We now roll into the 9th chapter, the events prior have really raised the stakes for the future, who knows what will give moving forward. Now let's check out the reviews.
Bluecore: thank you!
Walteralex2001: easy there man I know you're excited for alien force onward but we'll get there. I do appreciate your love for my work though.
ultima-owner: it may seem so
Milo S Darek: the threat level does seem to be rising, yeah Ben may need to get it together and sooner than later and I'm sure George can hold his own against Altera.
epantoja521: you think Kevin might die? Dark.
Fate/Ben 10 belong to Nasu and Man of Action. It's Hero Time!
Chapter 9: Allies
On board the Chimerian Hammer, Vilgax's robotic lieutenant was announcing his latest achievement.
"These are the newest Mechadroids. Equipped with the improved internal tracking system, they should be able to find and retrieve not only the Omnitrix, but the female that accompanies its holder as well."
"They may find them, but retrieving them will not be easy, whoever possesses the Omnitrix continues to be an opponent of extreme danger and inspiring brilliance, and the living weapon herself is also not to be taken lightly."
Back on Earth, the Tennysons and Altera were in a store, Ben was walking by an assortment of cookie boxes.
"Man I'm starved." Ben said as his stomach growled.
"Maybe you shouldn't have skipped out on breakfast." Altera said.
Ben then looked over at the cookies and took a box but caused the rest to tumble down on his cousin Gwen.
"Smooth move Tennyson." Gwen grumbled.
The sound of a ringing bell was heard as the trio walked outside, max was in the midst of washing the windows, a bit of blue writing saying wash me.
"Ah, nice artwork Ben."
"Oh you know, makes a statement."
Suddenly a nearby red truck was blasted.
"No! That's a statement!" Gwen said.
Three heavily armed figures came up, each wearing gruff looking biker outfits and masks to hide their identities, what looked like the leader came forward.
"What are you looking at?"
She pointed her blaster at the group and fired.
"Kids! Get back!" Max said as he pushed them behind the camper and Max narrowly avoided the blast.
The trio looked at Max who was sprawled onto the ground.
"Gotta get Grandpa out of there!" Ben said as he dialed up the Omnitrix.
Altera for her part took out her plasma blade she received from Tetrax. The crooks were looting from the wrecked vehicle when they heard a rumble and looked over to see Four Arms. The Tetramand slammed his two lower arms to the ground causing a rupture that sent the crooks into the air and fall back on the resulting rubble.
Four Arms saw the driver of the truck stumble out.
"You ok?"
The man saw him and ran off frightened.
"AAH!"
"I'll take that as a yes."
Four Arms ended up eating a blast sending him sprawling into a pillar, the lead crook then blasted the gas pump causing an explosion.
"Ben!" Max shouted as he a Gwen looked on in horror.
Altera who was skillfully blocking ray blasts with her blade was in utter shock as worry shown on her face.
Thankfully it seemed Ben was ok, he leapt out of the smoke and smashed down on the ground sending all three crooks flying. Four arms picked up two of them and removed their masks to reveal they were girls.
"Wha-? Your all women, I don't wanna hurt-AAAAHH!"
Ben's hesitance costed him as the third crook blasted him in the back.
"We'll isn't that sweet." Said the third woman.
Altera immediately charged her but was noticed and shot at, but she dodged and was about to strike when they were interrupted by a noise, two drones came from the smoke and began blasting the area, blowing up the money truck as well.
"Hey! This is my heist!"
"You can have it!" The lead crook's compatriots said as they ran off, she looked on in frustration.
Max watched the scene unfold as one drone attacked Ben and the other attacked Altera.
The female crook had her gun ready for either, he took a tire and threw at the immediate threat knocking her down.
"Ben! Those drones must be after the watch and Altera!"
The woman stood up and pointed her gun at Max's direction.
"You'll get yours old man."
Firing she sent blast into the roof top and sent debris falling on Max.
"Ugh!"
"Grandpa!"
"No!"
Four Arms in rage caught the two drones and sent them hurling at the woman taking her down. He then grabbed Altera and put her to his shoulder.
"We need to get him to a hospital! I'm calling 91-Ben!?"
"Know time! Hospital up the street!" He said as he took all three to the destination.
Meanwhile the downed woman got up feeling her head.
"Ah, who were you freaks?"
She then looked at the wreckage of the drone and picked up a piece of it, said piece was still functioning as it stuck onto her neck and forced a transformation, she was now more biomechanical as a result. The sound of sirens blared as the cops showed up guns ready.
"Freeze!"
"Ha! I already did my time. It's time you paid."
Two built in blasters came from her shoulders and fired on the cop cars destroying them in the process. She then went over to a fallen bag of cash and picked it up.
"Hahaha! This is gonna be a blast!"
At the hospital the doctor was going over Max's condition.
"Your grandfather has a severe concussion, he'll be out for several more hours. He also has lacerations and a broken leg."
"He's gonna be ok right?" Ben asked softly."
"For man his age, he's remarkably strong, he'll be just fine after a little rest. Now it says here on his admittance he was hit by a car bumper. Did someone back into him?" The Dr. asked.
"Actually-"
Ben didn't say anything further as Altera covers his mouth.
"Yes, but the one who did it drove away quickly before they could be reported." She lied.
"Well, I'm sorry for the unfortunate circumstances, well I best be off to make my reports."
Back on Vilgax's ship data was coming through to the robot lieutenant.
"The drones were destroyed."
"Send out more." Villegas demanded.
"We may not need to. It seems the drones have somehow, merged, and I'm receiving a combined signal, it is currently on the move."
"Hmm, perhaps one head is better than two."
A jewelry store was in the process of getting robbed, the sound of things getting busted up and panic was in the air.
"Oh look out!"
"Oh my God!"
People ran out as Rojo in her new form went around blasting glass casings and stealing the jewelry inside. Upon clasping them though they broke into pieces.
"What!? No! They're worthless now!"
Rojo looked over at a blonde woman still inside and was about to do something when she suddenly felt something wrack her mind and fall to a knee as she clutched her head.
"Listen to me, whoever you are." Rang the voice of Vilgax.
"Who are you? Where are you? How did you get in my head!?"
"No questions! You are here to serve me."
"Guess again, I work for me and me only."
That rewards her with another shock of pain in her head.
"Uhh!"
"You now posses power, you could have never imagined. But unless you find a way to use it. It is worthless."
Rojo ended up seeing a vision of Vilgax to her shock as he spoke.
"Fulfill my command, and I will teach you. Fail me, and I will turn you to dust."
"So what do you want?"
"Only the most valuable piece of technology, missing from my possession, and a living weapon as well, and luckily for you, your already programmed to find it."
Back at the hospital, Ben sat by his grandfather's bedside looking glum.
"Ben, it's gonna be ok, the doctor said he will be fine." Altera said putting a hand to his shoulder.
"I know Altera, I just can't help but be worried."
"It's sweet to know how much you care about your family."
"What about yours?"
Altera went slightly wide eyed at the question.
"Never really had one so to speak."
From the memories she could recall upon her incarceration obviously she knew she had a family in the Huns. That was memory she always had after her passing, then there was the memory of the last time she was reduced to larva state she basically had a new family being raised between the Caster Tamamo, Saber Nero and the master of the Moon Cell Hakuno Kishinami, but to explain that to Ben was a complicated matter. Other than those two instances she was just the incarnation of an extra dimensional threat.
"Ok, so why did you decide to stick around me?" Ben asked changing subjects.
Altera looked back at him, and began to think about the question.
"Well for one it's not like I had anywhere to go, it was a stroke of luck that you guys ended up taking me in, but that wasn't the only reason."
"Really? What's the other?" Ben asked now curious.
"You."
"Me? Really?" Ben said as a bit of red tinted his cheeks.
"You…intrigue me."
Ben didn't know what to say on that one, but the moment was interrupted when he snorting from his unusually quiet cousin.
"I didn't want to ruin your little moment but…Ben? Intriguing?"
"Hey!"
Ben wanted to retort but he thought better and stood up to leave the room, Altera followed after him.
"Are you sure you're ok?" She asked.
"Yeah, I was just thinking how much I want to help Grandpa, maybe Upgrade or Ghostfreak."
Upon dialing the Omnitrix Rojo's sensors went off and she looked over at the location of the hospital. Zooming her sights she locked onto the windows where she locked onto the Omnitrix and Altera.
"There they are."
Ben didn't even try to go alien, his cousin told him it wouldn't work, so he looked on at the unconscious form of Max. He walked up to a trash can and kicked it over in frustration.
"Relax." Gwen said.
The sound of something machine like caught the trio's attention as Rojo busted threw the window.
"Give me the Omnitrix! You're coming as well little girl." Rojo said referring to Altera
"You want them! Come and get them!" Ben said as the trio dashed off, Rojo fired her built in canon at them.
"We can't afford to fight her in a hospital!" Altera said.
The three kept running as Rojo gave chase blasting away at them with no regard for what got caught in the crossfire. They rounded a corner when Ben saw the door to a stairwell.
"Stairs!"
"That's the same girl from the armored car robbery, she somehow merged with those robot drones." Altera said.
An explosion was heard above as Rojo stepped through the smoke, she jumped down after them all the way to the bottom before firing in them again.
"Ok radical thought, but right now might be a good time to go hero." Gwen said.
Altera drew her plasma blade once more upon seeing an exit. The three ran to a parking area full of ambulances as Rojo blew down the door. The three were hiding behind one of the vehicles waiting.
"We could do this the easy way, or the hard way."
Rojo looked up at the cliff side and blasted the top, causing an avalanche.
"Time to go Four Arms Ben said as he dialed up the Omnitrix.
Upon activation Ben didn't turn into Four Arms.
"Oh great, I need muscle but instead I get an alien candle instead. Hey if scissors beats paper fire can melt rock right?" Heatblast asked Gwen.
His cousin shrugged while Altera shook her head slightly.
"Alright."
Heatblast sent a torrent of fire at the oncoming boulders but didn't stop them, only making them flaming boulders.
"Not what I had in mind."
"Find a way to take care of the boulders, I'll engage the the robo bitch." Altera said as she charged out at Rojo.
"Did Altera just swear?" Gwen replied.
"Yep." Heatblast said.
He turned and began melting the ambulances to create a molten metal barrier, the rocks were stopped and redirected.
"Safe."
"But there are still people at the bottom of that canyon." Gwen said as they saw the rocks rolling along the road.
At the same time Rojo was caught up in combat with Altera, she continued to fire beams at the melee combatant to keep her at a distance but each shot was blocked by her blade, and she was gaining ground.
"I don't know what squid face meant when he classified you as a living weapon, but you are definitely a dangerous one."
"And you need to go into sleep mode!"
Altera blocked one more shot before taking the quick opening to charge in and slash at Rojo, she managed tp disarm her of one of her canons before kicking her away.
Altera never took her eyes off of her opponent but she had a peripheral view of Ben going after the runaway boulders. People were screaming and running away in the city below when Heatblast destroyed the bridge so the fire laden rocks would end up in the river.
"Good job Ben!" Altera praised.
She let her guard down in that moment and allowed a recovered Rojo to snatch her up in flight and through her into a construction semi, she then proceeded to continuously blast that spot to ensure the girls death.
"Altera!" Heatblast shouted as anger took him over.
The Pyronite shot off on a stream of fire and fury at a shocked Rojo who was too late to fire her only remaining canon, he barreled into her and slammed her to the ground. He kept his hands on her and repeatedly slammed Rojo before throwing her at the wrecked truck she threw Altera at which was leaking oil. All it took was one fiery spark to light it and cause an explosion sending Rojo flying.
"That takes care of that."
Heatblast heard a groaning noise as he looked on in surprise and relief to see Altera stumbling out of some rubble, her clothes were torn and scrapes were shown on her body, a stream of blood coming down her forehead.
"Altera!"
Heatblast ran to her and caught her as she collapsed.
Back at the hospital Altera was admitted, Ben and Gwen were in Max's new room till they were able to visit her and it seemed they're grandpa was finally awake.
"When I was playing with the watch, I must have led her right to you."
"Since they moved me to a new room, you haven't gone alien since then, so we should be safe."
"Yeah but now Altera is also hurt." Ben said glumly.
"She'll be fine kiddo, I can tell she's a really tough cookie."
"I know but it's starting to get dangerous for you guys to be around me, if I never had this watch, none of this weird stuff would be happening."
"Yeah but since it won't come off, there's nothing we can do about it. Besides, if you hadn't found the watch, you would have never met Altera." Gwen said.
"Maybe, maybe not, but you are right about one thing." Ben said as a small smile crossed his face.
Back in the city Rojo had just gotten up from a wrecked car, people were scared and fled upon seeing her. A jolt of pain went through her head as Vilgax set communication.
"My prizes, where are they?"
"I couldn't get them. You didn't tell me I'd be fighting a superheroes, I'm through."
Vilgax opened his maw and swallowed Rojo, she was then tumbling through darkness.
"You will get me the Omnitrix and the girl, if you fail me again, your meaningless criminal life will be over, now make them come to you."
Back at the hospital Max and Gwen were sleeping, Gwen wanted to nap before going to visit Altera who was now awake, Ben set a piece of paper down at the foot of the bed.
"I'm doing this for you Grandpa."
Ben left the room and quickly went to the one next door that held Altera.
"Ben."
Ben ran up to her and gave her a gentle hug that she reciprocated, she then noticed his long face as her hands framed it.
"What's wrong?"
"I have to go."
"What? I have to go, I can't stay around them anymore, me having this watch has put them in danger, you got caught up in it as well just for associating yourself with me."
"Ben don't stupid, running away isn't gonna solve anything, and that's not the way a hero should think."
"But after what happened to Grandpa! After what just happened to you. I don't want you guys to be in danger anymore."
To Ben's shock Altera leaned in and gave him a light warm kiss to the cheek.
"That's for showing such kind consideration."
She then took her fingers and flicked his forehead.
"Ow!"
"That is for putting yourself in such a state of sadness, what happened to the eager, and sometimes dimwitted Ben Tennyson that wanted to pound the first bad guy he saw, easy, he's growing up, and that will come with challenges, being a hero is no different. To make enemies is to invite the idea of danger to those closest to you, but it should give you all the more reason to fight on, and you're not doing it alone."
"Altera."
Ben didn't know what else to say, but her words buzzed ever so like music in his head.
"I'm gonna go walk around…think things over."
"Be wise with your decision Ben, just know that I'm in this with you."
Ben considered her words, then left the room. As he went to get fresh air outside there was a nearby radio playing a broadcast.
"Reports say the armored assailant has incredible firepower, and has blown up several police barricades before arriving at the police academy training center, just outside of Albuquerque."
Hearing that Ben decided to confront Rojo once and for all.
Night fell, Gwen woke up and looked around to not see Ben anywhere.
"Ben? Ben?"
She then noticed the slip of paper on the bed he left behind.
"Dear Grandpa and Ben, I care about you too much to keep putting you in danger. It's better this way. Love Ben."
"Gwen? What is it?" Max said having just woke up.
"The scene at the police center continues, earlier reports say to that several officers have been injured." Spoke the reporter on the TV.
"Ben's gone, but I think a know where he is…*GASP*…Altera!"
Gwen ran to Altera's room to find it empty, IV's seemed to have been taken out as they were sprawling on the bed, Altera was gone too.
She was going after him. After Ben hadn't come back from his walk she saw the initial news report about the attack on the police center, she figured Ben went to do something about it, so she decided to escape her bedridden state and go to the battle. Thankfully she had Ben's hoverboard she had taken from the Rustbucket just in case it was needed and now she was racing her way to the scene, blade drawn.
Despite having only one functional canon Rojo was still recking the academy up, she was then assaulted by XLR8 who tripped her.
"Looks like you started this party without me!"
Rojo grabbed him by the heel and slammed him to the ground and kicked him into a police car.
"He wants his Omnitrix he can have it. This is getting fun. Now where's the girl?"
"I won't tell you, but who's he?"
XLR8 jumped and began to repeatedly kick Rojo as she fired her canon.
"One good kick deserves another."
The rev of an engine caught their attention as some kind of tank rolled up, and pointed its gun right at XLR8. It fired but he avoided it. Rojo would slip under and pick it up forcing the driver and gunner to flee.
"Nice try but speedy's all mine."
She threw the tank at XLR8 who avoided it and he came up and punched Rojo in the face repeatedly sending her to the ground kicking up dirt from the force. It was around that time Altera showed up on the hoverboard.
"Altera!?"
"Ben!"
Rojo saw Altera and was about to blast her when XLR8 got to her first and took her to an alley.
"What are you doing your hurt."
"I'm not gonna let you fight alone, does you're my best partner sound familiar?"
The Omnitrix began to power down.
"So does that beeping!" XLR8 said as he reverted to Ben.
"Ah man."
They heard Rojo approaching.
"Come on!"
The two ran off as the humanoid mech gave chase. The duo ran to the training grounds and hid behind a flipped bench as Rojo was looking for them.
"You didn't decide to run away did you Ben?"
"I didn't, but someone had to stop her, you're right Altera running away isn't gonna solve anything, I'm glad you're here."
While Rojo's back was turned, Altera led Ben into a building containing gym equipment.
"How are we gonna take her down?"
"If you can't beat her from the outside, take her down from the inside, she is a machine now, it's like what went down with those bounty hunters." Altera said.
"That's it!"
Rojo sensed the Omnitrix being activated and began firing upon the building. Ben and Altera hid behind some pillars as Ben turned into Upgrade.
Rojo busted through, she began to look around as Altera hid behind one of the workout equipment, upgrade was hanging above and got the drop on her. Rojo struggled as Upgrade began to meld with her, Altera was looking on when she noticed something was wrong from the green sparks that began to emit.
"Ben!"
She ran up and upon coming in contact was hit with a burst of energy, she found herself along side Upgrade in some kind of space as Vilgax made his appearance.
"Listen to every word. Be afraid. You both cannot run, or hide from me."
Vilgax then got a good look at Altera.
"So, you are the one, the living doomsday weapon. A Velber I believe is what your called."
Altera's eyes went wide upon hearing that, how did this thing find out!?
"I will find you both, and when I do, I will have my Omnitrix and I will use you girl as extra assurance to conquer everything, as for the Omnitrix's current wielder, I will destroy you."
Vilgax opened his maw and all went black. Rojo ripped a dazed upgrade off as Altera was flung back from static shock. Rojo fired her canon but Upgrade dodged and took over the nearby workout equipment.
"Time to work out."
Grabbing her he repeatedly bashed her head against the metal before throwing her near a treadmill. Upgrade took over that and put Rojo on it before sending her flying and hitting a pillar. Just as she stood up both her and Ben would be in for a big surprise when Altera's plasma blade ran through her chest from the back,
"Agh!"
Rojo dropped to her knees and collapsed when Altera removed the blade, the latter breathing heavily from the after affects of that experience.
"Altera! Did you-!"
"It wasn't fatal, but it was enough to deal with her."
"Thank goodness. I thought you actually killed her for a moment."
"Sometimes death is unavoidable in battle, but I wouldn't do it, especially in front of you."
"I'm hoping it won't come to that if that's the case."
The sound of cracking was heard as all things machine broke off of Rojo, leaving her human again, but the blood from the stab was prevalent, luckily the heat of the plasma cauterized the wound enough that it didn't bleed out to badly.
"I think I'm going to be sick."
"Then don't look at it, we should get back to the hospital, the authorities can take it from here."
It was a sunny day and Max was discharged from the hospital, but he had crutches, Ben, Altera and Gwen were beside him as he took in fresh air.
"Ah it's good to be back outside and back on the road."
When the group got back in the Rustbucket Ben and Altera took some privacy to talk.
"Back in the gym, you saw the same alien I did right?"
"I did."
"So that must be the guy that's after the watch, I was curious why he's after you though the whole time as well."
Altera stayed quiet, she slowly turned away from Ben.
"Altera. He called you something, a doomsday weapon, a…Velber? I think? What is a Velber?"
"Ben…I want you to trust me…do you?" Altera said softly.
"Yeah, why?"
"Then know that there are some things you're better left not knowing right now. Ok?"
"…Ok."
"Right now your better just continuing to learn the ways of a hero."
"Hey what are you two talking about?" Gwen said as she came up.
"Oh we were just talking about hero stuff, you know it's a partner thing." Ben said.
Altera and Ben did recount the events that unfolded at the gym but left out the portion with the mysterious alien calling Altera a Velber.
"Speaking of heroes, you might want to listen to the radio." The trio came to the front as Max turned up the volume.
"And in recent reports, a mass shootout between a terrorist cell and the national guard in Philadelphia was ended when the assailants were taken down by an unknown hero, some people have claimed have seen a glimpse of the figure, this picture showing what may just be a young woman, and what appears to be a sword in hand, it was taken quickly as the mysterious heroine disappeared in the smoke. The only other indication of her presence was graffiti along the one of the buildings with the words 'Mysterious Heroine X' written on it."
"Looks like we're not the only ones in the hero business eh Altera? Altera?"
"Mysterious Heroine X…"
AN: and that is the 9th chapter! Do let me know what you think and oh looks like we have alluded to a new character to the story!
Vilgax you have no idea what kind of fire you're reaching into with the Velber.
Next chapter: Whose Laughing Now
Bye!