The day rolled slowly for any other words. It was a Friday, the start of a week long break. All the students of the college were already packed to go home, except for some, who either didn't want to leave, because they wanted to experience a break away from home, or were just too plain lazy. Colby was definitely one of the two.
The blonde teen walked the halls of the dorm, to the room of 20A, putting in his key and twisting the lock. He looked around, wouldn't you know it, the place seemed pretty empty. But he heard some footsteps. Some of the other kids were too lazy to leave or just didn't want to. Colby turned his head to see his Co Ed neighbor, Ashley walk to her room door, then watched as she folded her arms, looking at him.
"Hey, Ashley. What's up?" the blonde asked. He got only silence from the orangette. "How's your day?" still silence. It was rather awkward.
"You're seriously not gonna say it?" she questioned the young man, confusing him. "Or does your memory just suck completely?"
"What are you talking about?" Colby asked her. He was truly lost. But somewhere in the back of his mind, he knew what she was talking about.
"You, Colby Carsen, owe me a date." Ashley stated, uncrossing her arms. "Since last time you stood me up."
"Sorry about that." he replied. "But it was something important."
"It might as well have been, but it doesn't excuse you right now, does it?" the young woman retorted with a smile. "So, what time then?"
The blonde thought for a moment. He was free...all week, somewhere between that time. "How about tonight at 6:30?"
She nodded, opening the door to her room and walking through. "It's a date." she slammed the door, leaving Colby in the hall. He opened his own door, and walked through.
The young blonde sat down on the bed nearest to the window, folding his arms while looking down. "It's a date..."
The day inched away, further and further, and the evening began. The college was fairly quiet, though it wasn't a complete ghost town. The halls seemed empty, and the parking lot wasn't full of much cars.
Ashley leaned against her door, looking at the wall across from her. She sighed, tapping the back of her sneakers into the wooden door behind her. "Yeah, I thought as much..." the clock said 6:39. Colby was nine minutes late. 6:40. Ten minutes late. The young woman chuckled, stepping away from the door and turning to it. She heard a light knock. She motioned towards the door, grabbing the knob, and twisting it.
The door opened, showing the blonde young man in his zipped up white and green jacket. He held flowers in his hand, with a smile on his face. "Sorry I'm late." he apologized. "First I had to get my car, then I thought you would like some flowers. But I didn't know which ones you like, so-" he was interrupted from his sentence, feeling the orangette gently grab his hand. He soon blushed.
"Thanks." she said, grabbing the flowers from him and putting them close. "For future reference though, we're friends at best right now. No need for any flowers."
"Really?" Colby scratched his head, slightly in frustration of himself. "I'll keep that in mind." he then placed a hand on his jacket zipper, pulling it down and going the yellowT-shirt underneath. The then began to walk. "Co'mon, let's go." the young woman followed.
When Ashley arrived outside, she saw Colby lean against his white and red car, looking down at the white and green watch on his left wrist. She began to walk to the car, passing by the young blondes attention. "Hey, Colby? Earth to Colby."
Colby quickly turned, raising his right hand up above his left, facing Ashley. Once he realized who it was, he calmed down and got back into his normal straight stance. "Oh, it's you..."
"Yeah...who else were you expecting?" the orangette questioned, receiving a fake cough as a response. "Did you just fake cough me?"
"What? No." Colby quickly replied, shaking his head.
"You totally did." she retorted. Then sighed. "Never mind...let's say we get going, huh?"
"Sure." the blonde walked around the front of the car, and opened the passenger door for her.
"Colby, seriously?" Ashley folded her arms, glaring at him.
"What? I was opening the door. What's wrong with that?" he asked. He was honestly confused with what he did wrong. It was the gentlemanly thing to do.
The young woman sighed, shaking her head. "There's nothing wrong with it. It's just that..." she groaned, trying to find the right words. "This is an informal date. A date between friends. Not a date on Tinder."
"Yeah...but it's no excuse, is it?" Colby grinned, walking to the driver's side and opening the door, sitting into the driver's seat, and turning the key in the ignition. They both heard the engine start to roar. "Well? You getting in or what?"
It took about 10 minutes for the two to leave the college campus, drive into town, and find a good parking space in a parking lot. Both walked the streets of Bellwood, as casual as they could. It was an informal date, after all.
Colby looked around, shoving his hands into his pockets. He saw his destination right in front of him. The Theater. They had just released the new Sumo Slammers Movie: Sumo Slammers 3: Slammers Revenge.
"This is it?" Ashley questioned the blonde.
"Yeah." he replied with a smile, which slowly went away as he looked at her. "Unless you don't want to see it?"
"No, I'm fine with it." she smiled, walking to the entry. She turned to face the young man. "Well? You coming?"
Colby smiled. Following her into the building. 'I think I like this girl...' he thought.
The two sat together in the theater, side by side...surrounding by hundreds of people. Great...
Colby looked at the big screen with a grin, as his favorite Sumo Slammers character was completely decimating an entire room of samurai warriors. When he turned his head, he saw Ashley show her devilish beautiful smile. It was enchanting to him. He didn't know why but...it was.
The movie had finally ended, and the pair had walked outside with the rest of the viewers. Colby had his hands shoved in his pants pockets, with Ashley beside him. Smiles on both their faces.
"That. Was. Awesome!" the orangette shouted out loud. "Like...I am at loss for words!"
The young blonde chuckled. "Oh really? It was pretty good for what it was. I just wish Kyomodo got more screen time."
"Yeah, true..." she agreed. "But he was the villain after all."
"Yeah, but I just think he didn't get more character development for his moments." the blonde teen crossed the street, with his date soon following. He walked to the entrance of a nearby building on the corner, going through the door and holding it for the young lady, who scolded him, but sighed. It was no getting it through his thick skull, but at least it was something small and harmless.
They both sat down at a table near the windows. The young teen easing into his wooden chair at looking down at the menu. "Welcome to Bobby's Burgers, Ashley. The best burger place in town." Colby stretched out his arms with a grin, now staring at orangette, who only smiled.
"I know this place. I've gone here when I was younger." Ashley stated, quickly grabbing the menu, then putting it back on the table just as fast.
"You figured out what you want to order? Already?" the young blonde asked her. It was really that surprising. She used to come here after all.
"A Bobby Deluxe with a Slider Burger and Chili Fries." she replied, putting her elbows on the table. "I always get that."
"Really? I always get those too!" the young blonde stated. "Well, I get a Cheese Burger instead, but we can't both be identical."
"True." the orangette agree, nodding her head in response.
They both heard beeping. the type of beeping from a malfunctioning machine for lack of better words. It wasn't anything recognizable to Ashley. But Colby knew the sound anywhere.
The blonde looked down at the white and green watch on his left wrist. The device attached to him was flashing yellow.
"Is something wrong?" the young woman asked him.
"No. Everything's fine." the young blonde replied, getting up from his seat. "Hold on one second, okay?" he turned and ran out the door to the building.
"Yeah...sure..." Ashley agreed, speaking to herself and letting her head hang. She knew he was lying when he said everything was fine. But he lied for a reason. That much she does know.
Colby continued to run, reaching the alley of the restaurant and pinning himself against the wall. He grabbed his left wrist and stared down the watch. "Okay, what's wrong with you now?" he fiddled with the activation button. Everything came up like last time. So what was wrong?
"DNA Encryption Detected. DNA Dencryption Activated." the device spoke.
"What are you talking about?" the wearer questioned. The watch had stopped its beeping, with its lights turning yellow instead of green. The young adult groaned at this. Yet another phase he didn't know about. "Okay, fine. Just don't turn me into another monster while I'm on this date, will ya?" he began to walk back to where he was supposed to be. His date.
The young man had returned to the restaurant, walking to his wooden seat and sitting down, facing the young woman in front of him.
"Sorry. That was a call from...my insurance company." Colby lied again.
"Yeah okay. Let's hope your insurance company doesn't run out of insurance." she replied with a smile.
He smiled an innocent smile and looked down at the table. Their orders arrived. Two Bobby Deluxes. One with a cheese burger and one with a slider. Both had Chili Fries.
"Thanks for ordering Ashley. I swear I'll pay for it all." the blonde stated.
"Yeah, you better." Ashley agreed. "Atleast for your meal.
The blonde took a hand full of fries from his cup, leading them to his mouth and chewing on them. Gulping them down. Ashley did the same, only more feminine like.
After a few minutes of conversation, the couple had decided to leave the building, taking their food to go. Each of them were holding their own bag, so as to not mix them up. They were walking across the block to the parking lot, and to his car. Smiles on both their faces.
"I had a great time." Ashley stated, leaning forward to see her date.
"Yeah. So did I." Colby replied, walking to the driver side door. "So, am I forgiven?"
The girl pondered, putting her finger on her chin. "Mm...yes. Colby Carsen, you are forgiven."
The white and red race car hit the road. The driver drove through the streets calmly, with a smile. Nothing could ruin this day...ah balls.
Colby hit the brakes at a red light, stopping the car and waiting for green. His passenger looked out the window, seeing an orange star in the sky.
"Huh. That's a weird looking star." Ashley stated, grabbing the young males attention and making him look out the window. He couldn't believe it. The flying star was curving through the air, near them.
"Hold on!" Colby demanded, shifting the gears into reverse and turning his head back, driving back. He was lucky. The car had gotten far enough away from the area that when it made impact, all they had to deal with was dust...and the 50 to 70 foot crater in the ground.
Colby and Ashley looked at the crater through the dust. What they saw shocked them. A figure had walked out the hole in the ground. A rhino shaped shilloute with red armor had appeared, a grim smirk on his face. "Inhabitants of planet Earth. On the authority of Lord Vilgax we have come to enslave you and takeover your world. Is now a bad time?"
"What is that?" the orangette asked, looking at the driver, who just stared at the creature.
Colby stepped on the gas, driving backwards through the street. He yanked the emergency brake, stopping the rear wheels and turning the steering wheel, spinning the car around and shifting gears into first gear. Once they got far enough, he turned to the sidewalk, stopping the car and getting out.
"Okay, you're going back to the Academy." Colby stated, walking around the front to the passenger side.
Ashley quickly got out the passenger seat, looking to the blonde. "What are you doing?"
"You're gonna take the car and drive back." he continued.
"Well where are you gonna go?" she asked. The young man only grinned.
"I'll find my way back." he answered, walking down the street. The young woman walked to the driver's side of the car, getting in and driving off. "Okay. Here we go again." he dialed through the wheel, selecting a transformation and letting the top move itself over. He then slammed down the cylinder, becoming covered in green and yellow lights.
He opened his arms and legs, lifting his head high. Shards of pale green diamonds covering his left hand, extending to the rest of his body, down his torso and feet. Shards of diamonds growing on his back. Finally, the crystals covered his head, giving him a flat point and pointy back.
Colby looked at himself. His pale green diamond self. He grinned, pounding his crystal fists together. "Alright, let's get this going." he said, beginning to run in the direction he just came from.
The armored creature walked through the street, searching in the building near him. All the people were in hiding. It wasn't all that surprising, really. "Where are you, insects?" it spoke, suddenly stopping when he heard a voice.
"Who are you calling insect?" asked Diamondhead, with his hands on his hips. He seemed calm, for other words. A smug look on his face.
"And who are you?" the rhino creature questioned the crystal teen. "Petrosapiens are all supposed to be extinct."
"News Flash: we're alive and kicking!" Colby replied. "And I'm here to knock you off my planet!"
The beast only chuckled. "Good luck with that." he stomped his front feet, lowering its head and its armored horn. Soon it charged at the diamond teen.
"Thanks!" Colby replied, quickly jumping to the side and letting the alien ram into a small building. He walked over, cracking his knuckles and grabbing the tail behind the creature. "You're gonna need it!" with all his might, the pale green Petrosapien pulled out the rhino like alien, swinging him around, while trying to keep his balance. He finally let go, letting the creature to fly over a few blocks away. "Heh...that was easy." he began to walk to where the rhino landed. "I actually like this one."
The creature slowly got up, walking covered slight debris from the landing, growling. "Okay, that does it!" it shouted, looking around the area. "Show yourself, Petrosapien! Fight me!"
"Well what have I been doing all this time? Playing body toss?" the young teen joked, walking closer and crossing his arms. "Or do you see this as more Tag?"
The creature only growled, lowering his horn at the diamond teen. "Yeah...you're it." orange energy sparked through the horn, firing a high pressured wave at him.
Diamondhead crossed his arms in defense. The diamond teen was struck by the laser, being knocked back, keeping his footing and reflecting the beam into the air. He looked up, amazed. "Okay, I really like this guy!" he looked down, seeing...ZOINKS!
The creature charged at him, ramming its armored horn into Diamondhead torso, cracking it. It slammed the teen into a building behind him, making him tumble through in a flash of green and yellow lights. Colby rolled through the room, hitting his back on a wall.
The human teen slowly got onto his feet, looking at himself. He was normal again. That wasn't good. "No...no no no!" he looked at his watch, trying to activate it. No such luck.
"It ends here, insect." the rhino like alien stated, looking around to only see the human. "Where is the Petrosapien?" it questioned the boy, who only backed away. "Are you gonna talk, or do I have to make you?" suddenly he stepped aside from the entrance, sounds of blaster fire outside. Most of the shots were pointed at the armored creature, who stumbled slightly, giving Colby enough time to run for it.
Once the blonde had escaped the building, he looked over to the source of fire. He saw a group of people in white, both human and alien. In the front, he saw someone familiar. With blonde hair just like his, and blue eyes that he could never forget. A feminine body, and a destructive smile, just like his. "Wait..." he stammered, dumbfounded. "MOM?!"
The motherly figure turned her head to the sound with a smile and a slight tear. "COLBY!"
The blonde teen began to run, looking behind him to see the animal like alien begin to stand, starting to charge at him. He turned to the white and green watch on his wrist. Still nothing. "Come on!"
It seemed bleak to him, trying to run when something that big was just a few feet away and closing. He closed his eyes, and hoped for the best. Then he felt a grab, and sudden wind in his face. When it stopped, he saw he wasn't so far from the group. In fact, he was right in the middle of it. He looked behind himself, seeing a blue skinned female, much similar to the transformation known as XLR8. "Uh...thanks?..."
"No problem." the female speedster replied, crossing her claw like arms.
The blonde got onto his feet, smiling at his mother. He then turned his attention to the monster that caused so much trouble.
Said creature slowly got onto all fours, with a nasty snarl. "God forsaken Plumbers..."
"Attention Exoskull!" shouted a familiar voice. One he couldn't forget-at least not easily. It was Rook Blonko, running from behind the beast, his prototool in hand. "You have the right to remain silent! Anything you say or use will be held against you in a court of law. If you are a telepath, you have the right to refrain from all thought. Anything you say or do will also be held against you in a court of law."
Colby looked at the fur covered teen, a sweat drop on his head. He really does love saying that, huh?
"Ah! Bite me, furry!" said Exoskull, turning to slap Rook into a light pole. He fell, groaning to get up.
"Rook!" Colby yelled, trying to run to him, but being grabbed by a tall red skin four armed man. "Let go of me!" he demanded, trying to pry away. No luck.
The rhino like creature walked slowly to Rook, smirking and raising his foot. "See ya, insect!" he slammed his feet down, making Colby look away.
"Get away from my friend!" shouted another familiar voice. A femine one. The blonde looked to where the creature was. Rook was under its foot, under some sort of pink shield. He saw the Anodite and Osmosian step onto the scene.
"Get Rook and get out of here!" ordered Kevin, placing his hand on the cement ground. His entire body then becoming covered with the same mineral. He then lunged at the beast, knocking it back down. "Go!"
the small platoon followed what was instructed. The blue skinned female speeded to the now unconscious Rook, grabbing him and beginning to run for it. Gwen and Kevin had given them an opening, which they took to escape.
The small platoon huffed as they escaped. Running into an abandoned building, of what looked to belong to an old Plumbers company. The teen layed against the wall, sighing and looking down at his left wrist. Out of all the time this thing could break down, now of all time? Awesome.
"Colby? Are you okay?" His mother asked, holding Colby's chin and looking over his face for any bruises or cuts.
"Mom, I'm fine. Really." The blonde responded, pushing his mother's hand down slowly. "What about Rook?" He gestured the unconscious fur covered male laying with the others.
"He took a hard hit from ExoSkull." The blue skinned female explained, "But he's tough. He'll pull through." She gave a faint smile of hope, before glaring at the boy in slight suspicion. "How do you know his name?"
"Oh! Uh, well..." he began to stutter at her, leaning more into the wall as she got closer. He gulped in slight terror. It wasn't that she was scary, but that he didn't want anyone to know what he can do. It was of up most importance that know one found out...however it didn't seem like he was getting out of any of this without spilling it.
"Helen!" Another Plumber called. He was the big red skinned, four-eyed, four-armed Tetramand.
"What? It's a good question." Helen stated, spinning over to the red skinned brawler.
"We met before..."Colby started, rubbing the back of his head. He felt uneasy to say the least. With all that was going on, he felt he couldn't speak. He felt he couldn't tell the truth. But he knew, if he didn't, he would put others in harms way. Because if he denied everything, others would believe him, and if the worst happened, they would pay the price.
"We met a few days ago. He arrested me after I beat a bunch of criminals." He told the group. "It turns out I found a device that allows me to transform into these alien forms. They call it the Omnitrix." He raised his left arm and pointed to the white and green watch around his wrist.
His mother only looked at the device, then at her child. "It...it happened..." she muttered to herself, making the blonde teen turn his head to her.
"Mom, I'm sorry. This may seem crazy...but this is my responsibility now!" He stated, walking to the door. "So now, I have to finish this." he opened the entrance, walking into the street, then turning his head to the group. "Get anyone still in the area out! I'll take big and ugly." he activated the holographic wheel and figure of the wrist watch, then to confirm the transformation, slammed down on the hourglass symboled cylinder, being covered in a green and yellow flash of lights.
Brown and red cracks of charcoal covering his left hand, extending to his entire body. A spark of fire soon ignited his body, as well as magma shaping into his hands and feet. He put his fists together. "Let's roll..." he said, bursting into flames, propelling him into the air.
The rhino like creature walked through the city, looking over the buildings near him. He tried to find any people in the area. To no luck. All the other humans must have evacuated. Exoskull growled in frustration. "All these insects must have fled..." he thought out loud, quickly turning around at the sound of a dehydrated voice.
"Who are you calling insect?" Heatblast questioned, landing in a blazing glory. He stood over the beast, his arms crossed. "I asked you once, and I'll do it again. Get off my planet."
"A Pyronite?" Exoskull asked, digging his feet into the ground.
"You want us? Come get us!" Colby shouted, his hands bursting into flames. He chucked a dozen fireballs at the rhino as it charged at him. Nothing. He was tackled and thrown through a wall into a building, rolling and quickly getting onto his feet.
"Okay..." the Pyronite huffed slightly. "You gotta try better than that!" suddenly his enemy rammed into him, knocking them both through the wall behind them. Colby flew, rolling on the ground with a thud. He slowly started to get up, groaning as he did so.
"Okay...maybe I should've chosen a better one..." the flaming hero thought out loud as the rhino alien inched closer. He stepped away slightly, tapping the hourglass symbol on his chest. "Come on, work!" he began to fiddle with the metal plate more aggressively, turning back to Exoskull. It was no use. He wouldn't be able to beat him like this. He did the only optional action left. He ran.
The teen sprinted across the street, the monster right behind him. "Come on! Work will you?!" Heatblast shouted to the device, the rhino catching up. In terror the teen jumped back, holding his wings down to his sides and propelling himself up into the air. He laughed, swaying through the air. "Ha! Come get me, you piece of shi-" he was interrupted by the sudden blast of energy shooting him down, making him fall down into the ground. "Ahh..."
The rhino slowly walked to the grounded Pyronite as he tried to get on his feet. "You pathetic insect. You are nothing to me!" Exoskull stated, grabbing Colby's right leg and pulling him out of the pavement. A smirk on his face. The teen only groaned.
"No..." Heatblast moaned in pain, slowly losing consciousness. All he saw was black. What did expect? He was new to this hero stuff. How was he supposed to be a hero? How was he supposed to be like Ben? He couldn't. All he could see was the darkness surrounding him, with the feeling of guilt. But a glimpse of green light lit the endless abyss. A familiar figure walking to him.
"Are you just gonna give up like that?" asked a familiar voice as he stood, his arms on his hips. It was him. The original Omnitrix wielder.
"Ben 10?" Colby asked with a smile, tears soon falling from his eyes. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry I can't do this. I'm sorry I couldn't save you when I could. This is all my fault!" he stated with a voice of guilt. But he then felt a hand touch his shoulder. He looked up, seeing Ben just smile.
"Why are you blaming yourself?" the brown haired teen asked, lifting his left wrist to show his watch. "I'm not the hero. Neither are you. We just do what's right, no matter what." the blonde teen only looked down. "As long as there are people like us, there will always be a hero. Now, act like it."
Suddenly, the entire landscape brightened, showing orange cells, moving at a rapid pace between each other. The blonde teen just looked down at his left wrist, looking at the white and green sports watch. He may not be Tennyson, but he will be the new hero everyone needs.
"No..." the Pyronite muttered, slowly lifting his head with a growl. "I won't let you...hurt anyone else!" his flames grew, changing the color from orange and yellow to blue and white. His temperature raised, as well as his fire growing brighter.
The rhino creature suddenly let go, grasping at his burnt hand, then back at the transformed teen, stepping back.
Heatblast slowly got to his feet, the look of determination on his face. His blue flames extinguished and were replaced with his orange fire. He just huffed in exhaustion, kneeling down as soon as he did. "I'm taking you down, Exoskull."
A beeping noise could be heard as the Omnitrix symbol on his chest flashed orange. "DNA Decryption complete. New transformation available."
Colby smirked, looking at Exoskull in anticipation. "Alright! Let's go!" he smacked down on the hourglass symbol, being covered in a bright green and yellow light.
The human figure extended his arms and legs, before curling up into a ball and fading into darkness. The figure then lit up, bringing light to the void in a form of a human figure covered in green flame. Its white eyes opened, with a look of determination.
The teen stood, staring at the beast. His green flaming body burned brightly as he walked forward, scorching the very pavement where he stood.
"What? An Infernite?" Exoskull questioned what was before him, looking in awe. "They were extinct for centuries! How?!"
"How?" the Infernite questioned, stopping in his tracks. "It's simple, really. I am the new hero of this world. The new protector! My name is Colby Carsen, I'm the new wielder of the Omnitrix and I will not let you DESTROY MY WORLD!" He yelled out, his fire growing. He shot up into the air, flying around the rhino and expanding into a tornado of fire.
Exoskull fell back at the extensive heat. The burning surrounding flame overwhelming him. The tornado died down into a humanoid burning body. Looking up he could only groan at the Infernite.
"Take...that..." Colby said, falling back to the ground in a green and yellow flash of light. The now human teen groaned in pain, looking up and seeing vehicles in white and green. He only smiled before closing his eyes and falling unconscious.
"Colby? Colby, are you alright?" he heard a faintly familiar voice. Slowly opening his eyes, he saw the orangette tomboy in an orange hood. It was Ashley, standing over him.
"Ashley? What's wrong?" the blonde teen asked, looking around. He was...in his dorm room. What happened was only a blur, but he could piece everything together. Everything except how he got back.
"Well, you went off to do something stupid. Then some blue furball came and dropped you off." she explained.
'Rook?' he thought to himself. He arched his back to sit down on the bed, holding his head. "Really...well, ain't that a coincidence. I actually a guy like that."
"Oh. So was it him who dyed your hair like that?" the orangette questioned with a smile.
"Huh?" Colby tilted his head in confusion. "What are you talking about?" he turned his head to the window near his bed. His eyes gone wide upon realization. His hair changed somehow. The ends of his hair were still blonde, but the roots had turned brown somehow. "Ah balls..."
The rest of the week went on as normal. The news was out that a new hero had appeared. As such, the new Omnitrix wielder smirked. Though there was more...personal news. No one told him, but it was implied when he saw a third mattress on the side of the room.
"Hold on, what?!" the dirt blonde asked with a terrified voice.
What was in front of him was Rook, holding a book bag over his shoulder, a grin on his face. "Magister Carsen requested I attend your college."
"And...you got stuck with me by coincidence?" Colby quizzed in a monotone voice.
"Actually, it was your mother who arranged this." the blue furball explained. "She said if we are to make an efficient team, we must first learn from each other."
The young adult sighed, running his hand into his hair. This was his life now...he wouldn't have it any other way.
