So we march our way to chapter 6 and it looks like we're expecting a certain bounty hunter to come into play, and know I'm not talking about Bounty Hunter Illya from my story of the same name, and so far the relationship between Ben and Altera is quite interesting. Now let's look at reviews!
RyuuundyingSoul: yeah I'm having a blast with the interactions thus far, so much potential.
walteralex2001: welcome to the story, so glad you like it! Don't worry Altera will show off her other abilities later on.
Fate/Ben 10 belong to Nasu and Man of Action. It's hero time!
Chapter 6: The Hunt Begins
In the precipice of space the warship Chimerian Hammer was cruising along. Three lights lit up three armored individuals. Bounty hunters.
Tetrax. Kraab. SixSix.
"Begin the audition."
One of the armored bounty hunters SixSix shot forth using using a jet pack and landed amongst various drones, he immediately began firing blasters at them destroying many in quick secession. Another group taken out via a hand thrown explosive, more drones flew in and the yellow mechanical crab looking bounty hunter Kraab with a big left pincer jumped in to showcase his abilities.
He took out three drones with said pincer and hacked up a fourth one with a blade he drew from his back via his right hand. A hatch opened up and a bigger drone came down, the third bounty hunter in all black Tetrax took out a cyan colored hoverboard and flew at the machine only to be hit with an energy blast. However the blast proved ineffective and the black bounty hunter continued to destroy the machine in one solid hit.
A screen monitor came on and Vilgax was shown.
"Impressive, you are all hired. Your objective is to retrieve the Omnitrix, whoever succeeds will collect the reward, one more thing, if you can, I'd like you to capture someone as well."
The image screen showed a certain girl from a certain campsite battle.
"Get her, and you get double the payment. Do not disappoint me."
Three pods would be launched from the ship making a be-line for the earth below.
Back on earth, still in a desert region, Max had just finished the final touches on an obstacle course.
"You ready!?"
Ben was standing in the middle looking quite sure of himself as he activated the watch and transform into Diamond Head.
"Oh yeah!"
"Remember to think out there Ben, don't just try to muscle it. Might isn't always right."
"I know, but it is always fun."
As he said this Diamond Head morphed his fingers to spikes. Max flipped a lever and cans were sent hurtling his way which he knocked out of the way. Two more levers pulled and targets came down, those got struck to.
More cans, cacti made to look like bandits, more standing targets, Diamond Head was hitting them all. Meanwhile Gwen and Altera were sitting to the side on chairs watching.
"Show off." Gwen said while applying sun block.
Altera meanwhile was watching with rapt attention, and she wasn't pleased with what was presented.
"Focus Ben. Think." Max called.
"Nope. No worries Grandpa!" Diamond Head responded as he ducked more cans and took them out.
He wasn't paying attention though as a tire came down and hit him across the face sending him flying while accidentally discharging a shot of crystals which went everywhere.
"AAH!!" Gwen screamed as she moved out of the way.
One of the crystal spikes struck the sun block bottle knocking it over and letting the cream spill out over the table, and it just so happen it was Altera who just crawled out from underneath, needless to say she was all sorts of pissed as sun block poured over her head.
"BENJAMIN! KIRBY! TENNYSON!!!"
"Oh...no."
"You're so in for it now doofus." Gwen grumbled.
"Come over here. NOW!"
Diamond Head meekly walked over to Altera, to any outside on looker it would be a strange sight that a big hulking diamond creature was cowering under a little ten year old looking girl.
"What did your grandfather keep telling you to do?"
"...Think?" Diamond Head uttered.
"Is that a question or a definitive answer?" Altera growled.
"Look I know I-"
"Shut up!!"
Diamond Head shut his trap immediately.
"I was hoping that since the experience with the Kraken that you would be more inclined to actually put a good head on your shoulders...but now it seems you have a habit of being a show off! A show off who can't listen to a simple piece of advice, and look what the result was! You could have gotten all of us skewered, just think what it would have been like if this wasn't a simple training session. What then! Hero!"
Diamond Head turned back to Ben who had a frightened and pitiful expression on his face.
"You...are an idiot. Perhaps having all that power on someone so young and brash was an absolute mistake, it's gotten to your head."
Altera turned around and proceeded to walk off.
"A-Altera...?"
"Silence. I don't talk to haphazard idiots."
That was all she said for the brief pause and continued on her little walk. She didn't even bother to look at him. Ben fell to his knees and faintly reached out to her but he let his arm go limp.
Gwen walked up looking on at the retreating form of the mysterious girl.
"*whistles*...That was crazy, but she has a point."
Gwen looked at Ben and was surprised by what she witnessing.
Ben was crying.
The drive was silent, Gwen could only look at her cousin as he sat by himself completely sulked. Sometimes she would catch him sparing a glance or two at Altera who was simply sitting shotgun up front. Max felt he should say something but then thought it was best that his grandson work things out with Altera, so he thought he could still try to reach Ben about the purpose of the exorcise.
"Ben, understand that we simply want you to take that thing on your wrist more seriously, it's not a toy, you need to think when you use it."
"Hmm." Was Ben's response.
"Ben? Hey, look all that we want is that you just don't screw around, there's a chance you may get your but kicked. Ya know.?" Gwen said trying to consul her depressed cousin.
"Hm."
Gwen only sighed as it seemed Altera's words had a major affect on the normally boisterous doofus. Suddenly it seemed that the Rustbucket began to break down.
"Uh oh. That doesn't sound good." Max said.
Back at the obstacle course, one of the bounty hunters Tetrax was handling a tracker.
"This is where the Omnitrix was last activated."
A little ways from him Kraab and SixSix was watching as their colleague approached the structure. SixSix spoke in his guttural tongue before flying off to Tetrax.
"You can say that again. A rock pile like this is better off space dust." Kraab said.
Tetrax was following the traces when he stumbled upon one of the cans pierced by Diamond Head's shards, he was gonna reach for it when it was snatched up by wires from SixSix'a suit. Tetrax blatantly grabbed the wire and ripped it off. Hostility was building between the hunters.
SixSix uttered something that came off like a insult and challenge.
"Whoa-ho, big talk from a gear head." Kraab chuckled.
"Get in my way again, and I'll teach you how to say dismantled." Tetrax threatened.
SixSix backs up and says something like 'Have it your way' before flying off.
Tetrax would continue his trek as Kraab burrows underground. Tetrax would stumble on one of the triggers for the targets and pulled out his blaster to obliterate the course.
The Tennysons and Altera found themselves in a abandoned mining town called Slaterville.
"Seems like this place has been uninhabited for quite sometime." Altera said.
"My Intellomat program says this is Slaterville, incorporated in 1857 after the discovery of silver. Went bust in the late 50s once the mine ran dry."
Ben simply stood by not bothering to listen as he still looked depressed.
"Aha! I found the problem." Called Max.
All three kids looked over to see what it was.
"Leaky fuel line."
True enough, the fuel line had a shard in it from earlier with the Diamond Head incident. Ben slowly turns around to look at Altera and flinched upon seeing the dark look she was giving him while crossing her arms. He quickly looked away feeling even crappier. Gwen simply had a worried look on her face to worry too much about a fuel line, it seemed Ben was hit harder than she thought.
"I should be able to patch this up." Max said.
"I'm gonna go check the place out." Ben said glumly.
"Altera? Please, look after Ben." Gwen asked.
Altera shrugs and walks after Ben.
Ben walked into an old warehouse of sorts, he was fascinated by the old school look of a lot of the items, but he wasn't so into it as he would like, he was constantly hung up on Altera, sure she was mad before but now it seems he crossed the line. Little did he know said girl was watching him from outside out of view, she watched as he just stood their glum. Altera began to feel a bit bad, he was just a kid, a kid who shouldn't have such a burden placed upon him, but he doesn't have to shoulder that burden alone, she thought about approaching the sullen boy and talking.
SixSix was trying to look for a beacon that shows the activation of the Omnitrix but so far nothing came up, but as he flew over Slaterville he noticed another target of interest. Where there was one, the other had to be nearby.
Altera walked into the old building when she saw Ben start to move. She was gonna call for him when by chance Kraab burrows up from the ground alarming both of them. Kraab saw the watch on the boy.
"How lucky, I stumble upon two targets in one, double the reward."
"Ben!"
"Altera!?"
Kraab went after Ben first who quickly transformed into Ghostfreak. Altera rushed for Kraab but sensed danger as she dodged an attack by SixSix.
"Two of them!"
"Hand over the Omnitrix and I promise you won't suffer...much." Kraab threatened.
"Dream on claw boy."
Meanwhile Altera was locked in hand to hand combat with SixSix, she dodged a few hand thrown explosives and took up a pipe, she took a few swings but SixSix blocked them easily and knocked them away, though he will admit there was a lot of strength behind each blow from the girl so he stumbled a few times. The hunter launched some of his wires and managed to snag her when a flash of light exploded off her. Catching Kraab and Ghostfreak's attention.
Max and Gwen ran in after hearing the explosions to see what was going on and their eyes widened when they saw Altera.
"Oh you guys are in trouble now." Ghostfreak said.
Smoke clearing there stood Altera in her adult form, Photon Ray at the ready. SixSix charged her with his jet pack and Altera moved to the side and took a swing which was followed by a whip of rainbow light that bounty hunter narrowly avoided, but was then met with a heavy kick sending him into a heap. Kraab turned his attention to Altera but Ben took advantage by going invisible.
"Arrogant and dimwitted!" Kraab said as the heat sensor picked up Ghostfreak's location and hit the Ectonurite with a sludge to make him visible.
"Ben!" Altera shouted.
She was gonna take care of Kraab when Tetrax barreled into her.
"Target number two."
"Altera!" Ghostfreak shouted.
"Your protoplasm has been solidified, making it easier to do this!"
Kraab hit Ghostfreak with a solid right making him fly back hard into the wall.
"Grandpa we have to help!" Gwen begged.
"We'll have to wait for an opportunity somehow! I'd hate to say it but we'll have to find a place to hide and wait."
Tetrax was clashing blades with Altera having pulled out his own energy blade. He then hopped on his hover board and began to fly around Altera in an attempt to confuse her. Altera for her part was panting, maintaining her adult form was staring to take its toll on her, but she had to hold out, she sliced a wooden beam sending a platform full of junk down onto Tetrax who narrowly avoided it.
"Your getting tired, you won't last!"
Altera glanced over to see Ben get sent flying as Kraab went after him telling him he was hardly worth the hunt. Max rushed in over and pulled a lever sending a platform that the hunter was on into the ceiling. Ben turned back not long after.
Altera collapsed to her knees and reverted to her larva state, a recoveered SixSix came up behind her and hit her with a powerful electric shock from his cables. She writhed on the floor as SixSix picked her up.
"I'll take the Omnitrix, you can have the girl." Tetrax said.
SixSix shot off with Altera over his shoulder.
"Nooo!!" Ben cried.
Max grabbed him as he and Gwen ran for it. Tetrax was going to blast them when Max noticed some old oil cans.
"Gwen do you have any matches?"
Gwen pulled some out and lit one before tossing it at the cans, still some liquid oil left as it lit up, the warehouse explodes with Tetrax caught inside as the Tennysons escaped.
"We need to save Altera!" Ben cried.
"We'll get her but right now we need to move, I'd imagine we only slowed him down."
They were back on the road and on edge. Gwen was looking out for any surprise.
"They said they were going after the watch, they called it the Omnitrix. But what do they want with Altera?" Ben asked looking panicked.
"That's a mystery that's needs solving." Max said.
Suddenly a thud was heard from the roof and a saw blade was cutting into to it, and peeling it back was SixSix.
"One of them's back!"
SixSix tried to gran at Ben but Max quickly stopped the Rustbucket sending the hunter off and sprawling on the ground. He got up but was quickly ran over, the result was the tires getting popped.
Max looked over to see an old mine.
"In there!"
SixSix watched as they ran, then Kraab came in out of nowhere having survived the explosion.
"Remember me."
The Tennysons made it into the mine, they rounded a corner and to their surprise and relief they found a knocked out Altera bound up by SixSix's wires.
"Altera!" Ben shouted with joy as he went to her.
"Ben?" She said groggily waking up.
There wasn't time to check if she was fully ok, Kraab came up soon after.
"The Omnitrix, give it to me!"
Max threw a piece of metal which was destroyed instantly in Kraab's claw, Ben picked Altera up bridal style and began to run with the others.
As Kraab pursued them they made it to a large open mining area.
"Now what!"
Max spotted an old cable cart.
"We take a ride."
They ran to the cart as Kraab came up. The children got onboard as Max pulled the lever, and jumped just to the edge of the moving cart as his grandchildren helped him in.
"What a pathetic excuse for prey."
Kraab was gonna cut the rope but was blasted by SixSix who flew to the cart and started blasting it as the group got Altera out of her binding, she was exhausted however.
"We got company closing in fast!" Gwen said.
"We need a plan."
Ben fiddled with the Omnitrix till it finally became active.
"Yes! Who needs plans when-!"
He cut himself off when earlier today resonated in his head, he looked at Altera who was meeting his eyes with a tired expression.
"Ok, need to think."
Ben dialed through the different aliens and found the most useful one. One flash and he was smaller.
"Grey Matter! Time for big brains."
The little alien hopped up and landed on an oncoming SixSix who tried to shake him off.
"Let's do a little rearranging of your jet pack."
Having pulled out important components SixSix began to go crazy in flight before slamming into a wall.
Grey Matter hit the ground dazed.
"Ben! Meet us on the other side!" Max called.
"I'll be there-!"
Kraab snatched him up in his claw.
"Can't think as a human so you picked a Galvin to be the brains, how cunning."
Kraab was then blasted and knocked out by Tetrax who came in and snagged Grey Matter before hovering off into the tunnel and out to the abandoned town.
"Billions of beings on this planet and the Omnitrix is in the hands of some foolhardy youth."
"Well I'd hate to brake it too you but it doesn't exactly come off."
"Of course it doesn't, the Omnitrix contains the DNA of every alien in the universe, and it bonds to the genetic structure of its host! It can't be removed as simply as taking off a hat. I will say you did surprise me that your choice of warrior was a Galvin, utilizing brains over brute strength."
"Well, a dear friend said she doesn't talk to haphazard idiots." Grey Matter spat.
"I assume that friend is the girl SixSix should have taken away? The fool simply came back just for double the reward and it costed him some equipment. Maybe the girl is your mate or something."
"Mate!? As if!" Grey Matter shouted embarrassed.
"Whatever it doesn't concern me. Just know that the Omnitrix is supposed to be the greatest weapon created in the midst of an epic battle between good and evil."
"And whose side are you on?"
"Your still alive aren't you. My mission is to retrieve the Omnitrix and since your in my grip I will return with you for removal."
"Hey! Let me go! Just who do you think you are!?"
Tetrax's helmet unveiled itself to reveal a Diamond looking alien like Diamond head.
"You're...me?"
"Wrong! I am a noble warrior, you are an impulsive annoyance."
The Omnitrix began to power down and Tetrax let him go to revert back before taking him by the shirt.
"We've wasted enough time."
"Hey let me down!"
Not even two steps and they heard a voice.
"Looking for this?"
Kraab came out with Tetrax's hover board.
"You're not leaving this planet with the Omnitrix, and just to be sure."
SixSix walked out with a captured Gwen, Max and Altera.
"Hands off!"
"Let me go!"
"Ben!"
Ben and Tetrax only looked on at the trouble before them.
"See we decided to work together, split the reward, and you, in half."
Kraab began to fire beams at the two unlikely allies, Tetrax'a crystal body tanking much of the hits, he then ran with Ben into a building and abruptly dropped the youth as he took more fire.
SixSix said something to Kraab which seemed to offend him.
"Can it metal mouth, I know what I'm doing."
Back in the building Ben spoke to Tetrax.
"What are we doing!? We have to save them!"
"Securing the Omnitrix is the only top priority."
"Not to me, they're my family."
"You can't save them. You will only be overwhelmed and captured. The only way to survive is to retrieve my hoverboard, and leave this planet."
"But-"
"Stay here." Tetrax said as he ran out into the hail of beams.
He sent crystal shards right at SixSix who let go of his captives and fell back to the ground. Tetrax charged Kraab and jumped retrieving his hoverboard before riding off into a loop and jumping off to tackle SixSix, a dust cloud created upon impact.
Tetrax hit a couple of punches on SixSix sending him back only to retaliate with a rocket, that Tetrax blocked with a crystal shield. Kraab tried to ambush from behind but was blocked and sent flying, Ben would look on as the Omnitrix became fully charged.
"Alright. Hero time."
Kraab spotted him as he ran inside and began to follow. Ben once more turned back into Grey Matter, and just as Kraab destroys the table he was hiding behind.
Kraab looked around wondering where his target was, only for Grey Matter to hop down from a overhead beam and land on his shoulder.
"Get off me you tiny little-!"
"There should be a nerve cluster somewhere in here."
Grey Matter began to pull on some wires making Kraab go wild as he began to spark. The little alien then completely pulls more out making the hunter's head spin before shutting down.
"One down!"
SixSix clashed with Tetrax. It seemed he managed to somehow repair his jet pack as he grabbed the Petrosapien, and launched upward before hitting a mega pile driver into the dirt.
SixSix would catch sight of Grey Matter, and once he prepared a missile was jumped by Altera.
"Ben!"
"Altera! Destroy his jet pack!"
Doing as he said she punched into the pack damaging it enough that the hunter was once more sent into a wild flight, he ended up hitting a rusted beam of a water tower before skidding to the ground next to the fallen Kraab, the tower began to fall.
"I hate this planet."
The tower hit them covering them in a wash of water.
"Now that's how you beat the desert heat." Grey Matter said as he hopped onto Altera's hand with the latter giving a light smile.
"Pretty smart, for a human." Tetrax said. Grey Matter only nodded.
Tetrax then shot some kind of energy cube at the bounty hunters which acted as a prison and shrunk to smaller size.
"I'll return as soon as I am able."
"But wait, what about this?"
"It's in good hands for now. I believe this will also be of some use." Tetrax said giving Ben his hoverboard.
"Oh man! Are you serious!? Wait? I thought you needed it to get off the planet?"
"Selective disinformation."
"Huh?"
"He lied Ben." Altera said.
"As for you young lady, I see you have a knack for energy blades. Here."
Tetrax gave Altera his plasma blade.
"Make sure the current wielder of the Omnitrix matures, ok?"
Altera nodded.
With that done, Tetrax proceeded to teleport off planet.
Back on the Chimaeran Hammer Vilgax was not pleased. A monitor watched as a craft left earth.
"Betrayed!"
"Scanners show that the Omnitrix or the girl is not with the mercenaries."
"It would appear that the creature that the creature who posses the Omnitrix, is more clever and fierce than I thought, and that girl might be equally so. I will not be denied.
"Altera? I…I wanted to say sorry for being a haphazard idiot. I don't want you to hate me." Ben said as he sat on the floor of the Rustbucket with his head dipped as Altera was behind him. He stiffened when he felt a pair of arms wrap around his neck.
"Oh Ben. I don't hate you. I'm sorry for blowing up on you like I did, your still a child and need to make mistakes, but please understand I only want what is best for you. All I ask, os that you listen. You've shown just that earlier."
"Hey quit sounding so old." Ben said playfully.
Ben looked back at her as the two shared a smile in reconciliation. Then the door opened and Max and Gwen walked in catching them in their current position.
"Now what might you two be doing?" Max asked with a playful look.
"OOOOHHH! I know what they were doing. Mwamwamwamwamwa."
"Shut up dweeb!"
AN: and that is that for this chapter! Do tell me what you think as we move on to the next!
Next chapter: Electric Tourism
Bye!