Mr. Baumann's store, the storekeeper was enraged once again. Ben Tennyson had stopped a dangerous criminal from robbing Mr. Baumann's store, but a lot of the store was damaged in the process and Mr. Baumann blamed Ben, which Ben did not take lightly and the two began arguing. It was geting so bad, Ben's grandpa, Max Tennyson came in to break things up.
"That's enough!" Max yelled. "I've had more than enough of this foolish fighting!"
"You're the fool for letting that good-for-nothing grandson of yours stay a free man!" snapped Mr. Baumann.
"It's true! Ben Tennyson is nothing but a menace!" said Pakmar, a tiny alien who Ben has troubled before.
"Hey! stay out of this, Pakmar!" Ben yelled. "Where the heck did you even come from?!"
"Ben! That's enough!" said Max.
"Yeah, little boy! Listen to your grandpa!" Pakmar taunted with a nasty laugh. And Mr. Bauman laughed too!
"THAT'S IT! I'VE HAD ENOUGH!" Ben screamed, now at the pinnacle of his rage. Everyone in earshot was shocked into silence. "I'm sick and tired of wasting my time protecting you ingrates! Well, you know what? That's all gonna change!" He glared coldy at the two people. "One day, someday, I'm gonna get both of you! It may not happen today. It may not happen tomorrow. But I will get you guys." He saw the stunned looks on Pakmar and Mr. Baumann's faces. "So, we'll see who's laughing when get some well deserved payback!" And the angry teen stomped away.
Once Ben was gone from view, Pakmar just scoffed. "Oh, please! Ben Tennyson doesn't have the guts to get revenge! Ben Tennyson is just dumb kid!" But he felt afraid when Ben's partner, Rook Blonko, loomed over Pakmar with an ice cold glare.
"Oh, really?" Rook raised an eyebrow. "Are you not aware that Ben Tennyson has the power to basically do anything to anyone if he wanted to?" he asked. "And do not forget that Ben is a human. Humans are still animals, animals with killer instincts. And a human's killer instinct is six times higher than the average mammal." He grabbed Pakmar and held the small alien close to his face. "So, tell me, Mr. Pakmar, if you anger a dangerous animal, are you absolutely sure it will not going to bite you?"
Pakmar gulped hearing this. Rook then walked off, leaving Pakmar and Mr. Baumann stupefied.
Rook and Max spotted Ben walking down he sidewalk. "Ben! Hold it right there!" Max ordered.
Ben stopped as Max looked at him in anger. "If you think I'm gonna let you walk away after that, you've got another thing coming!"
"Relax, Grandpa. I'm not going to get revenge or anything like that." Ben replied, now cool as a cucumber. "I only said that just to make them sweat."
But Max and Rook weren't convnced. "That anger didn't sound like you were joking." Rook said. "That sounded like an actual threat that you were going to back up!"
Ben sighed. "Rook, I couldn't care less what Baumann and Pakmar think of me. Pakmar's a bitter and miserable pipsqueak and Baumann's old, angry, and he's got nothing to live for. So, I'm not going to waste the rest of my life trying to get revenge. So, you guys can relax." And the teen walked off like nohing ever happened.
But Max and Rook were still not convinced.
A few weeks later, Ben was still acting like his normal self. Mr. Baumann and Pakmar did not repor anything unusual or criminal going on in their lives. So, it seemed like Ben's threat was just an idle one.
Or so they thought.
Ben was plotting revenge. He was being as careful as he can, making sure he didn't show any suspicious behavior. It was hard though, since so many aliens, even some Plumbers, had laughed at the idea of Ben getting revenge of any kind. Saying he didn't have what it takes to be an avenger. It was a joke all around the Plumber base. All this just pushed Ben more and more to exact his revenge. He was determined to prove them wrong.
As Ben sat at the Plumber Base lounge calmly drinking a smoothie, he was plotting his revenge. Should he frame Baumann and Pakmar for something they didn't do and ruin their lives? That idea crossed his mind and just as he was about for formulate a plan, his phone rang. It was Rachel Jocklin.
Ben felt panic building up. He knew that Rachel Jocklin and her extended alien family at the Grant Mansion would be a major threat to his plan. But Ben knew that if he didn't answer the call, they would become suspicious These people weren't stupid. If Ben wanted revenge, he had to play his cards right. He answered the call. "Hello?" Ben said, casual and friendly.
"Hey, Ben." said Rachel. "We wanted to talk to you about Wildmutt. He's been really depressed lately."
"Really? What's wrong?"
"I'd rather not say." said Rachel. "We're going to have a big dinner at seven. So, when you come over, just be extra nice to him. Okay?"
"Sure thing, Rach."
"Good. Wildmutt always feels better when you're around, Ben." Rachel said before hanging up.
Ben slumped in his chair. 'At least Wildmutt appreciates me...' he thought. 'In fact, everyone at the mansion appreciates me.' Ben quickly shook his head, trying to clear his heartfelt thoughts. 'Focus on your mission! Just go for dinner, cheer up Wildmutt, then leave!' He still had something to prove to all those people who looked their stupid noses down on him and he was not going to let anyone or anything distract him.
That night, Ben arrived at the Grant Mansion. He knocked on the door and a few moments later, Rachel opened the door and smiled. "Ben! Thanks for coming!" She welcomed Ben with a warm hug.
"So, what's going on with Wildmutt?" Ben whispered in case Wildmutt was around. "How am I suppose to cheer him up if I don't know what's up with him?"
Rachel looked around. She leaned in close to Ben. "You see, Wildmut got in trouble and ended up in an alien pound for a couple of weeks. He just got released but he's still depressed. So, we're throwing this dinner party to cheer him up."
Ben was stunned to hear this. It's not Wildmutt to get into that kind of trouble. "What exactly happened?"
"Well, he was just sleeping in the yard until some dumb teenagers started shooting paintballs at him! He got angry and chased after them. Then one thing lead to another then the teenagers' parents started calling the police and well, they manipulated the system and Wildmutt ended up being punished and not the teenagers.
"What?!"
Rachel sadly nodded. "I know. We were all heartbroken went Wildmutt away. We're happy he's back, but he's been so depressed, he won't leave his room. Worse than that, he's starting to lose his faith in humans. So, we're counting on you, Ben. You're our only hope." As Rachel left to get dinner ready, Ben went upstairs to Wildmutt's room. On his way up, Ben was still in shock. To think something that unfair can happen to someone. But then again, it happens all the time, Ben knows that all too well.
Ben knocked on Wildmutt's door. "Hello?" He expected Wildmutt to burst out of his room and tackle Ben with loving dog kisses, but no response. Ben opened the door and the room was dark, but he could still see a large orange furball laying on a bed. Ben sat on te edge of the bed. "Hey, buddy."
Wildmutt didn't move an inch. He didn't even look at Ben.
Ben stroked the canine alien. "I heard what happened. But you shouldn't let it bring you down like this. You made a mistake, so you need to learn from that mistake and move on."
Again, Wildmutt didn't respond. Ben sighed. This was going to be a challenge. So, he dug a little deeper.
"And I know you're having doubts about humans after what happened." Ben said. "But hey, some people will never accept you. But there are lots of people who do love you, this house is full of them. Everyone has has their haters. But the more you ignore them, the easier it is to forget them." He smiled. "Just think about the people who really matter. After all, they make life worth living, right? So, what do you say, big guy?"
Finally, Wildmutt perked up. He turned around with a happy smile. He threw his arms around Ben and snuggled the human like a beloved teddy bear. Gently, of course. As Wildmutt cuddled and licked Ben in happiness, Ben felt much better himself. Wildmutt went through so much pain he didn't deserve all for revenge. It was nothing but a waste. So, Ben decided to give on revenge as well. He knew very well that he had critics depsite working so hard to protect the people of Earth. But there were lots of people who loved him and were always grateful to him. And he didn't want to let them down.
Rook, Rachel, Bullfrag, and Four Arms watched carefully from the doorway. They smiled to each other before walking off. "Well, that worked out better than we thought." said Rook.
"I'm so proud of Ben, taking his own advice like that." Four Arms said, smiling.
Bullfrag grinned. "Yeah, we're so far ahead of Ben, we're in different time zones."
"I do feel bad for lying to Ben about that whole story with Wildmutt. But desperate times, desperate measures." Rachel said. "The last thing anyone wants is for Ben to get a taste for vengeance."
Later that evening, dinner was ready. And what a spread! Stuffed turkey, mashed potatoes, corn and butter with dinner rolls! It was like an early Thanksgiving! Nothing says 'delicious' like a Jocklin turkey dinner! Ben, Wildmut, and everyone else were ready to dig in. Just as everyone's plates were set, the doorbell rang.
"I'll get it!" Rachel said as she went to answer the door. When she opened it, she was surprised to see Mr. Baumann and Pakmar. They appeared rather meek. "Oh. Baumann. Pakmar." Rachel frowned. "What can I do for you?"
"Uh, hello, Rachel." Mr. Baumann sais shyly. "Can we speak to Ben?"
Rachel shrugged. "I don't know. Can you?" Her voice was cold as ice.
Rook appeared holding a full garbage bag. He also frowned seeing Mr. Baumann and Pakmar. "Rachel, would you please take out the trash?"
Rachel turned to the visitors on her doorstep "You heard the man. Move it."
The guests felt the sting of her words. "Okay, we deserved that. Rachel, we're very sorry about what we said to Ben." said Mr. Baumann.
"Pakmar and Baumann should not have said bad things about Ben Tennyson." said Pakmar. "Ben Tennyson does save a lot of people and the world. Ben Tennyson means a lot to people of Earth "
"Your businesses are slumping ever since you made fun of Ben, haven't they?" said Rachel. "We saw the bad reviews on the net."
"Okay! Okay! Everyone in town hates us because of what we said!" Baumann exclaimed. "I can't walk into a gas station or grocery store without getting spit on!"
Pakmar fell to his knees. "The only people who come to Pakmar's business are common criminals who hate Ben! And they usually just come to rob Pakmar! Why is the universe always unfair?!"
"Because life is unfair." Ben said as he walked into the doorway. "You think my life as a hero is all sunshine and roses?" He scoffed. "Yeah, right!"
Now Mr. Baumann fell to his knees as well. "Ben! You have to forgive us! Our lives are completely ruined! Without good customers, we'll go under! And with no good businesses, our lives are meaningless!"
"Please! Please! PLEASE FORGIVE US, BEN TENNYSON!" Pakmar pleaded.
Ben crossed his arms. "Well, I don't know..." He heard the businessmen sob in defeat. "Alright, okay, I forgive you."
"Really?!" Mr. Baumann got up and shook Ben's hand. "Thank you, Ben! Thank you!"
"Ben Tennyson has Pakmar's eternal gratitude!" Pakmar declared. He and Mr. Baumann ran off to spread the word that Ben has forgiven them.
"Wow. You forgave them pretty fast, Ben." Rachel said as she and Rook went back inside.
"I had to. If I didn't forgive them, they weren't going to stop bugging me until I did and I wanted to eat before the food got cold." Ben replied. "Besides, they've been punished enough."
Rook smiled. "Ah, yes. Things are finally back to normal around here."
