Ch 5

The portal ripped time and space jaggedly, with a bight pink light. Arguing, panicking, voices were heard as he stepped out. He was wearing robes of black and emerald; Altierian council robes.

"You're late." she spoke coolly. 8:45 pm.

"I know, I know," he said apologetically, "Got called for emergency peace treaty negotiations. They just beamed me here, have to head back soon, this is just a recess."

"Where're the other two?"

He grinned, "Probably barely out of Nevada. Made a rest stop in Vegas. We caught the Vilgax clone four days ago in Oregon. They dared each other into marriage and once it was officiated they began panicking, probably still are. I got called out in the middle of the panic."

"So, what's so important that you had to break negotiation?"

"This."

He dropped to one knee, pulling out a ring that matched the jewelry given to her earlier that day.

Her eyes bulged out in shock,

"Will you marry me? On Earth?"

She dropped to her knees in front of him, her features awash in shock.

"Why?"

"Why am I asking, well—"

"No! Why now, we're only seventeen—"

He sighed, closing his eyes for a minute before opening them. The hand with the ring slumped. "I dunno, maybe it's 'cause of all we seen. Most people our ages are still so naïve, know what I mean?"

She nodded.

"But we, we have seen reality. Everyday we face death and it scares the crap out of me ya know? Every day we rerealize that mankind could be decimated at any given moment and ninety-nine percent of our kind doesn't know! They're blissfully unaware, we don't have that luxury; I was stupid to even tell you about this hobby of mine, even if you walk away now you'll still know that we humans are unevolved amoebas compared to the rest of the universe's races. And it terrifies me, we could be wiped out any moment and—There are so many things I want to tell you, show you, experience with you and just so little time to do it all."

He bowed his head, unwilling to show his terror.
"Ben," she spoke quietly, "Ben, look at me."

Her hands picked up his head gently, forcing him to look her in the eyes, "You aren't going to lose me; I'll be 95 before I ever even contemplate dying on you—"

He pulled his head from her grasp, looking to her knees.

"What is it?" she asked softly, worriedly, "You're hiding something; I'd like to know something I should know. You aren't sick or anything, really sick I mean."

"No, no," his head snapped up and he gave humorless laugh, it trembled then broke. He became silent, before saying, "this cursed watch wouldn't let me."

"What'd'ya mean? It's made you immune?"

"Near immortal. Unless I get slew I won't die for centuries."

"What about if you get it off?"

"No, it won't come off again; it's fused with my body. Even if it did by some miracle it's warped my DNA too much. I'd still live for at least a couple centuries."

She gave a shaky exhale; it floated in the chilly night air. "It's okay, maybe there's a way to extend my lifespan to where the most you'd outlive me by would be a decade…if not we'll take every day we get and cherish it , okay? And children, you'll be able to watch your descendants grow and grow. This is a blessing in disguise—"

He curled his fingers into a fist and punched the packed dirt path they were on, he withdrew to show her a rock that probably weighed close to a pound and was seven inches wide and long. He crushed it without breaking a sweat.

"My powers are starting to show in human form." he whispered, "If physical manifestations occur I'll have to leave this world."

"How likely is that?"

"My citadel is being built as we speak; we've trapped an asteroid in Earth's gravitational field. There is a positive side effect to this."

"What?"

"The aging problem can be solved. Because my powers are showing up we can bind our souls together. You'll share my lifespan, if I get killed before normal human dying age, you'll live a normal remarkably healthy human lifespan, if you hit the age of 150+ and I die then you'll die a couple days later. If we become bonded we'll feel each other's emotions and pain, we'll develop the ability to communicate telepathically even if one of us is light-years away. Only…"

"Only what?"

"There's an age cut off, the binding has to take place before the age of 20 in human years. You won't age normally after that. You'll gain a year for every twenty-five human years, just like me."

"But that means sooner or later you'll have to reveal your secret."

"Sooner or later yeah."

"But our generation—"

He nodded, "We'll outlive everyone we know."

"What about Gwen and Kevin."

"Their souls are naturally bound, this is just one lifetime out of countless that they've found each other; he'll live as long as she will. She's half Anodite remember? She'll, and by extension he'll, live for centuries. They're soul-mates, so are we but our souls aren't bonded."

"Why?"

A small smile appeared. "The Sentient Ones were afraid that knowing you would distract me from my duty…"

"Sentient Ones?"

"They are the group that controls the universe itself; they know everything about everything and everyone alive or in existence. To the humans they are collectively known as GOD. We weren't supposed to ever meet, Julie, there was a .00000000001 chance out of a zillion that we would. But we did, we met and I still do my job. So they've finally relented and said that they could fix their error. But they can't do it after we turn twenty."

She smiled softly, "Then my answer's yes."

The portal ripped open again and he gave a smile, "Twenty four hours from now be ready to hop a portal."

----

Altieria, home planet of the Altierians, was much like Earth though the sky was greener. The Altierians organized themselves in large clans of relatives, controlled by a Wise Woman or Wise Man (the eldest member of the clan). Clans rarely fought but there had been a feud brewing between the Plains Clans and the Lava Plains Clans. It was over a piece of territory that was green and had volcanic rock in equal amounts. By the declaration of the last hero to wield the Omnitrix the Plains Clans had the property rights to any and all land on which tall plain grass grew, the Lava Plains Clans held the same rights to any and all land covered in hardened lava from the pits of Mount Baltazar. See the issue? So it was up to Ben to halt a regional war that his predecessor had inadvertently set into motion.

The Altierians were diverse appearance wise; their bodies were often adapted to their homelands. Those that lived in the swamp were reptilian humanoids; those of the plains were catlike, most often cheetah humanoids though a few had lion attributes. The lava fields' inhabitants were goat people, similar to the Greek god Pan.

So the two humans were quite unusual. Julie had arrived early in the Altierian morning, afternoon for Earth. Her parents believed that she was helping Max sort through stuff for a yard sale and would be spending the night.

She was herded off to a ceremonial hut upon arrival, Wise Women gathered about her. Ben was still trapped in the negotiations.

He had sat quietly, while the Wise people bickered, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"Enough." he spoke softly, calmly but sternly. The bickerers fell silent.

"I've decided that no one will get the disputed land, silent!" he stood up, his robes swishing as he moved, "I've decided this because you people will not agree on anything. I shall take the land for my own Altierian residence. I am taking a bride soon, this very afternoon; your sisters are preparing her as we speak. When I return to this planet she shall be accompanying me and will require a proper residence for our little visits. Lethon?"

An Altierian, with lion features, looked shocked at being addressed directly, "Yes Sama?"

"If you start right this second, how long would it take you to build a two story, three bedroom, two bath manor with a dining room that can seat 50? With a guards' barracks?" Ben asked.

"A fortnight Sama." Lethon replied quickly, "Shall I arrange for it to happen?"

"Yes please."

Lethon hurried out, followed by his people.

Ben turned his eye towards the Lava Clans' section, "Your guards are legendary for their strength, skill and bravery. I wish to take two from each clan. They'll be quartered on site. Is this objectable?"

"No Sama." They chorused as one.

"Good."

----

The Sentient One stepped out of the teleporter; her skin was an unearthly tan, her steel-gray hair was in a tight bun. Her eyes were rainbow, the angle of the light changing the color of them. In the orange light of Altieria's sun, they were red. Her weathered face wore an indifferent appearance.

She and her kind had caused a great wrong and she was here to right it. The Plumber bowed accordingly although she didn't deserve it.

The ceremony was to be held outside, in a field of Lunarflowers and Stoneflowers. A podium was set up, floral arches bowing over it.

Pews, hundreds of them, were being set up for the audience's seating. The binding of souls was a once in a millennia occurrence and even as the ceremony was being prepared dignitaries were arriving to witness it.

-----

She surveyed the assembly with a bored eye as she stood at the podium. "Welcome one," she spoke, her voice echoing in and around the clearing, "welcome all. We are gathered here today to right a great wrong, to bring balance to imbalance. In the beginning we were nothing, tiny atoms of nothingness. Then the cosmos formed, breathing us to life. But we were alone, so alone. We procreated like savage beasts then were alone again until the cosmos gifted us with love, and soulmates. But we still had to find our other halves. We are here today to join these two superior beings in mind, heart, and soul. Please join your right hands…"

Ben and Julie did as instructed and a swamp Altierian brought forth a golden chest and opened it, revealing three bejeweled cords of Petro-Sapien crystal.

"These cords represent the intangible, invisible chords that connect you both already, we are here to strengthen, reinforce and imbue them with power."

One of the cords began to levitate, "The first represents the physical form; do you vow your bodies to one another and to never intentionally harm one another?"

"We do." they said in unison. The cord floated over and snaked about their joined forearms, pulsating with light and the beat of their hearts.

The second began to levitate from the box, "The second stands for the mind; do you vow to never harbor emotions or information by hiding them from your spouse?"

"We do." The second cord joined the first bringing a brighter light and a quicker pulse.

The third stood up.

"The third is the most powerful, the soul. There are no vows to be said for no mortal vows can bind the soul."

She began chanting in an unknown tongue, and power began swirling in a whirlwind about the couple as the third glowed red hot and joined its brothers, melting into their skin with the others. It wasn't painful; it was relieving, soothing, almost as if a missing part had been found and added. Rings materialized on the approved fingers.

"You are now of one soul, one mind, and one heart. May this union bring the troubled spirits of our forebearers peace for a great injustice has been brought to justice and balanced restored.

Amen."

"Amen." Both repeated.

"Amen." The audience chorused.

"You may now, as you humans say, kiss the bride."

"Cool," Ben whispered before grabbing Julie and pulling her into a tango bow as they passionately locked lips for 120 seconds.

"How are we going to explain this to my parents?" she asked breathlessly as they parted.

"We'll worry about that later." He replied.

"Who are you and what have you done with Ben?" she teased.