OF PLANT SPELLS AND TURTLE SHELLS

Some time after the "cookout" with Max and the PLUMBERS kids, Ben and his team continued training and doing hero work for the next few days. But as of now, Ben sighed as he sat on his sofa, looking down as Julie, the girlfriend he'd been rocky with before, was pacing back and forth in front of him, ranting about how 'selfish' he was for not spending more time with her and not going to any of her tennis matches.

Ben: And you really think I LIKE neglecting you? I have a job to do as a hero!

Julie: Uh huh, sure. Like when you saw that Sumo Slammers movie behind my back?

Ben: Oh, come on! You too?! I already took responsibility for this! Why is it so hard for you guys to understand!?

Julie: Well, maybe we wouldn't have this discussion is you try and find some time for my games!

Ben: I DO try!

While they were arguing, Ship, Julie's pet Mechamorph blob sat on Ben's shoulder, chirping the usual "ship" speech.

Ben: You believe me, right, Ship?

Ship merely rubbed its head against Ben's hand as he patted him on the head.

Ben: See?!

Julie: He's probably just attracted to the watch.

Ben: You know, half the time, I'm starting to thnk you wish I never had the Omnitrix in the first place.

Julie said nothing, only glaring at Ben, though that was all he needed to hear. Though he snapped out of his thoughts as Starley came rushing down.

Starley: Ben! I just got a call from Korra, apparently there's a plant monster attacking the city an- *notices Julie* Oh…. Uh… Ben, you never told me we had a guest.

Julie: Who's this?

Ben: Roommate. Look, I gotta go.

Julie: Oh, sure! Leave me like always, why don't you?

Ben opened his mouth to retort, only to be dragged out by Starley. Julie grumbled as she got on her phone, texting a certain…. Someone named "Hervè" when she noticed something missing… Or rather someONE.

Julie: Ship?... Ship, where are you?

—-

As they approached the scene of the threat, the battle could not have been going any more worse. Gwen and Kevin were already there and they had made sure that the plant monster was contained before it could do any serious damage, but that was not what was bothering Ben. It was the synergy of the team that had him worried, particularly the presence of his old teammates and his new team's animosity to them.

Throughout the fight, there had been various occasions where Gwen and Starley accidentally cancelled out each other's attacks or Kevin and Korra accidentally collided into each other from a charge. This led to the issues of the battle going on for a longer period of time than they were used to and the Ultimatrix timing out as he turned back from Big Chill. causing Ben to transform from Heatblast back to himself. The plant monster had just knocked Kevin into the very car he had absorbed the metal from as Korra jumped in and carried Ben a little bit away into an alley.

Korra: This threat is too much for your human self. Stay out of this until you have a charge again.

Ben nodded to her as she leapt back into battle, shielding Starley from a blast with her sword. As she did, Ben saw the very thing that he had noticed to be missing in the struggle. The minute Kevin sprang in to attack, Gwen acted instinctively and blocked the monster's melee strikes from slashing at him with smaller versions of her mana shield, however, the shields were not only smaller, but sloppier. It was obvious this separation was doing something to her. He should probably do something about this once the fight was over. As if it was agreeing with him, Ben's ears picked up a beep that signalled the Ultimatrix was ready for use again. He glanced down at the watch and began revolving through the selection of aliens.

Ben: Alright, Ultimatrix. I want Swampfire. I don't want Nanomech. I don't want Ripjaws. You hear me? SWAMPFIRE!

With that said, Ben slammed down on the dial as he onc again transformed. However, he didn't turn into Swampfire, but instead a Detrovite, like Vulkanus. In fact, he looked almost exactly like Vulkanus, aside from his armor now being black, white, and green, now possessing green eyes instead of yellow, and the Ultimatrix symbol now residing on his chest. This would be Ben's Detrovite form, Richtor.

Richtor: Richtor!... Ah, great. Instead, I get dollar store Vulkanus. What do I do now?

Without much of a choice, Richtor charged forward, ready to clock the plant monster with his fist, but the monster roared loudly and rounded on him a four of the thorn-tipped tendrils snapped out from its fingertips at lightning speed. The tendrils struck, tearing into Richtor's mechanical body from shoulder to hip. He sucked in his breath as his nervous system registered the tremendous surge of pain as he was then launched into a building. As he pondered on what to do while his friends fought against the beast. A certain synthesized bark was heard.

Ship: Ship ship.

Richtor looked to his side to see Ship slithering up from outside and towards him.

Richtor: Ship?! Why are you here? Get out, quick, it's dangerous!

Ship simply barked again before hopping into Richtor's armor and merging with it, forcing it to turn completely black as green circuitry lines spread about it. Looking in shock, Richtor groaned as he got up and leapt out, ready to punch the plant monster. However, thanks to Ship, small thrusters sprung out from the sides of his fist, heating it up and accelerating the punch as it made impact, causing the plant monster to cry out as he landed.

Kevin: Since when could he turn into that?

Gwen: Can't really question that now! In the middle of a fight!

Richtor and Korra stood side by side as they deflected the vines as one wraps around Starley. But as he struggles to break free, Starley uses his power to see if he can take control of the monster's mind, which is something he usually tries to avoid. However, he accidentally creates a neural pathway through the tendril in order to telepathically communicate with the monster's mind. He found nothing, except a single memory.

In the memory, he saw the monster's creation, which had begun as a drum of radioactive runoff, that was being desposed of by a truck that was ran off the road, the barrel tumbling out and rolled ceaselessly through the wilderness outside Bellwood until it hit a pond and sank to the bottom. The drum had suffered a crack on its journey, which exposed the water to its contents. The contents of the drum caused the water to crystalize, evolving itself into a dense neon-green stone which called for life, to which the underwater plants and pond scum answered, coating the stone with their forms and merging their life forces to create a body for it, allowing it to become the towering giant it now was.

As Starley tried to release himself from both the monster's neural connection and tendril, he soon grew horrified as he uncovered that the monster….. liked causing pain to others, it thought its purpose in life was to destroy and then feed on radiation. No, not just radiation. It wanted the fresh stuff. Then that's when it hit him. It was hunting for some kind of nuclear power plant.

Suddenly, the connection was cut as Korra sliced the tendril holding Starley, groaning in pain from the constriction as Richtor slammed his fist into the ground, making the monster tremble from the small tremor he caused. Starley looked up at the monster again, this time in pity. If it destroyed a power plant to sate its hunger. Next to all of the city's populace would die….

He didn't want to…. But there was no choice….

Starley: Guys! When I was held by that thing, I accidentally opened a mental connection with it. I saw into its mind.

Richtor: So, you have a plan?

Starley: Kinda… The thing is… It's looking for a nuclear power plant, since it feeds off radiation. But the lack of it isn't enough to stop it, since it'll just make it hungrier. The thing's pretty much a mindless beast.

Korra: So, what do you suggest? We kill it?

The psychic didn;t respond as he looked away. Korra's four eyes widened immediately as Richtor's jaw almost dropped.

Richtor: You…. You can't be serious, right? There has to be another way.

Starley: Ben…. It can;t be reasoned with. It's either it or us.

The consequences he described put a stop to either of his teammates trying to argue for anothe resolution. Richtor looked at the rampaging beast again, only to sigh mournfully as he looked at Starley.

Richtor: I choose us.

Korra: Indeed. But how do we slay it? Any damage we inflict on the beast, it'll immediately regenerate. Much like the squid from when we all first met.

Starley: See that giant crystal in the middle of its body? That's its heart and stomach; the weak point. Ben, apparently Richtor's armor got some upgrades. If you can find a way to burn away the foliage, I can use my powers to stunt the regeneration. Hopefully long enough for Korra to shatter the gem.

The young Tetramand looked towards the monster. It wasn't the first time she had killed something, it was a bit of a custom back on Khoros. But this was different as instead of killing for sport, she would have to kill to protect. Considering the fact neither Ben nor Starley even voiced an approval for lethal action before, she had to agree that killing this living being was their only option. Otherwise, it would simply feed, satisfying itself as radiation leaked out for miles and brought the end of many innocent lives…..

Meanwhile, Gwen was doing her best to hold the monster back as Kevin sliced up the tendrils and the plant matter of its body, trying not to do fatal damage.

Gwen: Kevin, be careful!

Kevin: I'm trying! *pants* Now I'm starting to regret being pissed at Ben, now would be a REALLY good time for Swampfire!

Before Gwen could retort, Richtor and Korra leaped over the rooftops, going further up along Main Street until they got to a vantage point that put them in front of the plant monster. Ship augmented Richtor's gauntlet lguns, superheating the shots and blasting at the monster's chest, charring the layers of plant life and exposing the cruystal. The monster's shires were disturbingly human as Starley turned away, sending his hands forth to surround the crystal's rim with a rainbow colored barrier.

Starley: Korra, now!

As instructed, Korra let out a battle cry as she dug her sword right into the monster's crystal core, causing the monster to shriek again as Korra yells out in warrior vigor and with all of her might, rips the crystal out as small vine-like cords connected it to the beast before she gave it the strongest punch she could, shattering it to shards. With one last shriek, the monster slowly wilted and grayed before crumbling to dust.

The three teammates panted heavily as Starley landed and Richtor turned back to Ben with Ship on his shoulder. They all felt guilty, but wre relieved as no one else would get hurt. Gwen and Kevin, on the other hand, weren;t so happy as the Osmosian looked at the three in surprise while Gwen stormed up to Ben furiously.

Gwen: What was that?!

Ben: Gwen ….There was no other way.

Gwen: No other way? We've always found another way!"

Starley: you have to understand. That thing only sought to feed off the local power plant and destroy everything.

Korra: Millions of people would have been killed.

Gwen: Well, Vilgax has killed millions and Ben let him live. The HighBreed slaughtered billions during their invasion and he let them live.

Ben: Those are different. Both Vilgax and the HighBreed have theirreasons, plus Vilgax is crazy evil. There was no talking this one down.

Sudenly, Starley's PLUMBER badge went off, causing him to take it out from his hoodie pocket and inspect it, opening a map.

Starley: Better 86 it. It says here that there's alien activity… downtown?

Ben: And here I was thinking it would be a slow night. Korra, call up your ship.

Starley: Oh! And uh…. Gwen, was it? You might want to take your friend to a hospital. Don't want those wounds infected.

As Ben led hsi friends away from his cousin, Gwen helped Kevin up to his feet as she looked worriedly at her cousin's shrinking form.

Gwen: 'Oh, Ben…. This is all my fault….'

—-

In the sky, Korra is seen driving her newly repaired ship as Ben sat with Starley in cpnjoining chairs, petting the Mechamorph in his lap.

Starley: A Galvanic Mechamorph. No wonder your Detrovite form had those upgrades. And you say it's your girlfriend's pet?

Ben: Yeah, things with Julie aren;t going so great and I'll need to drop this guy off at hr place after we're done. But at least he still has my back.

Ship: Ship ship! Ship ship ship!

Starley: *chuckles* Tell me about it.

Ben: Can…. You know what he's saying?

Starley: Psychic, remember? My mind is pretty much a universal translator. But I'm glad to say he has your back and he thinks this "Julie" person is overreacting.

Ben smiled as he pet the Mechamorph pup before the ship stopped and landed on the road.

Korra: The threat is right around the corner.

Ben: *gets up* Thans for the help, Ship, but I mean it this time. *points at chair* Stay.

Ship remains in the chair as the trio run out of the ship and veer around the corner, spotting a bipedal turtle alien with white eyes growling at the police surrounding it. As the police took aim, the alien retracted its head into its shell, as its fin-like arms became triangular and its legs combined into a similar shape as they proceeded to spin, generating a large, powerful whirlwind that blew the cops away and tipped over a bunch of cars.

Korra stood her ground by digging her lower hands into the pavement and holding Ben under one of her top arms as Starley protected himself with a shield before firing an icy diamond-shaped blast at the alien, forcing it to stop spinning and fall to the ground on its stomach as it returned to a neutral position.

Korra: An interesting foe, indeed.

Ben: *as Korrra lets go* Let's see how his gusts handle the mass of Four Arms!

Ben slams down on the dial as he selects his Tetramand form, only to become disappointed and annoyed as in his place stood a Methanosian.

Swampfire: Great. Now I get Swampfire….

Despite this, Swampfiure plucked off some seeds from his arms and threw them, ensnaring the turtle in vines. Though before the vines tightened, it tucked completely into its shell, slipping past the vines and popping back out. He growled at Swampfire again as Korra deployed her sword.

Alien: *growls*

Swampfire: Yeah. I get that a lot.

The transformed human proceeded to release a jet of flames towards the alien, only for it to start spinning again and counter it with a small whirlwind, which sends him back a bit before extending his toes to nail him to the ground, but grabs Starley as he's blown back..

Swampfire: Maybe you're stronger than Swampfire, but what about….

He then proceeds to slam the symbol on his chest, forcing the symbol to gain spikes at each corner and a wave of energy to overcome him. His body became made of petrified wood as massive blue bulbs grew out of him, 3 on each arm as one spawned a mess of splotches resembling a face as green eyes appeared on one of the top splotches.

U. Swampfire: ULTIMATE SWAMPFIRE!

.

The turtle alien morphed again and took flight, hitting U. Swampfire in his side as Korra got in its way and grabbed it. The spinning limbs eventually stopped as she threw it into the wall of a building. The evolved Methanosian threw one of the bulbs on his arms at the alien, causing it to explode. The turtles head pops out as it demorphed and snarled again.

Korra: Sully thy tongue, beast!... Is what I would say if I knew what that meant.

The alien turned to Swampfire, growling and snarling as he approached him as he and Korra prepared to strike, only for Starley to form a barrier around them.

Starley: Wait!

U. Swampfire: What? What's wrong? Did he hurt you?

Starley: No, but now that I'm able to listen, I know now that he doesn't want to fight. He just wants to talk to Ben.

Korra: But we cannot understand him. He may be lying.

U. Swampfire: Actually, Starley has a point. One time when I was with my old team, we encountered a dragon that seemed dangerous, but he just had a broken translator.

Starley: Exactly. Korra, our PLUMBER badges work as universal translators. Try using your's,

Nodding, the Tetramand pointed her badge at the turtle alien as it began snarling and waving its fins. But as she did, the snarling was soon replaced by a calm, friendly sounding male voice.

Alien: -No idea how to find you, oh great Ben Tennyson. So I thought if I went on a rampage, the famous hero of Earth would eventually arrive to stop me. And here you are.

Korra: *impressed* Hmm.

Starley: See?

U. Swampfire: I…. have a phone number, you know.

Alien: Thank Addwaitya it worked. I don't have much time, Ben Tennyson… I need your help.

A little bit later, Ben was now back to normal, speaking to the alien as Starley and Korra spoke to the police about the recent incident.

Ben: Why do you need my help for? You can obviously defend yourself pretty good, Mr…?

Alien: Galapagus. Violence is not the way of my people.

However, he looks behind the human as Ben turns around, seeing the destruction he had wrought from his means to get Ben's attention.

Ben: Could've fooled me.

Galapagus: I am not here of my own free will. But at least I was able to find the great Ben Tennyson, famed by song and story throughout the stars.

Ben: Hear that, guys? There's a song about me!

The others then approach Ben and Galapagus, though the Tetramand girl looked at the terrapin skeptically.

Korra: How do we know that we can have trust in you? Simply because you are asking for our help?

Galapagus: Begging, if you prefer. *looks down* I'm not proud.

Starley: Start from the beginning.

Galapagus: I am from a peaceful planet called Aldabra, where I ate grass all day and hovered above the ground, debating philosophy and enjoying the great gift of life. My kind lacks aggression, fighting is not the way of my people. But on my short time on Earth, I see that your kind fights fairly often.

Starley: I mean… He's not wrong.

Korra: But if that is the case, how did you learn to fight?

Galapagus: I learned it in prison.

The three stare at the turtle in shock as he said that, but Galapagus simply put his fins up defensively.

Galapagus: But one day, an odd stranger came to our world. A stranger with the amazing ability to absorb matter and energy.

Ben: That sounds like kind of like Kevin.

Galapagus: "Kevin"?

Ben: My, uh….. Friend. He said his powers were because he was part… Oz…. Ozmio-something.

Starley: You mean, Osmosian? But that can't be true if that coincides with Galapagus's story, Osmosians are just humans with a latent mutated gene.

Galapagus: Lying is not the way of my people…..

He then went on to tell the three how he was captured by the Osmosian with 4 other aliens, Ben's eyes lighting up in recognition as he mentioned Bivalvan. However, the description Galapagus gave of the individual Starley heard about.

Starley: 'Aggregor….'

Soon enough, Galapagus finished his story as he and the other aliens crash landed from an escape pod and went their separate ways, hoping to simply survive.

Galapagus: And I haven't heard from them since.

Ben: That pod… That's the crash site in Florida when I met Bivalvan.

Galapagus: *relieved* He's alive?

Starley: From what Ben told us, yeah.

Korra: He was attempting to repair the very same escape pod, but he was picked up and taken home by the PLUMBERS.

Starley: But now it's your turn.

Ben: But if it's okay with you….

He showed off the Ultimatrix, showing the blinking yellow dial.

Ben: Would it be okay if a I scanned you for my database?

Galapagus: Ben Tennyson… It would be more than an honor to grant you access to the power of my people.

With a grateful nod, Ben aimed the Ultimatrix at Galapagus, as it then shone a yellow light that coated him like it had with Bivalvan and Vulkanus in the past before the light ceased and the device spoke.

Ultimatrix: Geochelone Aerio DNA sample acquired. Scan complete.

Ben: Awesome.

Starley: Uh, Ben? Korra? The man he's talking about… He's the same guy I was trying to warn you about.

Ben: You mean…?

Starley: Yeah. Galapagus and his friends are being hunted by Aggregor….

Later on, a PLUMBER ship is seen leaving Earth's atmosphere. Within it, Galapagus is seen speaking to the pilot.

Galapagus: I cannot thank you PLUMBERS enough for taking me home to Aldabra.

However, the pilot then proceeded to stand up and turn to the terrapin alien before slowly taking off his helmet, making Galapagus gasp in fright at the sight of a slightly tanned man with long black hair and 6 small horns atop his head, who glared at the frightened turtle.

?: *sinisterly* Who says you are going home?

Galapagus: A….. Aggregor…