"Have you secured the Omnitrix?" the alien leader of his own race asked.
Hoverboard nodded, "Yes we have, sir. The earthling that possesses it is here as well."
"Why have you not taken it off?" a female voice asked. Hoverboard peered and realized it was the leader of Red's race.
"It's completely bonded with his DNA, ma'am," he added respectfully. "Its removal is impossible without a desynchronizer of some sort. We don't have that technology on this ship and leaving the ch… I mean earthling alone and unprotected was just asking for someone to come in and take it."
The alien leaders only knew that the Omnitrix had found its way onto a human being, not that the said human being was ten years old. Hoverboard knew that it would make precious little difference in the long run, but he wasn't sure they knew that yet. He had been ordered to retrieve the Omnitrix no matter what, and that he did but he also wanted to protect the life that it was attached to.
"Then, let us meet with this human," Specter's leader said in a silky voice. "Let us decide whether or not it should be removed."
"Don't you think that's a bit hasty?" Hoverboard asked, his degree of panic rising.
"Soldier, we will decide what is hasty and what isn't. You will follow orders and do as you're told, understand?" his leader barked.
Hoverboard's body stiffened and he saluted his leader. "Yes sir!"
"Good man," came the pleased answer and Hoverboard dared to relax. "Now, we will come visit personally in an hour. I want everyone waiting to greet us, understand? Everyone."
"Yes sir!" Hoverboard replied again. There were nods of approval on all sides and the screens went blank. "Oh no…" he sighed.
Sun stepped into the room a moment later with an apologetic grin on his face. "I overheard…" he started.
"You eavesdropped," Hoverboard growled.
"Or that," Sun noted wisely. "What are we going to do? I know you want to protect the kid, but do you really think that the leadership council will let us keep the Omnitrix on a twelve year old earthling?"
"Let's just get through this for now," Hoverboard growled. "We'll deal with the rest later. Go find Ben and I'll round everyone else up."
Sun nodded and left the room to search for the wayward boy.
An hour later a slight shudder announced the coming of the council as their ship landed in the hanger. Everyone else was on the verge of near panic because to their dismay, Ben nor Rampage was anywhere to be seen. "Oh man, this is bad," Sun said quietly.
"You think?" Hoverboard whisper yelled.
"We must go greet the leaders," Tech said quietly. "We'll work out the rest. Things will only be worse if we're not there to greet them."
The other aliens nodded their agreement and went to the hanger to receive their very important guests.
As they stepped out, all present stood straight or as presentable as possible harboring the hopes that perhaps no one would notice anything was wrong. After all ten aliens had exited their craft they stood there, eying the others with scrutiny.
Hoverboard's leader was the first to address the problem. "Soldier!"
"Yes, sir?" Hoverboard replied.
"Where are the human and representative Rampage?" he growled dangerously.
We… can't find them sir," Hoverboard answered falteringly.
Rampage's alleged leader growled as he walked away from the group towards the door. Hoverboard glanced in that direction, unsure of what to do.
"Follow him," his leader instructed.
They followed the dog like alien through several chambers and passageways before they came to the arena. Inside voices could be heard and Hoverboard had just enough time to feel anxious before the door slid open.
Inside Ben had just kicked a ball of some sort into a goal set up by some sticks he must had found in the supply closet. "He shoots, he scores!" he cheered and the ball whizzed by Rampage's outstretched paw and landed between the two 'goalposts.' "Ladies and gentlemen, Ben Tennyson wins the championship!" he cheered for himself as Rampage trotted over and nosed Ben in congratulations for his big win. Ben laughed and reached up to pet the giant alien on its head. "Awww, you were a great goalie though," he complimented.
Everyone stood there in silence as they watched the child cheer for his imaginary game win. "Wow, Rampage is totally…" Sun started but Hoverboard and Red elbowed him into silence, both instantly regretting it as their arms got slightly singed.
Hoverboard's leader stepped forward and cleared his throat loudly. Ben looked over and his green eyes widened as he saw the new aliens and realized that something was up. "Um… hi?" he asked, letting go of Rampage and landing gently on his feet.
"Are you the human in control of the Omnitrix?" Hoverboard's leader growled.
"Yes…" Ben answered slowly. "Who are you?"
"My name is Tah'ha'lach and I am the leader of my race," he said dangerously, daring Ben to object.
"Ta'ha…" Ben tried to repeat the difficult sounding name but it wouldn't roll of his tongue so he gave up. "Um, Mister, why are you here? I thought this place was supposed to be hidden?"
"We're here to observe you," Tah'ha'lach answered. "As you are the holder of the Omnitrix. May I ask why we were not told the Omnitrix bearer is a child?" he asked dangerously.
The representative aliens shifted uncomfortably and Ben's eyes flashed dangerously. "You got a problem with that?" he growled.
"Ben…" Hoverboard sighed.
"Perhaps I do, young man. Perhaps I have a problem with a child of a strange race possessing one of the most important weapons in the known universe!" Tah'ha'lach roared.
Ben was not phased although he was shaking inside. Something told him that if he didn't win this argument, things could get a whole lot more unpleasant for him. "Well excuse me then!" he yelled back. "You know, all I was doing was camping when this thing fell from the sky. I didn't ask to be apart of this, nor did I ask to have it. But I do, and I've been trying really hard to use it for the right stuff like saving people and things like that. Just because I'm a kid doesn't mean I'm careless. I've already defeated Vilgax and I've kept this thing safe as well." Ben crossed his arms and looked rather sulky. "It's not like I'm trying to upset you people. It's not my fault I'm only twelve."
Tah'ha'lach was silent for a few minutes as he and Ben had a silent staring match. To his amazement, the child didn't back down nor did he offer and sign of doing so. He simply stood there, glaring at the crystal like alien. Finally, the leader of Red's people came forth and cleared her throat. "Well, young one, it looks as though fate has chosen you to wield that," she nodded pointedly at the Omnitrix. "What have you been doing with it?"
Ben blinked and relaxed a bit. "Well," he grinned. "Being a hero," he said proudly. "You know, saving people and making sure bad things don't happen."
"Why?" Tech's leader came forth and looked up at Ben.
Ben shrugged, "Well, I don't know. It seemed like it was the right thing to do, you know? I mean, if you get super powers isn't the first thing the good guy does is use them to become a hero?"
"That's your reason?" Stinky's leader asked.
"You got a better one?" Ben asked with a raised eyebrow. "Better yet, do I need a better reason? I mean it's what I do that counts right?"
Impulse's leader came forward. "So then, you have chosen to use the Omnitrix to save other people on a whim."
"More like… because it's the right thing to do," Ben answered slowly. "And because it's fun," he laughed.
Accelerate's leader nodded, clearly coming to some sort of decision. "Well, it is a more noble decision then what we would have used it for."
"Sir?" Accelerate asked.
"We have planned to use it as a weapon to bring a eons old war to an end. A final weapon of destruction. But in the hands of a child it was used as a tool to save lives," the lizard like alien smiled. "That is certainly something to think about."
Tah'ha'lach sighed. "Well then, the Omnitrix stays here."
There were pleased murmurs among the representative aliens and nods of approval among the leaders. "Yay?" Ben asked, unaware of what decision was being made.
"However, you are all now charged with the task of keeping the Omnitrix out of enemy hands while we figure out a way to get it safely off of the child."
"My name is Ben you know," Ben interrupted.
Tah'ha'lach sighed, "Fine, getting it safely off Ben." Ben smiled and the alien plunged on. "We have received several warnings about enemy aircraft in this area. We believe they are looking for the Omnitrix. Do not, under any circumstances let them get it. Do I make my self clear?"
"Crystal," Sun answered.
Ben blinked then stifled a giggle at the terrible pun that no one else seemed to get. Sun winked at Ben who continued to keep his giggles masked.
"Very well, we have a meeting to go to so we'll take our leave. We will return soon to check up on things," and with that the stiff alien swept out of the room.
Red waved to his leader who waved cheerfully back and some of the others nodded or exchanged silent farewells as they left. Ben sat down and sighed, "wow, he's kind of scary."
"Terrifying," Hoverboard agreed. "But that's partially what makes him a good leader."
"Why did you wander this far?" Tech asked Ben. "You were supposed to stay in the upper area."
Ben frowned, "I wanted to play. There's no room to run around up there. It's all doors and hallways."
"Next time, tell us where you're going, okay?" Red asked Ben.
Ben nodded, "All right," he stood up and picked up the ball. "Soooo… anyone wanna play soccer?"
"Soccer?" Accelerate asked.
Ben grinned, "I'll teach you. There's enough here for two teams and Rampage is an awesome goalie."
Rampage growled with pride as Ben explained the rules of the game to the other aliens and soon they were all stumbling around playing the game while Tech kept score. He didn't feel like getting stepped on today.