Hello everyone, and welcome to the new fic: The Bearer. The feature character in this is Ben Tennyson, with a bit of OOC-ness, and why that is will be explained below, so please read it before you begin complaining or questioning. It would be majorly appreciated.

Okay, let's talk about how strong Ben will be when he leaves the Null Void. Physically, his human form will be in peak human condition. Because he was in alien form constantly, some of the strength and abilities he got from being in alien form accumulated into his human form. So, for example, he's received some of the Galvan's intelligence and some of the Pyronite's fire and heat immunity. Though it is in extremely minor doses, Ben is far from being incredibly enhanced. He just has something a little extra to make him a little more capable in base form.

While in the Null Void, he was either fighting to survive or finding shelter or food. So, with master control fully unlocked, Ben could stay as an alien for as long as he wished, and so he did. As he got older, more powerful, and more experienced, he started finding secret abilities within his aliens. Truthfully, he could now see what Tetrax meant about him, not even scratching the surface of the skills with his aliens. While Ben came leaps and bounds with his improvement and strength, that also meant Vilgax had as well. The two clashed every two or so months. It would always either end in a draw, or the fight would end due to interference. Though, when It wasn't a tie, Ben had come out on top most of the time.

Also, in this Universe, Ben's aliens have another form, named their 'Mastered Form', which is the form that Ben's aliens evolve into once he masters all of their abilities to said form. They change the appearance of the alien. While they also increase the form's natural power tenfold.

Also, I will be using events from the comics, tv shows, and cartoons, as I will not be following one set continuity like New 52 or the DCAU, for example. The same could be said about characters.

"It's over, Tennysons." Vilgax the Conquerer announced malevolently.

Ben's face morphed into a slate. "Tell me, Vilgax, how much do you actually know about the Omnitrix?"

"More than you could possibly imagine." Vilgax was going to continue but was interrupted by a chuckle from Ben. He growled at the green-eyed boy.

"What's so funny, Tennyson?!" Ben just chuckled even harder before his chuckles turned into full-blown laughter.

"If you know so much about then you must know that even if you cut off my arm, dismantle the Omnitrix, and then slap it on your wrist; it still wouldn't work. The watch is bonded by my DNA!" The emperor roared and snatched Gwen out of the air, or he thought he did.

"Thank you for letting your guard down, Squidface." A raspy voice said from behind him. Vilgax angrily turned around and found nothing, just a kicked-up dust cloud.

"TENNYSON!" He roared in absolute fury as he looked around furiously.

"Good going, Vilgeek. You screwed things up again!" Kevin Levin shouted.

"Shut up, Osmosian," Vilgax told him in that bone-chilling calmness that made his underlings tremble upon hearing.

"Fine! How do you propose we find him?" Levin asked with an irritated expression on his face. Vilgax simply smirked.

"How else? We trace his Omnitrix with the device we were using earlier. Also, use your Vulpimancer senses. That should make things easier." He ordered.

"I'm guessing that's the mutt form Benji transforms into?" Levin guessed. Vilgax nodded in confirmation. They both whistled and called over two strange bat-like creatures. They were Null Guardians. Rapid creatures that hunted in packs. Once they settled down, both hopped onto their respective animal and flew onward.

Ben, as XLR8 sped through Noll Void and settled down on what looked like rock and jellybean combined. Just as he placed Gwen down, the Omnitrix symbol briefly glowed green before he transformed into human form.

"Look, Gwen, we need to get out of here," Ben told her.

"How?" She questioned confusedly. The portal had already closed.

"Look next to you." He told her. She did as she was told and saw the Null Void projector was still somehow working.

"It's going to close in… I say a few minutes," Gwen informed him, breathless. Ben nodded in appreciation. Just then, screeching came towards their ears. Ben growled in annoyance, and Gwen shivered at those animastic cries.

Ben turned around and faced his back toward Gwen. "Gwen, worst comes worst, you have to get out of here," Ben told her. Gwen looked shocked before smacking him on the back of the head. Ben didn't comment on her anger. He was too wrapped up in focusing on getting them out of there.

"I'm not leaving you; I don't care if we bo-," Her speech was interrupted when Ben turned towards her with tears streaming down his face.

"Gwen, we-you don't have much time," Ben told her as they grabbed her and pulled her in the biggest hug she had ever received.

"I'll miss you," Ben told her with a sad smile. Gwen gaped and readied a retort.

'XLR8!' Ben cried mentally as the area was blinded by a bright green flash. XLR8 then scooped up Gwen in his arms and zipped forwards down the land, and jumped towards another rock formation. He landed swiftly and sped off once more, creating blue and black afterimages. Just as they neared close to Null Void projector, Ben mentally commanded once more.

'Four Arms!' Ben hurriedly shouted in mind. Although the portal looked ready to close, it would probably only stay open for a few more moments, maybe even less.

'I'm sorry I had to do this, Gwen.' Ben thought as he flipped into a summersault before hurling her with two of his four arms. She sailed through the portal as it closed, and a tuff of her red hair was left behind. But he still heard that scream. It was filled with despairing fear.

"NO! BEN!" Gwen screamed as she got sucked through the portal.

'Stinkfly!" Ben thought as he transformed into a flying bug-like alien and flew over to another rock range, and transformed back into his human form. He longingly stared at where the portal had been before his two worst foes settled down a distance away.

His face turned from sad to anger and finally to hatred.

"You have finally ceased your pointless fleeing, Tennyson?" Vilgax stated, not the least bit bothered that the Noll Void portal had closed. There were no prisons that could hold Vilgax the Conquerer. This retched dimension would be no different. Kevin was too absorbed in his lust for revenge to process the portal's closing. Just what Vilgax expected of a beast like him. Though even animals have their uses, he rationalized.

"I would rather make a sacrifice to keep you here. At least in here, you would be stopped."

Failing logic, Vilgax determined but it would be pointless to explain that to the boy. He would be dead far too soon for him to bask in. "Shall we start the battle that will rock this dimension to the very core?"

Vilgax knew he wasn't getting out of this dimension for quite some time. Now, there was time to waste—time to enjoy hunting down this boy who had caused him so much trouble.

Ben smirked and transformed into Four Arms. He cracked his, now, fresh knuckles and neck joints as he smirked. "You're going down, Squidface, Levin." Four Arms challenged, and the three foes all charged one another. Vilgax and Ben, the two powerhouses clashed into a stalemate. Fists against fists, and the Null Void quaked.

For once, he wasn't afraid of Vilgax, and he was ready to wipe him off the face of the map for good this time.

ZZZ

The Null Void.

The most secure prison in the entire universe. That's what they called it. A prison. They could not be more wrong.

But to Ben, it was hell. Everywhere he went, he was fighting for his life. Some people enjoyed killing others weaker than them to serve their sick amusement—people like Vilgax, Kevin Levin, and a Galvan that went by the name of, Albedo. One's brilliance rivaled First Thinker Azmuth, the rumored creator of the Omnitrix.

Ten years. Ten, long, hellish years it's been since he'd last seen Earth. Since he'd last seen his parents and his cousin Gwen. He missed it all so much. Yet, at the same time, he'd forgotten what I felt like to have a civilized conversation with someone. It made his heart burn every time he thought of Vilgax. Oh, how he ruined his life, tore him away from his own world.

The Omnitrix was the only thing that kept him alive this far. Without it, he would have been dead a million times over. He'd been lucky enough to get Gwen out. He knew she wouldn't last in a place like this. It didn't matter that she was a magical prodigy. He still remembered that faithful day. The memories, they were still so vivid.

Ben remembered activating the Maser Control for the first time. He felt thrilled, truly happy with his success. It wasn't like those fake smiles that he'd give Gwen occasionally and even his grandfather Max. They didn't understand him. When he went alien, he felt like he was someone important—someone that mattered. It's why he stayed alien for as long as he wanted to when he first unlocked the Master Control. Not because he thought it was cool like they believed.

He then fought Kevin and Vilgax, and he won. Usually, it would take everything out of him just to beat one of them at a time. Yet, he combated them both while they were working alongside one another. For all two seconds, he was top of the world. Then like everything else in life, the rug just had to be ripped out from under him.

They realized they could not prevail. Vilgax being the bastard he was, used Gwen as a hostage. But Ben already saw through it. For once, he had a plan if that happened. He was at the top of his game. Focused. No longer filled with childish ambitions.

Instead of surrendering as they wanted, he transformed into Cannonbolt mid-jump and caught Gwen out of Vilgax's grip. After that, he went XLR8 and ran towards the portal. By the time they reached it, it was too late. The portal was only big enough to get one person through.

Ben made the only decision that made sense. He would not forsake her to save his own skin.

He sacrificed his freedom for Gwen's own. There was never a day he regretted it. Not now, not ever.

Throughout his adventures in Null Void, he'd met a lot of fascinating aliens. Most of them were powerful in their own right. Some even more powerful than Vilgax, few even more powerful than he could possibly imagine.

Ben was forced to grow up in this place. One thing he learned about the Null Void was that there were no rules. You just had to survive. Ben did what he always hated doing before he got into the Null Void; he trained. He trained his absolute hardest. He studied his alien forms, their strengths, weaknesses, and their hidden abilities. He did his best to survive. And he did so spectacularly.

Every alien form had secret abilities. Ben still remembered what Tetrax said in the Mineshaft. Telling him that he hadn't scratched the surface of potential in any of his alien forms, he realized just how right Tetrax was. Once he started training and progressing, he kept thinking about how right Tetrax was.

Albedo. He was a very powerful combatant. He even built his own Omnitrix, much to his shock. After that, they fought, and he won quite easily. But as their fights progressed, Albedo continued growing in power. He still remembered the first loss to Albedo nearly eight years ago. It was the first time going against the Ultimate Omnitrix, or what Albedo called it, the Ultimatrix. It allowed him to hyper-evolve any alien he used. After that, their fights have always been tooth and nail. But Ben found a way to take Albedo permanently out of the picture without killing him. He was still naive, then. He still went out of his way not to kill his enemies. That would later earn him an agonizingly close brush with death.

It was a plan to take Ultimatrix core. He knew without the core of Omnitrix, it was useless. It took a few tries, but Ben succeeded. He thought about using the Ultimatrix core for himself. He understood that it was a dirty and scummy move. He hated the idea of stealing power. Ben still cursed his younger self. It was his hesitance that almost got him killed dozens of times before. His younger self despised taking power that was not his own.

Now, he could not care less. In the Null Void, it was survival of the fittest. Theft was the least of his offenses. But it was all worth it in the end. Years passed, and his heart still beat.

So, against better judgment, he decided to use it and not look a gift horse in the mouth.

So, he used three aliens that made the project feasible. He used Grey Matter, Upgrade, and an alien named Jury Rigg. Back when we was still naming his aliens. Frankly, Jury Rigg was the best builder Ben had. Jury Rigg could dismantle the entire Omnitrix and rebuild back perfectly fine, along with Grey Matter's help. That alone was an incredible feat.

It was a gamble, but Ben succeeded. After three weeks of planning, researching, and good ol' trial and error, he did it. He took apart the most crucial pieces of the core and amplified them with other technology. After Ben had done that, he merged the Omnitrix core with the Ultimatrix core with Upgrade and Jury Rigg's assistance, and after several attempts, it worked. Albeit, it was a flawed matrix.

It took him another few weeks to perfect the process afterward. But he finished the project, nonetheless. That wasn't even the beginning of what was to come. Ben later installed an extremely high-power, self-replenishing battery to fuel the ultimate transformations. He learned that while the Omnitrix possessed an amazingly robust power source, it would only be enough to sustain one, perhaps two concurrent ultimate transformations. Constructing a power source this strong into a package so insignificantly tiny may have been impossible.

For beings that possessed average intellect. A Galvan was anything but normal or average.

Additionally, he added a universal language scanner and translator, which he received by trading with someone high up in the Null Void food chain. He paid a pretty penny for it, but it was worth it.

That all happened during Ben's seventh year in the Noll Void.

Deep within a cave was a young man with an angular face who appeared to be in their late teens. He had spiky brown hair and bright green eyes. He had a muscular frame and broad shoulders. He wore a shiny grey suit with a retractable black helmet, which housed a green triangle on the front. Under the helmet, the suit went up to the base of his neck. His utility belt was always full of gadgets. Though the sleeves of his suit went down to his mid-forearm, revealing the Omnitrix on his left wrist.

The Omnitrix looked different as well. Underneath the Omnitrix was a dark, metallic sleeve. The Omnitrix appeared the same, although it expanded over the years to accommodate growing proportions.

"Omnitrix, I want you to scan this for any residue DNA," Ben said in a deep, ragged voice as he studied a sliver of shrapnel. He held up his left arm and the Omnitrix glowed a dim yellow before a narrow yellow laser scrutinized the piece.

"DNA scan, complete." A robotic voice informed it's user.

"Does it match with Vilgax's DNA?"

"Negative. This DNA does not match Vilgax or any other Chimera Sui Generis."

Ben slammed his fist on the table roughly and nearly broke it in half out of rage.

Damn it all! That was my last lead to Vilgax. With his disappearance, there are only two probabilities. One, he's hiding, or two, he escaped. For the love of the universe, I hope it's not the latter.

Ben retracted his fist and massaged his brow.

Maybe he did escape. If that is true, then I need to escape as well. I can't let Vilgax out of my sights for too long. Every time it happens, it always comes and bites me in the ass.

The Omnitrix glowed briefly glowed green before he was enveloped by a green flash. In Ben's place was a grey-skinned, frog-like, bipedal alien that was only eight inches tall with large green eyes, which had rectangular pupils and horizontal eyelids. He wore a white jumpsuit with a thin vertical black stripe going down it. He also had the Omnitrix symbol on his chest.

He hopped onto his desk and began writing notes on what he deemed necessary to record.

If I'm going to escape the Noll Void, I need a Noll Void Projector. Though, even with my superior intellect, it will be most challenging.' Grey Matter thought as he started going through the mechanical parts he had lying around. The Galvan jumped down from the desk and started looking for a functional coupling and type of wire. He slowly brought it up to the table, sometimes dropping a few things before dumping it over his desk.

I believe it is for the Gremlin to come out and play, Grey Matter thought with a small smile, and he transformed.

"Jury Rigg!" He shouted in open exuberance. Jury Rigg was an alien that wore an aviator's outfit, which came with an ascot. His skin tone was crimson-red and appeared scarcely smooth. His eyes were black, his ears were spiked, and his nose was a few inches long and ended in a cruel cleft. He also had a spike on his chin and one near his eyes. The Omnitrix symbol rested now on his waist, resting upon a belt buckle that was barely fastened correctly.

"NOW! Assemble! FIX FIX FIX FIX FIX FIX FIX!" He shouted crazedly as he ran at sonic speed, kicking up a cloud. After a few minutes, the dust cloud settled, and Jury Rigg was in the center of the desk holding a silver handle that looked like it belonged to a handgun, only slightly larger.

Jury Rigg looked tiredly at the handle he had just built before he transformed back into his human self.

"Okay, maybe this will be a little tougher than I thought," Ben muttered as he sat on his chair and started working on something separate.

It took a lot of time and effort. Even using some of Ben's best builders, more scientifically intelligent aliens, it still took over thirty hours to finish the device. If it wasn't for the fact that he had already started making a Null Void Projector a few years back, making it would have been damn near impossible. Even with the Galvan's intellect, the Null Void Projector was a level 18 piece of alien technology. Galvan's only reached maturity after several hundred years of living. The only reason Grey Matter was as smart as he was, was the Omnitrix's design. It transformed him into a peak example of the race he selected. Yet, it only transformed him into the form the alien would have at his age. So, if he were twenty-years-old, it would only transform him into a peak, healthy example of that alien at twenty-years-old.

He had recently found out who made the Omnitrix if Albedo's musings were correct. Ben was shocked when he learned he was a part of Grey Matter's race. Apparently, no one knew where Azmuth was. He disappeared a short while after creating the Omnitrix.

The Null Void Projector was a large machine similar to the blaster he had strapped to his waist.

"Let's get the hell outta here," Ben muttered. He grabbed the Null Void Projector, his hand trembling as he pointed it at a wall. He instantly pulled the trigger and out came a narrow, orange beam that struck the surface but wasn't damaged. Instead, a portal enlarged from the beam. Ben held the trigger down a little longer, waiting for the portal to reach its full size.

"Well, I'm finally going to leave this hellhole. Meh, I'll miss it." He cracked a smirk in his unkempt beard. "Oh, the hell am I kidding?"

Before entering the portal, he activated his suit, and his visor-like mask sealed his head.

And with that, Ben Tennyson escaped the most dangerous parrell dimension in the universe. Ben saw a flash of green light and then nothing.

Jump City

The next thing Ben saw was a building—and he was heading right for it! He rocketed straight through the roof, and the entire building shook. However, his sudden appearance was noticed by ordinary bystanders and what looked like green lizards with wings and weapons.

Ben slowly got up, lightly dusted his armor off, and turned toward where he had first appeared.

"Okay. At least I didn't land in the ocean. That would have been a pain in the ass," Ben commented to himself before he popped his neck and shoulders. "Work through the pain," he muttered.

"You! Stop right there and identify yourself or prepare to be terminated." Spoke what looked like the leader of this group as he stepped up to the front, casually walking through the wreckage.

"Identify myself or prepare to be terminated? What is this? Nazi Germany?" Now, he didn't have to give an excuse to beat every living shit of them.

"You know." Ben started, and they readied their weapons. "You all must have the biggest set of balls to threaten me. Either that or you're all stupid. To be completely honestly, I'm willing to bet on the last one."

They all growled and charged with their various battle cries; some flew up into the air, planning to provide cover fire. Ben chuckled as they approached.

Ben dodged swiftly to the side and elbowed an alien in his kidney, causing him to drape over in pain. Ben saw a couple of laser-like lightning bolts coming straight at him. Ben grabbed two fists from his flank and threw them into their comrade's attack. Both of them screamed in pain as they were violently electrocuted. The episode ended, and their two burned and scorched bodies fell to the ground in a smoking and groaning heap.

Their comrades looked at their fallen bodies in shock before they snapped their heads in anger and charged once again.

"Hmmm, so you're intelligent enough to know fighting against your comrades during a life-and-death battle would be idiotic. You people aren't so stupid after all. Then again, I can't speak for all of you."

As they all got close, Ben whipped out a baton. He dodged all the incoming attacks with swift and small movements as he countered them each time they attacked.

Just as there were only a few left, Ben pulled out a rifle, but it had a sizable hole for a barrel.

The remaining flying lizards weren't so confident anymore, but when they what weapon Ben pulled out, they regained their arrogant smirks and snickered. Ben shook his head as he fired his gun and shot out a set of grenades.

They simultaneously were pushed down to their knees, and thick grey smoke coarsened out, causing them to fall unconscious after a few moments of coughing.

Ben walked over to their unconscious bodies, casually pocketing his weapons.

He walked out on the street and gazed up, noting a warship floating several hundred meters above them.

"Okay, this is Earth. I'm sure of it. Just a more futuristic version." Just as he was about to leave, he saw a cluster of individuals that looked to be around his age, maybe a few years younger, fighting the same race of aliens that he encountered mere moments ago.

He figured that he could help, and get some information out of it as well. Obtaining valuable intelligence was never a bad thing.

Ben reached into his utility belt and pulled out a piece of coal-black Froysium-ore, an extremely light yet durable metal.

"Well, first day back on Earth, and It looks like I'm saving it already," Ben commented idly in amusement. Some things never change, he thought as dozens of citizens eyed him. He dropped, but it didn't strike the ground like many expected it to. No, it stopped a few inches on the floor, and the metal suddenly expanded into a hoverboard.

He set off, and we reached his destination. He noticed an alien pinning a girl to the cement. He calmly flew behind him and shot him in the back. The alien whirled around to meet his attacker.

"I don't think the girl like you bending her over in the middle of the street. Judging by the look on her face, I'd say she doesn't like you, period," Ben stated causally, and the alien snarled. "Though, it's probably 'cause you smell like rotten ass."

That was the last straw from the blue-skinned alien before he pounced.

He sighed in disappointment before he dodged a jackhammer punch before he grabbed the alien by its neck, and hefted him up with a show of strength. The last thing the alien saw was the crown of the human's skull as he was headbutted and sent into blissful unconsciousness.

"Such arrogance. I suppose that's what I should expect from a Gordanian," he muttered disgustingly.

Ben mentally commanded his hoverboard to float downwards. Once he was of proper height, he offered his armored hand to the downed beauty.

"Hello, I would introduce myself, but it would seem that there are more precedented matters to attend to."

She grasped Ben's hand in a firm grip, and he pulled her up to her feet. Bits of rubble fell from her clothes.

The orange-skinned beauty was nothing short of that. She had a voluptuous figure and an impressive bust that strained against her outfit. She had a smooth, toned stomach that was shown off clearly. Her hips were decently wide, and she had a nice round and firm butt.

She wore a tight purple, sleeveless shirt cropped only a few inches below her breasts, leaving her toned abdomen on display. It had a green gem stationed a little above the valley of her breasts. She wore matching shorts that barely covered her behind fully.

Ben had to admit, he wasn't a pervert, but he knew a beautiful girl when he saw one, and she was one of the most stunning women he'd ever seen.

"My name is Koriand'r, or in your language, Starfire." She introduced herself with a light, formal bow. Ben lightly jerked out of his staring before introducing himself as well.

"My name is Ben. Nice to meet you, Starfire or Koriand'r, whatever you prefer." Ben introduced himself. "Now that pleasantries are done with, what the hell is going on here?"

"I think we can answer that." A voice spoke from behind. Ben turned around and saw the four other teenagers walking towards him, all of them looked to be in the same age bracket as him. Perhaps a few years younger in some cases.

"It turns out they want her as a prize. And she escaped, and which there trying to kill us all for it." The tall cyborg told him.

"Really? Play keep away with the girl, huh? Okay. I'll help. I have nothing better to do, anyway."

"Yeah, I say we can use all the help we can-," The green-skinned teenager started but was interrupted.

"Hold that thought for a few seconds." Ben said as another alien charged straight into Ben's 'blind spot'.

He waited for it to get in close before Ben elbowed him straight between the eyes, and he grabbed the golden staff before he twisted It like a pretzel and tied it around the alien's throat, but not enough for it to suffocate, just enough to cause mild to extreme discomfort.

He grabbed its face roughly before throwing the alien into a glass window.

"Typical Gordanian coward."

Starfire nodded in agreement. Gordanian's were brutish, angry creatures that didn't hold an ounce of honor in them. She knew that in battle, there was no such thing as honor. But Gordanian's held no honor in anything. They were backstabbing cowards that most of the galaxy despised.

"What do you mean?" A different girl questioned. She was another beauty.

Her dark purple hair was cut neck-length, dark purple eyes and a red gem stationed in the middle of her forehead.

She also had a voluptuous figure, but she was slimmer than the orange-skinned girl. Her breasts fit her frame perfectly and only accentuated her natural beauty. Her waist, however, was much tighter, and her hips were wider, supporting a much more supple and firm ass. It was even better than Starfire's.

She wore a dark, formfitting leotard, and on her waist was what looked like some golden stringed belt with numerous red gems attached. Overall, she had a figure that many girls would kill to have.

"Where I come from, Gordanian's no different than the other scum.

Selfish, arrogant, and really fuckin' ugly." That drew a few short chortles, whereas Starfire was not comforted.

"But now that we have acted, Trogaar will strike!" Starfire warned.

As Robin was about to respond, a giant hologram came to life from the ocean.

"Fools! You Earth scum were warned! Your insolence will be punished, and your city shall be destroyed!" Trogaar vanished in a cruel bolt of lightning. As if Zeus himself was condemning them to death as well.

"Well…" Cyborg led off depressedly.

"Shit," Robin muttered.

Before Ben knew it, an argument broke out. The pale girl, Raven, was her name. He heard it thrown around a few times in their current spat and merely listened to the argument as it unfolded. They all unraveled in the stress.

"Quiet!" She shouted. Everyone stopped in their tracks and eyed her, shocked. Since they met her, she'd never raised her voice. Raven awkwardly waved her hand and muttered 'hi'. She apparently didn't like attention being brought onto her; Ben observed silently.

Robin stepped forward with a determined look on his masked face, "Look, it doesn't matter how we got into this mess. All that matters is we solve it. But we can only do it if we work together."

The boy in tights possessed natural charisma, Ben noted. He pulled them together, invigorated them with a sense of purpose, and directed it flawlessly. It was all a bit childish, in his opinion. But they were all childish. They all ate it up, and maybe Robin knew they would. Or, perhaps, Robin was just as sappy as the rest and spoke from his heart rather than an angle.

"Now, let's get going. We have a city to save."

Inside the warship, a few Gordanian guards were running down the hallway with golden staffs.

"Ah, creepy black magic…" Beast Boy muttered as he involuntarily shivered, Raven spared him a monotone look, and he grinned uneasily. He scratched his neck and chuckled nervously.

Raven said nothing to that remark. After all, it was true. Her magic was creepy.

Once they ran by, a medium-sized dome of black energy appeared and revealed six people.

Robin stepped forward and peeked around the corner to make sure it was safe to walk through. "Let's go, guys," he gestured. Everyone followed him cleanly through the hallway with tranquil steps, except Beast Boy, as he wore leather boots that creaked after every step he took.

Everyone else strode forward except Cyborg, Raven, and Ben.

"Why are you always by yourself?" Cyborg asked curiously, but his tone held an undertone of concern.

Raven's saddened purple eyes only dropped further down. "You heard the kid; I don't belong here," she muttered, but the two men still heard her clearly.

Ben walked forward from behind her and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Trust me, you're fine. Because if anybody deserves to be here, it's you." Ben told her as warmly as he could, which wasn't really warm at all. He didn't mean it, either. He only appealed to her sense of doubt and attempted to alleviate it. If she went into battle saddened, she would be distracted. That would spell disaster for everyone involved.

Raven looked on in surprise before her cheeks lit up in a slight blush.

"Not only on that, but trust me, girl, half of me is metal, the other girl is an alien, and the kid's green," Cyborg assured her.

She looked at them both with a small on her face before he nodded in appreciation.

"Uhh… guys, I think they found us!" Beat Boy squeaked.

Ben turned around and saw five more Gordanians. He calmly strolled up, catching their attention. "You know, I'm getting sick of this frog and pony show. So, how about this, return from the way you came, and you can live," Ben threatened, and everyone stared at him, startled that he would make a threat like that.

The Gordanians, on the other hand, were on the verge of laughter.

On Gordanian turned to the other beside him and cracked a joke, "This puny human thinks he can take us." He laughed.

Ben calmly exhaled before he smirked up at them, "I'm going to enjoy this far more than I should." The Omnitrix glowed beneath his suit, and the area was blinded by a green flash, forcing everyone to shield their eyes.

Once everyone opened them, they were shocked to see what was in Ben's place.

There stood a humanoid alien that was approximately twelve-feet tall. He had well-developed muscles, two four-fingered arms, and red skin. A black stripe went from his chin to his lower lip, he also had two fangs that jutted out from the bottom of his lip, and he had four yellow eyes: the main pair and a smaller set below them. The alien wore a white t-shirt with a black line going trailing down the center, black pants, and fingerless gloves. In the middle of his chest, a white, silver, and black Omnitrix symbol rested straight onto his chest.

"A-a T-t-tetramand?!" One of them shuddered pitifully.

"You'd be correct." Four Arms spoke with a deep rumbling voice.

Suddenly, two of his four arms grabbed onto two of the Gordanians by the top of their heads before he smashed them two together, causing them to yell in pain before Four Arms then threw straight through the iron door that blocked the path, creating a large bang along with a significant dent.

The remaining three shivered even harder in fright before Four Arms bitch smacked two of them into the opposite of the walls, creating two enormous bangs.

The last thing the one remaining Gordanian saw was a giant red, leather-gloved fist before being sent into the control room, coincidentally smashing into another Gordanian, knocking him out as well.

The rest of the teenagers looked on, shocked that they had just seen Ben do.

Starfire walked forward, "Is that you… Ben?" She asked, a tremor in her voice.

He turned back at them before he nodded calmly, "While in this form, you may call me Four Arms. Or Ben. Whatever you prefer," he said, and they sighed in relief.

They ambled onward with the newly transformed Tetramand leading.

The ship's commander hopped off his seat and marched forward angrily before he pointed at Four Arms sharply, "What the hell is a Tetramand doing on MY SHIP?!" Trogaar shouted the last part as he looked at the larger-than-average Tetramand.

"The only reason I'm even here is because you threatened my planet. If you just kept yourself on the mudball you call a planet, I wouldn't have signed your death warrant."

The Gordanian growled. "Look at that, a Tetramand protecting someone else instead of fighting for his own pride. How rich."

"I'll give you the same option I gave the unfortunate five I met just a couple of moments ago. Give up and leave this planet. If you do, I will let you live. If you don't…" he allowed the silence to fill in where he'd left off.

The Gordanian gave his answer by screeching out a command. His gaggle of soldiers rushed them, and Four Arms growled.

He wanted a fight? So be it.

They neared, and everyone readied themselves. Then, another bright green flash blinded them.

In Four Arm's place was a tall humanoid mummy. He was taller than Four Arms but lankier. His eyes and the gaps between his bandages glowed green. He had a brown and gold pharaoh's headdress, brown bracers, and greaves. And he had the white, silver, and black Omnitrix symbol on the back of his left hand.

Snare-oh said nothing. He sent his hands out, and his bandaged 'fingers' lengthened as they shot ahead, ensaring the first Gordanian tightly before he sent at one of his comrades, which he soon crashed into, sending them against the wall.

Everyone else charged forward after Snare-oh attacked.

Robin charged forward and immediately jumped ahead and punched one straight across the face. The attack sent a Gordanian back a few feet before he was kicked in the stomach, which sent him hailing into the all.

Robin wordlessly charged forward once more.

Beast Boy morphed into a kangaroo, and he jumped up and dropped-kicked one Gordanian, who was thrown into the ground.

He then morphed into a giant green lion before he bit down on one of his enemy's legs. He showed impressive strength and dexterity as he threw him by the grip on his leg.

Snare-oh saw the foe that Beast Boy sent hurtling and reached out. His bandaged tendrils tied around his torso, and he jackhammered him into the ground repeatedly until he stopped struggling.

Raven was sent sailing into a wall, or she would have if a pair of tendrils had missed her. He pulled her towards him before gently setting her down beside him.

Raven nodded thankfully, "Thanks for the save." She mumbled gratefully.

"It is of no issue. But I think I know a more expedient way to get this done, but I require your assistance." Snare-oh asked. Raven ignored his strange speech pattern and offered her consent.

She nodded and gained a determined glint in her purple eyes.

"Good. Know this, in this form, I am great at one-on-one battle, but my efficiency is crippled against hordes of opponents. If you have a large-scale attack, use it, and I will take care of the stragglers," Snare-oh planned.

She nodded before she started chanting.

"Azarath Metrion Zinthos!" She cried the part as a wave of destructive black magic flooded the room as an eruption. It rocked the room and the ship as a whole. The sheer output of foreign energy caused the vessel to lose power. It plummeted straight into the ocean, but as luck would have it, the ship landed well enough and floated above the sea.

Everything was destroyed. Numerous unconscious and unmoving bodies littered the floor. The roof was in tatters.

Slowly, Trogaar twitched and pushed himself against the control deck. The Gordanian bolted, his nails lengthening into claws.

"Ben! Look out!" Raven shouted as she tried chanting what she'd done before. It was unnecessary.

"You know Trogaar, you're a moron," Snare-oh said with a hint of humor in his aged voice.

He mentally willed his chest bandages to carry outward. Four damaged vines and one shot clean through Trogaar's stomach, earning a gut-wrenching scream as blood spurted free from his wound. The other tendrils formed a giant fist before Snare-oh uppercutted him.

Trogaar wasn't completely knocked out, but he was beaten. And he knew it. He lightly turned around and faced Snare-oh's form as the humanoid mummy walked over to him.

Trogaar's sight was fixated on the mummy's hand. He finally realized what he was really up against. Trogaar weakly chuckled, and Snare-oh raised a nonexistent eyebrow at his apparent amusement.

"What's so funny?"

"It's just the fact that… I realized what I was up against until now." Blotches exploded out from his mouth. Liquid drained out from his stomach. The blood loss only worsened at his wheezing laugh.

They all stared at him, perplexed. All except Ben.

"Y-you have the Omnitrix, the strongest weapon in the entire universe! But the last person who had the Omnitrix was a human by the name of Ben Tennyson! After he disappeared a decade ago, rumor says he was imprisoned in the Null Void, the most secure prison known to the galaxy," Trogaar finished, and they all adopted looks of shock.

After he said that, a bright green flash erupted in the room, causing some to shield their eyes again.

Ben, back in his human form, walked forward once more. He stared into Trogaar's eyes unflinchingly before the sound of pressurized air was heard. Steam belched from his suit, and many of them waited anxiously to his face.

Once his helm retracted, they saw him. His hair was brown but dark, almost black in the absence of the bleak moonlight. His face was long but covered in a viscous, slovenly disheveled beard. It looked like he hadn't taken a comb or soap to it since he grew it out. His long, mattered hair wasn't any better. Everything about him was dirt and unkempt. Except for his eyes. They were bright, radiant even, but to Raven, they looked so... empty.

"You're looking at Ben Tennyson." The teenagers gasped, and Trogaar gagged, coughing at the absurdity of it all. It sounded more like bitterness.

"So, you survived the Null Void and even escaped, huh? Well, damn." It was then Trogaar breathed his last.

It was quiet for a few moments before Ben turned his back and walked away. However, just as he was about to leave the room, a shout got his attention.

"So… you're a criminal with the most powerful weapon in the entire universe?" Robin asked as Ben turned, stone-faced.

He let out a bitter chuckle. "No, I'm not a criminal. But yeah, I have it."

But Robin didn't buy it. "If you aren't a criminal, then why were you sent to the Null Void, he said it was the most secure and dirtiest prison in the universe. So why were you sent there if you aren't a criminal?" Robin was interrogated, though he was caught off guard when Ben shared a sad smile.

"I was sent there on accident a decade ago while I was fighting an intergalactic criminal. My cousin was with me. The portal back home, it—" he foraged his fingers through his beard, shifting anxiously. "It was closing. There was only room for one of us. She made it through. Ever since then, I've been trapped in the Null Void. Imagine my shock to see this prick." He kicked Trogaar's corpse.

"I'm sorry," whispered Robin.

Cyborg walked forward with a frown on his face. "How old are you? You don't look too much older than me."

Ben gave another bitter chuckle, "I'm twenty."

"Then that means you were just a kid when you were sent there," Robin muttered absentmindedly.

Ben wordlessly stepped out. Seeing as they didn't have anything else to do, they all followed him out.

Robin took a few steps forward, getting Ben's attention, but Ben just stood still and kept staring at the sky.

"I want to say thank you for the help," Robin said with a smile, and everyone else nodded as well.

"Yeah, for real, man, you were a huge help!" Beast Boy agreed enthusiastically.

But Ben kept staring forward as if he didn't hear them at all.

After a few minutes of uncomfortable silence, Ben finally spoke up.

"Helping all of you was no problem, as for helping save the city… I was just doing my job." Ben spoke monotonously. Or, at least, it was. "I want to warn you of a few things. This world is a lot uglier than you think. If you guys really want to pursue your hero career, then I suggest being careful and start training. There are beings out there that multitudes stronger than the ones you fought before. Take it from experience. Just when you feel safe, there will always be someone bigger, meaner than anyone you've met before, ready to cross you off."

Everyone thought about his suggestion before Robin walked up to him and held out a small rag-tag device.

"I want you to have this. I already gave everyone else one. It's basically a transmitter. If you need anything, then call, and we'll help."

Ben turned ever so slightly before he grasped the device before he slid it into a compartment in his utility belt.

"I have another warning if you see anybody with this symbol, then treat them with the utmost respect. I won't tell you who they are, but trust me, those are people that you don't want to piss off. Listen to my warning Robin. And remember, things aren't always what they seem."

That's all he uttered before a familiar bright green light blinded them, and a sonic boom clapped in their ears. They eyed the space he previously occupied but only spied a set of swirling leaves. Their minds were aswirl. Some thoughts were filled with determination. Some thoughts were filled with admiration, and some were filled with gratitude.

This chapter was revised and edited—12/8/22