Ben groaned in mild frustration as his watched timed out. The watch timing wasn't the reason why he groaned however. "Sewers. Never was fond of chases that led down into those."
"I could imagine so," Rook added in plainly, "I've heard tales that vicious creatures lurk in those."
"That was more of Dr. Animo thing really." Ben muttered robotically, rubbing the back of his head as he prepared himself for another trip through the sewage system. It's not not he was worried about getting messy or the potentially unpleasant smell, plenty of aliens to take care of that problem, but dark, moist, cramped places were just rather uncomfortable for him. He doubted the perp they were chasing has any monsters down there for him.
"Dr. Animo? I read the files on that man." Rook said as he and Ben jumped down the ledge where the opening of the pipe lay. "Seems a few, how you say, a few sandwiches shy on a loaf."
"Yeah," Ben drawled, "That's one way to put it." He walked in, Rook close behind with his proto-tool drawn in weapon form just in case anything tried to catch them unaware. For a several steps it was nothing but darkness and dirty water until light and noise started to echo through the tunnel.
Rook kept his eyes trained on the surroundings but he voiced his thoughts, "I take it sewers here aren't meant to be this noisy."
"Nope." Ben answered with a pop on the P. "Hey Rook, ever hear of cities below cities?"
"I believe what you are referring to is Undertown. And yes, I have." The young alien answered and turned from facing their back to see the light at the end of the tunnel. He heard Ben mumble something under his breath. 'Thank God' or something like that.
The duo jumped down to the streets below and Rook transformed the proto-tool back into its tracking mood while Ben pulled out some water. He drank half of it and splashed the other half on his head while he started removing his hoodie.
"Jeez, if the topside was frying pan then this place is the oven!" Ben complained as he wrapped his hoodie around his waist. His shirt that was previously underneath the thicker garment, a black shirt with green line going down the middle while a white ten was on the chest area.
Rook quirked a brow in confusion, "I'm not familiar with your terms but it's quite hot down here."
"Yes, that is indeed what I mean." Ben shook his head to get the excess water off, uncaring of where it splashed to the chagrin of the nearby aliens... who began to realize who he was.
"Holy schmekels! You're Ben 10 aren't you!?" A random Tetramand yelled and pointed. Soon, more aliens started chattering and coming over to the commotion the Tetramand started. Normally, any yelling coming from a Tetramand warranted one to back away for their safety but when one yelled about a celebrity being around,that warranted curiosity more than mortal terror
"Crap." Said hero muttered under his breath before he turned to the guy with a wide grin to mask the nervousness. "No, I'm just a lookalike!"
This froze the aliens in their tracks and one little Kinnceleran angrily shouted, "Are you one those shifty, shapeshifter types!?"
"Yep. The guy needed me for while while he was doing some hero stuff... in that building over there!" Ben pointed to Pakmar's toilet emporium, "If you're fast, you may catch him in action!" Most of the aliens ran towards the emporium without hesitation while some of the less mob oriented ones stayed behind. "Guys, the real Ben 10 has a watch that won't come off." To demonstrate his point, he undid the straps and removed the watch from his wrist. "See?"
That convinced the last of the crowd and they went off to find the "real" Ben Tennyson. Ben gave himself a mental pat on the back and turned to his partner who said, "I too thought the Omnitrix was more secure to your wrist."
Ben shrugged. "It is but old grandpa Asmuth designed it so only I could remove it easily."
"Grandpa Asmuth?" Rook questioned. There was no way those two were kin. Right?
"Nickname to annoy him." Ben explained. "No actual blood relation."
Rook nodded, "Ah, I see. Odd." He said as he turned to the tracker. "Also strange. It says the runner is in front of us but all that's in front of us is an empty stand of junk."
"Not junk. Good stuff." The alien in a garb tried to clarify in the form of a typical salesman. "Good parts for vehicles."
Rook only narrowed his eyes but kept his eyes on the tracker, "Yes but no, junk."
Ben hummed and looked upwards. Lo and behold, their runner was doing stretch parkour on the roof pipes like a purple alien Tarzan. "Rook, the scanner is correct. Look up, buster."
Rook did as he was told and saw the young woman. Both Plumbers sprung into action, Ben turning into Crash Hopper once more and springing towards her while Rook pulled off his own parkour skills. Rook would be the the one running close behind her while Ben cut off her escape yet again.
He landed right in front of her and said with his hands on his hips, "Stop right there, criminal scum. You've violated the law."
The girl smirked. "Lemme guess, gold or blood?"
Ben smirked right back. Looks like he found a kindred spirit in this one. He could dig that.
Of course, Rook, the sweet ignorant soul he was, didn't get it. "Actually, all you have to do is hand over the device and receive jail time."
The girl giggled while Ben let out a sigh. "Anyway, hand over that fusion device and things don't have get crazy. What do ya say?"
"Hmm." The girl hummed before using the power of her stretchy legs to jump over to a pipe away from the duo and yelled, "Sorry but crazy sounds more fun."
Crash Hopper shook his head, "Take a mental note, Rook. This will usually happen more often than not." He sprang off after the girl his partner close behind.
The girl they were chasing was quick footed and quick witted, they had to give her that. She used her body's abilities to maneuver away from the duo. Whenever Room got close she would hop over to another pipe or wrap around one. If Ben got near her she could make a mock move to pull back or change her direction or trajectory whereas Ben couldn't stop himself or change course. Hell, her acrobatics alone were impressive.
"You know the chase has gotta end at some point. And I don't tire easy." Ben yelled as the girl flipped over his head.
"Neither do I." She yelled back jovially. She was clearly having fun. At least until she slipped up on a wet pipe. This moment of unsteadiness gave Ben the chance he needed to tackle her. Right as his watched timed out too.
They landed on the soft ground below next to a large pipe opening. Ben sat up and said breathlessly, "It's over, lady. You're pinned and soon to be busted."
"Ugh." She groaned before her eyes opened and she smiled, "At least you got me in your good form."
Ben chuckled out, "Flattery won't save you. Even if your not bad looking yourself."
"Nice work, Ben!" Rook praised as he landed beside them. "Now, let us return to the surface. I'm quite hot down here."
"You will go nowhere with her, cold cuts!" A deep, gravelly voice shouted from the pipes, numerous sets of footsteps accompanied with it getting closer. From the pipe emerged several humanoids with pink skin and all of their eyebrows large and white like the girls but unlike her, they were more alien looking. "Ester, stop playing with cold cuts and bring the fusion device to us." The one in the middle in the blue parka, no doubt the leader, had barked.
"Of course." The girl, Ester, sighed out dejectedly. She moved Ben off and went over to her group as they came closer to make sure she could get to them without the Plumber duo from impeding her.
"Ben," Rook whispered as he moved closer to the rising teen, "I believe these are tungsten based lifeforms."
A lazy reply followed. "Uh huh." Ben wasn't exactly the bluntest tool in the shed but nor was he the sharpest.
"Kraaho." Rook clarified while he mentally prepared himself for the fight that will follow.
"Now then let us destroy them!" The leader of the Kraaho yelled right as Ester was about to walk past him. She stopped and faced the chief with a shocked expression.
"Seebik, No!" She yelled. "This isn't the Kraaho way! And that's Ben Ten!"
Seebik snorted and turned to said boy with a glare. "I know who he is and I am prepared."
"Bet you you're not!" Ben playfully shouted at him.
Seebik ignored him and continued, "and furthermore, the way of our tribe is what I say it is. I am the chieftain. Now go to the Hotspot!" Ester turned to Ben and Rook with one last concerned look and did as she was told. No one saw as her face slowly morphed from sadness to anger.
"Seebik, can we get o-on with it. My eyebrows a-a-are turning into icicles." A more portly Kraaho on Seebik's right side urged.
While clearly annoyed by his lackey's display he listened to his words. Seebik wanted to get this over too despite his stoicism. "Yes. Warriors begin!" His fellow Kraaho spread out in a semi circle and stretched their arms to lock hands. Then they began to stop on the floor in sync.
"Look's they're tryin' to off us tribal style." Ben surmised, flipping through his watch for a suitable alien.
"Off us? As in kill us right?" Rook inquired. Another term Rook hadn't known but given the context clues he figured correctly.
"Yep." Ben clarified as he found something good to transform into. "Ah, perfect." The slap on the wrist and a green flash followed. What appeared was a large rocky, reddish brown humanoid. He resembled a planet. He was honestly a living planet rightfully dubbed, Gravattack!"
"First, you'll be weightless!" Ben shouted, raising his arms up and lifting the Kraaho up, "and then you'll - uh." He froze as his watch began to time out and he turned back to his usual self. "Crap! I forgot my transform time would be shorter!" Ben groaned in frustration at having a lapse in judgement and his now powerless state.
Rook was confused by this new wave of information as Ben's file stated something different. "I thought you could go for long periods of time with that watch."
"Not after multiple ultimate uses. They drain the poor battery." Ben explained while also wondering more about what his files said. Ah well, he figured it could wait until after the tribesmen were settled down. "Rook, I wouldn't exactly call myself a pushover but I'm not sure my human hand to hand combat skills will be much against these guys." He warned as the Kraaho got up, looking very displeased by Ben's attempt at an attack.
Rook moved beside Ben with his proto-tool in blaster mode. "Have no fear. I will cover you in the meantime."
The Kraaho all rose only to be knocked down again by a sudden large blast of water. The Plumber duo look above to Ester had came back and turned on a pipe to blast her people and aid the duo. All of the Kraaho started producing large amounts of mist and ran around in panic from the sudden relatively freezing waters hitting them. With that distraction, Ester rushed over to the Plumber duo and carried them off to safety while the Kraaho below struggled to regain composure save for Seebik who watched them go with distaste.
"That damn half breed and her sentiments." He muttered in agitation before turning to his right hand man. With a defeated sigh, he went over to pull his idiot of a pipe his tongue got stuck on. 'Where did her father go wrong?'
XXXXX
"Thanks for the help back there." Ben spoke as they made there way onto the streets of Bellwood. "But I gotta ask: why?"
"We just wanted the fusion core." Ester answered brightly before her face soured. "Though, Seebik always has to take it to another level."
"No kidding. Still, me and Rook are gonna go back there to stop whatever it is there doing." Rook nodded at Ben's statement, more than eager to dish out some justice on thieves and attempted off-ers.
Ester held up her hands and attempted to placate the duo. "There's really no need. My people just wanted the fusion core to to keep their place warm, that's it." Rook glared while Ben gave her an unconvinced look. She laughed a little nervously and continued. "And besides they won't be much of a problem. They can't even come up to the surface since it's so cold out."
"This is cold for them, huh." It was 100° degrees out but to be fair, different aliens require different needs. But that wasn't the main issue. "I can't really left theft like that slide but I'm not exactly a harsh lawman." Ben held his hand up to his chin in thought, trying his best to ignore Ester's pleading look and Rook's shocked gaze. "I'm gonna have a chat with them about that but I won't hurt anyone. As long as it's for survival and no one's getting hurt then I can overlook some stuff."
"Yes!" Ester cheered with a fist pump.
"Is that wise?" Rook questioned. This broke a good deal of protocols and didn't strike him as professional.
Ben waved that comment off. "Rook, some aliens don't know the law of the land and others are just trying to stay alive. And it's not like anyone got hurt."
"They attempted to hurt us." Rook protested in a monotone voice.
Ben rolled his eyes with smile. "Yeah, that will happen. A lot." Rook froze and wanted to say more but his partner beat him to the punch with his own question for Ester. "Say, you said the Kraaho can't really come out here but how come you can?"
Ester stretched her limbs a little. "I'm only half Kraaho. To me, it's only nippy out." She stated proudly.
"Huh, interesting." Ben remarked.
"Hey Ester!" They group turned to the side to see a group of child Kincceleran holding hockey waving. The smallest girl came forward and asked. "Wanna play with us?"
"Sure!" She said to the joy of the children. She turned to the plumbers, "friends of mine." She explained before running over to them.
The Kincceleran girl looked over to Ben, gulped, did a double take and nervously asked. "You wanna play with us too. We know your busy and stuff, what with being a hero and all, but you know, if your free."
"Sure!" Ben answered to the child's jubilation. She ran off to inform her friends while Rook held Ben back. "What's wrong?" Ben asked, confused about his partner's action.
"Don't you think this a waste of valuable time? And, might I add, your following a thief to play with children." Rook incredulously spoke, very confused and uncomfortable with the way Ben was currently handling the situation.
"Rook, you gotta lighten up." Ben gently removed Rooks hand off and continued, "Besides, the situation can be handled at our leisure. Now, you can stand here and keep watch of join us. Your call my dude." With that last tidbit, Ben made his way to the children and Ester, leaving Rook behind in a pure state of confusion.
"This makes no sense." Rook mumbled, "While his actions are not exactly criminal he isn't displaying many of those heroic qualities I heard about. Especially letting thieves go unchecked." He stood in thought and sighed, "Maybe I am being too judgmental. Still, this is not proper Plumber conduct nor heroic conduct from what I've heard. I hope I nor the files wasn't wrong." His monologue ceased as he witnessed Ben transform into his Kincceleran form.
"Alright gang, now I'll give you a taste of some real speed." Ben, getting tired of trying and failing to keep up with the aliens decided it was time to give them a taste of their own medicine. And maybe show off for Ester a tad. 'Maybe I could show them the little tornado trick while I'm at. Julie always -' He shook his. Not the time for that. "Now try to keep up." He playfully taunted.
As the slice of life continued above a plan was set into motion so below. In an area even further down than Under Town, Seebik was having his fellow tribesmen load the the fusion core into a specialized drill. All around them were lava pits with huts set up around them. Once the core was loaded into the drill, Seebik waved his arm up and set it down.
The machine began to spin the fusion core and a laser bore into the earth. Seebik smiled, satisfaction filling him as he took in the sights and sound of a job soon to be well done. "Finally." His portly sidekick sighed out. "It was getting so cold that I was getting frostbite on my -"
"Enough with the cold jokes! They weren't funny the first time, it was somewhat funny at the midpoint, but now they're infuriating!" Seebik barked, rather fed up with his lackey's sense of anti humor.
"Frostbite." He finished dejectedly.
"Seebik! We've struck magma!" Another, less portly underling informed the chief.
Seebik let out a guffaw, "Now it's time we made things to our liking, uh, topside."
"Bellwood." The portly Kraaho told him as he lowered his hood.
Seebik gave him a dry stare but choose to ignore him and roared joyously, "now we make way for new Bellwood!"
As for Bellwood, Ben had placed a towel on a currently wet Ester who had been doused by water hazard as joke. "Anyone ever tell you you're a bit of an ass?" She told him. The insult had no sting to it since her tone was so amused.
Ben shrugged, "I only hear stuff like that every day." His head jerked forward due to a stray water balloon hitting the back of his head. He chuckled, "And I always get my comeuppance."
Ester giggled and blew the water off of his head. She took that moment to really take in his features. He was good looking up close and his green eyes added to the appeal. His bright smile only added to the further appeal. She could feel herself blushing and nearly hid her face on impulse. She hoped he wouldn't notice.
Ben noticed, it was hard for him not to. He didn't let her know he knew. He couldn't. He didn't know how to take it. It wasn't a big deal, she was only blushing. Still though...
Rook, meanwhile, was learning to play "Skip Rope" with the children. Though he did take glances at Ester while he did so in order to make sure she didn't try anything.
The the explosions came and shook the very ground they stood. The concrete down the street began to crack open and like a mighty geyser, magma spewed fourth. No one was around but it looked like the magma would hit the houses at any moment.
The children ran away in panic and Ben sprang into immediate action and transformed into the cryo powered reptilian known as Arctiguana! He released a deep breath and spewed a clone of cold the cooled the magma into igneous rocks before any more damage could be done.
Ben changed back and turned towards Ester along with Rook, the former more inquisitive while the latter was more scolding. "I had no idea they'd do this! I swear!"
"That doesn't matter, you helped." Rook growled authoritatively. He knew that this young woman wasn't trustworthy but due to the pure endangerment of lives by her hand he'd grown furious.
"Seebik told me it was just the usual routine!" She frantically told him. She knew they had to be behind this but she would've never helped her people do something like this.
His ire was only getting more aroused as she went on, "So thievery is usual!?"
"No it isn't!" She would've went on had Ben, who had heard enough, not stepped between them.
"Enough." Ben's tone was firm and final, a far cry from the vibes Ben's speech usually gave them. "Whether she knew or not can wait because right now we gotta stop whatever's going on."
Rook got over his initial surprise and nodded while mentally scolding himself for not thinking too clearly. "Forgive me, Ben. I wasn't focused."
Ben nonchalantly waved it off figuring the rookie was being too hard on himself. "It's cool, now come on."
"I'm coming along too." Ester stated firmly. "Even if I didn't know Seebik would do this, I'm still responsible for the damage done and I need to help fix it." She hoped her tone would get her honest conviction to the heroes in front of her even if she wasn't worthy of their trust.
"Fine." Ben didn't hesitate to agree as unlike Rook, he really didn't see anything suspicious to her character. She didn't strike him as the ruthless type or a liar. "But you're leading the way. Rook no doubt wants to keep his eyes on you."
"I do." Rook confirmed. "You're under suspicion until further notice."
Ben nodded and rolled his shoulders, "Alright, team's established so lets go."
XXXXX
"My Fellow Kraaho!" Seebik joyously yelled as he removed his jacket with flair, "Now it is our time to rise from the underground! Take up your arms and be ready to claim this world as ours!" The tribe cheered and began to grab one handed blasters.
"Seebik!" Roared Ester as she stomped towards the Chieftain, "What are you doing! You said you just wanted to warm the place up! Why is there magma making its way to the streets?"
"I am doing as I said." Seebik answered snidely. "Why did you aid the cold cuts?"
"Because you took it too far. This is NOT the kraaho way!" Ester growled defiantly. Seebik was always so grouchy, xenophobic, and callous but this was too much. She wouldn't stand for this.
Seebik's expression grew more heated than the Hotspot at the moment and he growled in her face. "Our people's way is what I say it is! Do not speak as you are truly one of us!"
From far away, Ben and Rook formed a plan. "Alright Rook, I need you to cause a distraction and lead the kraaho away while I," Ben transformed into an alien locked away in a big bulky metal suit known as NRG and continued, "go after the fusion core. Think you can do it?"
Rook smiled and primed his Proto-tool. "I am more than capable of covering you despite the heat. I've read up on some of your famous techniques of distraction."
"Oookay." Ben said awkwardly as Rook went over to the large group of kraaho. "Wonder what he's going to pull."
"HEY!" The Kraaho all turned towards Rook with a very large smile. "Look at me, I'm Mr. Rook!" He proceeded to pull out his Proto-tool and twirled it in hands, "Did you know that you all are quite horrendous to look at!" Then he tapped a Kraaho right on his snout. That was enough and the Kraaho proceeded to chase after him.
Ben shook his head and started making his way towards the core. He really hoped that wasn't one of his most famous "Techniques" as he stopped doing that when he was twelve. He took glances towards Rooks way to see how the new guy held up. He wasn't bad. He dispatched several of those Kraaho despite the heat affecting him. Ben could only imagine the burden of all that fur. He winced when the chief got involved but let out a sigh of relief when Ester stepped in and threw two of the goons holding her on him before jumping right into the fray.
All that happened and no one took notice of him. "Someone stop the armored cold cut!" Never mind. and he was so close too.
Two Kraaho stretched over to him and pulled him down. He formed a plan in that instant. "Please don't open me. You'll kill me if you do that!"
They grinned at each other and Ben grinned beneath his armor. Fools.
Once NRG's armor was opened, the red humanoid energy based life form flew up into the air and laughed, "Ha, you fell right for it! If only you were as bright as me!"
He went straight for the fusion core and Seebik yelled, "Don't let him -" Ben swallowed the energy ball inside before Seebik could finish, " - do that..."
"That was good ball of plasma but they always go right though me."He quipped as he began to channel the power through his arms until a spiraling ball formed in his hands. He took the ball an aimed it towards the drill machine. "Shield your eyes folks!" The ball was tossed towards the target and blinding flash of red light forced everyone except Ben to close their eyes. when they opened again, the machine was nowhere to be found save for the remains of super hot scrap metal.
Ben flew right down into his metal suit and transformed again. This time as Four Arms wearing his original outfit only with green replacing the white color. He was walking straight towards Seebik. "So you've won. Happy."
"Not quite." He said before he uppercutted Seebik high into the air. "Rook, get your cuffs. We've got our second criminal of the day!"
"Your arresting him?" Questioned Ester. She winced when Seebik landed right on Ben's fist belly first and knocked the air from his lungs.
"He straight up committed climate based crime. Of course he's going away." Ben answered as he went back to normal and let Seebik land in a heap. "And if anyone was hurt then he'll pay the price. And I'm not talking financially." He said with a foreboding tone as he glared at the sore Kraaho leader. Seebik weakly looked into Ben's eyes and tried to glare back but flinched under the hero's steely gaze. Ben wasn't an intimidating figure but when you got a short and painful beat down like Seebik, you knew it would be wiser to back down.
"But who will lead us?" A distressed Kraaho asked.
He flinched when Ben turned to him with a frown on his face. "After what you guys tried to do, be grateful I'm only taking him away. I'm sorry but that's a you problem."
"If I may." Rook spoke up as he hoisted up the Chieftain and cuffed him, "I would advise picking out someone not so destructive."
The Kraaho all began muttering to themselves, unsure of what to do with their leader being taken away by what they perceived as powerful warriors. Ester was beside herself, happy seebik was getting what he deserved but unsure for her people. Then she closed her eyes and thought of her father and how he lead the kraaho. "I will lead. And we will live in harmony with the other people of this planet."
Seebik barely managed to rasp out. "Coexistence with cold cuts? That isn't our way."
"No, it's not your way. But it was the way of my father. It is our way now!" She yelled towards her people. As the Kraaho began to bow one by one to Ester, she turned to Ben and smiled. "Thank you, Ben."
"No problem, Ester. Just make sure no one steps outta line." He said cheerfully, happy to give aliens another home, save lives, and kick butt. He leered at Seebik. "FYI, chief dick, there's such thing as a volcano literally in many places on the planet you guys could've asked transport to."
A few Kraaho snickered and Ester giggled while Rook's eyebrow rose. "Chief Dick?"
Ben rolled his eyes with a light smile gracing his lip, "I'll tell you when your older. For now, let's call up base for another haul."
From far away, the mysterious figure in a more outlying part of the Hotspot snickered. "Cooperation and intelligence. Fine skills for a prey worthy of my attention. Keep going, Ben Tennyson." The figure was racking up useful data on his prey and was eager to prove his skills as the greatest hunter in the Universe.
XXXXX
AN: Heyo, Happy Halloween you nutty kids. Catch more of my references and you get more cookies!
Chapter was shortened at the end since the fight would've just been from canon. Now We can do even more diverging! Yay!
Seebik honestly got off way too easy in canon considering what he caused and he was pretty unapologetic. Pretty sure people actually did die in that from the way they show the destruction that episode (Which is called "Hot Stretch"). No one died in canon I guess and here too though. Seebik is relatively getting off easy here too I guess but his ass is still going to Plumber Prison.
Responses:
Josh Spicer: I'm not gonna bash Omniverse through my story, don't worry. I'm not fond of bashing at all really. Don't get me wrong, I felt it was a let down but I enjoyed it. Wasn't a bad show and as a reviewer pointed out, it some good moments. Here's my show ratings: Ben 10 - 9, Ben 10 Alien Force - 9, Ben 10 Ultimate alien - 8, Omniverse - 6, Reboot - 4 (And I may be being generous).
Harem Lover 26: This is not a crossover in any way. No crossover characters, sorry. DMC 5 just fueled me in terms of style.
KillingTheShadows101: Shar will come. But I can't tell you more. Can't show my hand too early now.
Blaze1992: You'll see my dude. Ben has grown after all. And hell yeah, the ladies will get involved. A lot of them are not damsels in distress. Some will even try to kill him at first. Hero problems am I right?
PS: I hate using my phone to write.
