Hi Guys! Thanks so much for the reviews! I love the feedback. This story is about Benny mostly, kinda like the first chapter but don't worry. I promise chapters about the other characters soon! But for now... Enjoy!
Emmet stared at Benny's helmet from across the Dog. Wondering how it got cracked. Maybe he dropped it? Maybe he was bullied when he was younger and one of the bullies broke it. Emmet knew he had that helmet all his life so maybe it was passed down from a relative that way.
"What are you thinking about?" UniKitty asked enthusiastically stopping the flow of Emmet's thoughts
"UniKitty, do you know how Benny's helmet got cracked." Emmet asked quietly
UniKitty's smile faltered and turned to a sad frown. "It's... not a very happy story." UniKitty started.
"What do you mean?" Emmet asked his own curious smile fading.
Lucy stepped forward because UniKitty would've started to cry. "You've met Benny's brothers right?" Emmet nodded "And you know how different he is from them." He nodded again
"Well, he used to be just like them. Lenny went by Leonard, Kenny went by Kenneth, and Benny went by Benjamin. One day, a long time ago, the three of them went up into space to work on the International Space station. It was only the three brothers at the time. Lenny stayed in the shuttle while Benny and Kenny were outside working on it…"
Emmet began to imagine the story in his head as Lucy continued. Benny and Kenny were floating with chords attached to their backs coming from the shuttle. The two had visors covering their face as they worked on the floating satellite.
"Alright, we've got a meteor shower about a few miles out so head back to the shuttle soon." Lenny said to the two through speakers In their helmets.
"Rodger that." Benny replied. His voice was calmer than it was today.
Benny let go of the drill to grab the blowtorch and it hovered over his shoulder. When he was finished with the torch he reached out to grab the drill it was out of reach and kept floating away.
"I'll be right back." He told Kenny and Lenny through his communicator
"Alright but don't go far that meteor shower is close, when you get the drill come back to the ship."
"Got it" Benny used his jet back to push himself out far enough to reach the drill and finally got it in his hands. As he looked up a rock shot past his shoulder that frightened him, when he looked up again he saw rocks fly into the satellite and go around it. "Guys?" he squinted his eyes and looks out into space and widened his eyes at the sight of meteorites of every size flying in the direction of the shuttle, and if he didn't get back he would get the first taste of it.
"Ben! Get out of there right now!" Lenny yelled
Benny spun around as fire shot out of his jetpack. Meteorites shot at him from behind. Kenny stood in front of the shuttle entrance hanging on to a handle and holding his hand out to Ben. A razor sharp rock shot through Benny's attachment chord leaving him only to rely on his jet pack. He was almost to the shuttle when suddenly; a larger rock hit him from behind spinning him around and then another rock hit his chinstrap cracking it and then the glass.
"Benny! NO!" Kenny yelled. You could see the oxygen leak out through the cracks of Benny's glass. Soon he stopped kicking and just floated unconsciously. Kenny kicked off the platform and grabbed hold of Benny's arm and pulled him in through the airtight door.
"… Benny was in the hospital for two days before he finally woke up. The doctors diagnosed him with mild craziness. It broke his heart to find that his helmet was cracked but, that's what makes Benny himself, and he likes it. "
"Man that's terrible." Emmet said.
"His brothers were terrified. That was also the first time anyone had called him Benny." Lucy said
Emmet looked over and saw Benny laughing with his two older brothers. Making funny faces and telling jokes. Lucy said it broke his heart when his helmet was cracked. He got an idea that led him to the Bricksburg Space Center recently bought by Octan. He ran to Mr. Sawyer, the manager. He met him about a month ago when Business wanted to buy the Space program. He looked more hopeful now and he smiled when Emmet showed up.
"How can I help you?" He asked with a smile
"Do you have any extra helmets?" Emmet asked
"Of course, I'll show you the way." Mr. Sawyer led him to the supply room, where they kept all the space gear, food, and suits. Stacked on a box was a brand-new dusty helmet.
"You can keep it." Mr. Sawyer said with a smile. Emmet picked up the helmet, took it home, and spray painted it blue with weatherproof paint. He hoped Benny would be happy.
Emmet drove to Benny's apartment and placed the helmet on his doormat and then went home.
The next morning Benny woke up and opened his door to get the stack of newspaper. He cocked his head at the sight of something round underneath it. He picked the stack of newspaper up off the object and gasped slightly at the sight of the brand-spanking new helmet on his doormat. He picked it up and walked inside. He examined it but looked at his current helmet on his bedside table and sighed. Maybe it was time for a change. He put on his spacesuit and stood in front of his mirror. He lifted the helmet over his head and slid it on.
As Benny entered Cloud Cuckoo Land he began to get the attention of other Master Builders.
"Oh no…"
"Do you think?..."
"That's Benny…"
Was murmured throughout the different crowds of people who paused their dancing just to watch in shock. In shock of what? Benny just walked casually. But something was different about him other than the fixed chinstrap. He made his way into the dog and when his group of friends saw him they gasped. Except Emmet.
"Benny! You're wearing your new helmet!" Emmet greeted cheerily.
"NEW HELMET!?" the group yelled causing Emmet to flinch.
"New helmet? What are you talking about Mister?" Benny asked with a laugh. Emmet gasped. When he laughed he flashed his white strait teeth. HE NEVER FLASHES HIS TEETH.
"Benny?" Emmet asked sadly
"Call me Ben." He said holding his hand out to shake with a smile. Emmet shaked his hand awkwardly. "You really don't know who I am?" Emmet asked with a hurt expression on his face.
"I know you're a new Master Builder because you're in the dog. " He said flashing his teeth once more.
Lenny and Kenny flew up behind him. "Benny! What's up man-" But they stopped when they saw his perfect chinstrap.
"Hey guys." Benny said. No exclamation point or anything. Just a period.
"I have to say… Benny. This is a little unlike you…" Lenny said examining his brother's helmet.
"What's with people calling me Benny? My name is Ben."
"Oh no…" the two brothers said simultaneously looking at each other.
"What happened to your old helmet? Your cracked one." Kenny asked placing a hand on Benny's shoulder.
"I've never had any other helmets except this one. Since when did I crack it?" Benny asked confusingly. "Oh, well, gotta go collect moon rock samples." He said walking away with a skip in his step.
Everyone's head slowly turned towards Emmet. "What. Did you. Do?" Lucy said trying not to blow a fuse. "Why do you think it's my fault?!" Emmet defended
"Because you were the one curious about his helmet, AND I FOUND BLUE SPAYPAINT IN THE GARBAGE!" Lucy said freaking out
"Ye gave the lad a new head bucket and erased his memory all the way before that tragic day!" Metal Beard boomed.
"Look look! I'm sorry okay? I didn't know it would affect him that way!" Emmet said in defense.
"Well you gotta get it fixed Emmet." Lenny said
"You need to figure out a way to get that helmet off his head and put his old one on!" Kenny said.
"Sure. But how hard could that be?" Emmet asked. But he was wrong. He was so wrong. It had been a week since Benny started wearing his new helmet. Emmet snuck into Benny's apartment, got his old helmet and put it on Benny's doormat. That didn't work. He tried putting it on Benny's seat in the dog. That didn't work. He even tried sneaking it on his head when Benny wasn't wearing one. Nothing would work.
There was only one thing left to do. Tell Benny what's happened over the past few years. Maybe that would help. Benny was walking to the dog and almost made it through the entrance when two hands, one on his forehead one over his mouth, grabbed him from behind and dragged him into an empty hallway. Benny was yelling from under the hand but only muffled noises came out. The hands spun him around leaving Benny panting for air. He looked at the kidnapper and saw that it was Emmet.
"What the heck man?! That wasn't cool!" Benny yelled
"Shh! I need you to listen." Emmet said seriously. Benny raised an eyebrow and allowed him to talk. "This isn't you." Emmet said
"What do you mean this isn't me? -"
"This isn't who you're supposed to be. Your name is Benny! You were caught in a Meteor shower and almost died! You were diagnosed with mild insanity and we were best friends!" Emmet yelled. "You were this fun, crazy guy that everybody loved to be around and I took him away when I gave you that helmet!" He pointed to the helmet Benny was wearing.
Benny was shocked. "Tell me about the meteor shower." Benny said
Emmet told him the story from beginning to end. After that he told him about the Kragle incident and the knack he has for building spaceships.
"This was your old helmet." Emmet said holding out the cracked Polycarbonate helmet. Benny took it in his hands. "Keep it. Its only a reminder for me." Emmet said before walking away sadly. His plan failed. Benny was gone forever. He just hoped the guys would get used to calling him Ben.
"E- Emmet!"
Emmet turned around to the sound the familiar excited cry of his name. Benny wasn't wearing a helmet anymore. Benny held the cracked helmet above his head and let it slide on.
He blinked twice and then smiled, his crazy toothless smile. "SPACESHIP!"
"Benny!" Emmet cheered with joy and they both ran up and hugged each other. The two ran into the meeting, interrupting Superman.
"Benny's back!" Emmet yelled. The crowd cheered and their group of friends ran in to tackle the two in a hug including Benny's two older brothers who shared a long sibling hug.
Lucy walked up next to Emmet and he put an arm around her shoulder.
"Emmet?"
"Yea?"
"Where are you gonna put the new helmet?"
"Oh don't worry. I've got a very special place for this thing."
"Crush it! Crush it! Crush it!" the Master Builders chanted. Everyone was gathered at the construction site surrounding the terrible helmet that sat on the ground. Emmet came driving around the corner in a mobile crane with a wrecking ball attached to it.
"Crush it! Crush it! Crush it!" they all continued. Emmet pulled down on the lever and the wrecking ball came crashing down destroying the plastic helmet.
"YAY!"
