom with all the steam everywhere. It made his joints ache.
He could make out how a piece of old skin disappeared between Polema's sharp teeth as Raff finally stood in front of her.

"Fourteen years?" she inquired, that's how long she was stuck in stasis, which Raff confirmed.
She sunk down and motioned him to come over. Obediently he did."Can you pass me the wire-brush? I've still got some skin stuck on my back." she demanded. As Raff was busy rushing her back and getting rid of the old and dead skin she started to speak up again. "The one who got away is on that planet, earth? Hiding behind enemy lines-Plumbers-", she closed her eyes completely waiting for Raff to confirm what she said. Then she opened them again as he did.
"What are we going to do now, Raff?" she asked her fingers reaching for the old flakes of skin drifting in the water.

Raff bowed his head a little, "Whatever my queen wishes to do.".

The green space lizard tilted her head to the side, then to the other side and drifted off into the warm water, causing Raff to stop brushing her back. She peeked out from the water, her transparent eyelids folding back and then she climbed out of the bathtub. To dry she laid down under the basking lamp. As a cold blooded reptile she needed to keep warm.

"I am bored." she looked at her hands, regarding her claws. "Let's go there!".

Raff stood up, unimpressed by the naked reptile. "Shall I fetch the general and prepare your Incursean army?" he inquired bowing submissively.

"Nah! I want to surprise her!" she looked at Raff and grinned at him, showing her sharp little teeth, lined up evenly against each other. "Go get me my old clothes." she commanded "And I need a small ship. Nothing too fancy.".
As Raff stood up she looked at him. She laid her head queer, lifting up his robe a little, "And get some pants. You know, your old clothes. I can't take you anywhere in that outfit. It will just be the two of us, tomorrow." The Sylonnoid stopped as she tugged at his robe again, stating that she was hungry.

"Of course my queen!" he bowed and walked out of the door, to get the queens old clothes and something to eat.

...

Inside the Burger Shack she sat, staring out into the rain. The sound of water against the glass sent shivers down her , how she hated the cold!
She preferred the warmth. Lazy eyes wandered over empty seats and through dark windows. Then her gaze fixated on the cash register, a cold and calculating gaze. When the eyes are the window to the soul hers were frozen solid. Her minion stepped up to her and handed her a doggy-bag with food. Though she was rather thoughtless, addressing her as boss and the red-haired lackey was quickly reprimanded for this misstep.

"Out here," she put the straw close to her mouth, "it's Daisy. I am not in my 'business suit', Pinky.".

While the red-haired young woman took a bite out of her burger, she started to talk "Anyway have you thought of- you know- getting back your old job? It'll be kind of difficult. I mean it was- five years- a lot has changed."

The older, tow headed woman chewed on a chili fry. Her eyes wandered over the place, taking note of a security camera in the corner. "It's those alien-bastards?" she asked, causing Pinky to choke on her bite from the burger.
"It's those alien-bastards." her former question turned into a statement, "Since they came here- How many kneecaps do they have? Will it be enough to break all of them or just a few?"

The red-head shifted in her seat, visibly uncomfortable "Daisy- I- I don't-"

"Why the fuck are you so nervous?", the old woman's tone was biting and her eyes filled with hate. "I leave you in charge of a group I led with success for so long, then you screw everything up. We were great once and now look at us! We are nothing. What have we come to? Henchmen and lowly thugs. Back as I was still the leader the group was stronger- better."

Pinky stared at her burger, not daring to take another bite. "Forgive me.", she bowed her head towards her boss, who was lighting up a cigarette inside the restaurant.

Her eyes shifted annoyed to the nervous cashier who had walked up to them, explaining to her in a shaky voice that she wasn't allowed to smoke inside the restaurant. She laughed, putting out her cigarette on the table. The older woman gestured towards her minion, a silent command to stay where she was.
Daisy walked into the rain she hated so much. Her walk was calm and slow, the door gently falling into its hinges behind her as she stepped out. Daisy didn't come back for a while.
The clock kept ticking and Pinky was chewing on her own fries, not moving. She would never question or disobey the orders given by her boss.

Her eyes were fixated on the fries in front of her as heavy boots kicked open the door. The person was dressed in red from head to toe. An old bat, held by dark red-leather gloves swung through the air and crashed through the nearest glass window. Shards of glass danced in the air for a few moments to the sound of thunder and rain, reflecting the lightning and hitting the ground clanking. It was a horrifying experience. Not a word was said, not a sound came from the red daemon as it leaned over the cashier.
The last thing he saw was his own terrified expression reflecting in the polished visor of the motorcycle helmet.
He screamed. Then he was quiet.
Determined steps walked to the cash-register which was ripped open and the bills taken out to be stuffed into the pockets of a fireproof jacket without care.

A gloved hand motioned towards Pinky who stood up and followed the red stranger. Loyal as ever. They had walked a while, the rain still pouring down. An endless stream of water falling from the
sky. It seemed as if the flood tried to purge the earth again. Which was quite understandable. The sky ,raven-black, on occasion set aflame by lightning and shaken by thunder.

"So boss, the time in jail hadn't hurt you then?" Pinky finally asked, coming face to face with a polished visor, staring at her in silence.

Pinkie was unable to determine her boss' expression behind that visor. She was awfully quiet, thinking and planning. Then she said something that made Pinkie a little puzzled.

The woman in red pointed at the sky, "Hera. She's coming."

"Who's Hera?"

Red laughed and patted her shoulder, leaving her befuddled. "Come-" she motioned towards the red-haired young woman, "we have to prepare. And tell me: how is Missy doing?"

...

At the same time on the dark side of the moon, where she was hidden away Hera ripped herself apart and divided, one half fell onto earth into the darkest corner and the other returned home to her vacant throne.