"Something tells me that Ben would not appreciate that as much as this text says he would," Hoverboard murmured.
"I don't know," Sun said. "I mean, he's pretty affectionate with Rampage."
"That's because he sees Rampage as some kind of pet," Hoverboard pointed out. "And Rampage probably thinks vice versa, which is why they actually like each other."
"Well, it works when you put it that way," Tech said.
Impulse oozed out of the computer that he had just finished using to search the web. "The earth's internet is a very scary place," he said. "Very, very, scary."
"What did you find?" Stinky asked.
"Aside from many things I never want to think about again, not much. All I found out was that Ben really doesn't eat things he should," Impulse said.
"Eat?" Umi asked in his gravelly voice.
"Yeah. I noticed that he eats a lot of the same things. What he calls, hamburgers, ice cream, soda and chips. Those are technically called 'junk food' and it is more healthy for an earthling to eat vegetables from his planet, fruits, something called grain?"
"Where did you learn this?" Hoverboard asked.
"A nutrition website," Impulse answered. "I figure we should start by making sure he eats more healthy things for his species."
Hoverboard rubbed his chin thoughtfully. The sound that the crystals grinding on one another made made everyone in the room wince involuntarily. "That makes sense. Let's try that and go from there."
The aliens around him nodded in agreement to the plan.
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Ben came back up into the main hall of the ship with a yawn. His stomach was growling and after running around with Rampage for over an hour, he was certainly ready for something to eat. He patted his stomach to make it be quiet and walked into the room where Accelerate, Red and Hoverboard were sitting and apparently waiting for him.
"Uhhh… hey," Ben said slowly. "Did something happen?" he asked in response to their tense faces.
"Ben, we looked on your internet and discovered that you weren't eating what would constitute as proper nutrition for your species," Hoverboard said softly.
Ben blinked once, then twice in an effort to try and understand what the alien had just told him. "Huh?" he asked finally.
"He means that you aren't eating what you're supposed to," Accelerate said in his thick voice.
"What?" Ben asked, blinking again. "I'm eating what I've eaten every day for the past month. Except at the camp sites, but I don't want to talk about that," Ben said and held his stomach. He closed one eye and stuck out his tongue in an effort to emphasize how gross the food at the camps must have been.
"According to the site we found, you're eating nothing but junk food," Red said kindly.
Ben shrugged. "Yeah?" he asked. "And? I get by most of my life eating food like that. It's not a big deal."
"Well, we're here to make sure that you stay healthy and that nothing happens to you," Hoverboard said firmly. "Therefore you shall eat what is deemed as healthy on your planet."
Ben crossed his arms and looked upset. "Why?" he asked. "You're not my parents. Heck, you're not even family. I'll listen to what you have to say about the way I act or whatever and I understand how 'important'," Ben raised his hands in the air and wiggled his two fore fingers on each hand as he emphasized the word 'important'. This action puzzled the aliens immensely but Ben ignored their looks of confusion and went on, "this is, but you are not in charge of what I do with myself. I can eat what I want, sleep when I want and wear what I want because you guys are not in charge of me."
Red and Accelerate were stunned. They knew that Ben was something of a rebellious child, even by earth's standards, but it seemed as though he was mature enough to understand how serious the situation he was is in was. However, talking back in that manner had shown to the other aliens for the first time that Ben was very much still a child.
Hoverboard was not about to take this lying down. "We are not your 'parents' nor are we 'family' but we are in charge of you, Ben Tennyson. You hold the key to an interplanetary war and we will keep it as safe as possible. I am sorry that you got caught up in this but I will not sit back and take orders from a child. You will do as you're told and take it because that is the way I run things on this ship. Understand?"
Ben's green eyes grew wide in shock, then narrow in anger. Without another word he ran out of the room and ran down the hall to take his tantrum elsewhere.
"Hoverboard…" Red said slowly.
Hoverboard's yellow eyes narrowed. "Let's go get him. This child needs to be taught some manners."
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Ben ran into a darkened room and let the door slide closed behind him. He placed his hand on a small pad that he knew activated lights and winced as the room lit up. He saw a large chair that was far too big for him and a screen. He figured this was where Hoverboard controlled the ship. He walked over and jumped in the chair and began to pout. "I can't believe they would just try and make me do what they wanted like that. I've been good, why can't I eat what I want"
He uncrossed his arms and sighed. He looked at the panel board and saw a button that was inscribed in a symbol he knew. It said simply "Max." Ben eyed it and wondered, then pressed it.
Half a minute later, his grandpa showed up on the screen, yawning and rubbing his eyes. "Yes?" he asked.
Ben's eyes widened. "Grandpa?" he asked.
"Ben?" Max looked more awake as he gazed at the screen. "Is that you? Are you all right?"
Ben nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine grandpa. I just uhh…" he trailed off, not wanting to explain about his little hissy fit. In retrospect, the whole spat seemed pretty lame to him. "I just wanted to say hi."
"Ben, you do know that it's 11 here, right?" Max asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes…" Ben said slowly. "But, I just…" he frowned and bit his lip. "I…" Ben sighed and brought his knees up to his chin.
"Have a fight?" Max asked kindly.
Ben looked to the side and blushed. "No…" he said slowly. "Not…exactly. I kind of left before they could fight back."
Max sighed and sat down. "It's getting a bit rough up there?" he asked.
"Kinda," Ben admitted. "I don't know. I just… really…" Ben's grip around his legs tightened. "I miss home," he said in a small voice.
Max laughed. "Gwen's pretty homesick too. Getting away from home seems pretty fun until you're gone for too long. It's been nearly two months, I can see why. Are you going to be okay?"
Ben sighed. "I'll be fine, you don't need to worry about me. Geez," Ben blushed and looked away from his grandfather.
Max nodded knowingly. "I understand," he said. "Don't worry Ben. It should be over soon."
"I know," Ben admitted. "But still, as cool as this is, I'd kind of like to be spending my summer on earth, at random places over the U.S."
"But who else gets to spend their summer in a space ship?" Max asked.
Ben grinned, "I know. That's totally awesome." His grin fell and a small spark of loneliness could be seen in his eyes. "I just feel really far away."
Max's smile softened. "I see," he said knowingly.
Ben rested his chin on his knees and he looked at his grandpa. "Hey…" he said softly.
"Yes?" Max asked.
"Is it… is it too late to call mom?" he asked.
Max smiled. "It's about 9 there, so not yet. Want me to wire you through?"
Ben nodded. "Yeah, I'd like that. A lot."
"You'll only be able to hear her voice," Max warned. "Your house doesn't have video feeds."
"It's okay. I don't mind. I need to check up with her anyways," Ben sighed. "Please?"
Max nodded and Ben could hear the sound of a phone ringing as the screen went blank. A few seconds later he heard someone pick up the phone. "Hello?" his mother asked.
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Awww, Ben's getting homesick. As would any sane kid. Heh, I've got lots more planned, so enjoy the fluff while it lasts. (Another... 4 chapters, 3 at least.)