The Incursean Invasion

by Sodium Acetate

My take on the episodes entitled "The Frogs of War" Some scenes and quotes taken from the episode, but most are from my imagination. Please don't sue me for I have no money and I don't own Ben 10! Rating changed to M for incest, language, etc. Don't read if offended. I do not condone incest and the like in real life (obviously)! Chapter 7 marks the beginning of a crossover.

16. A Nightmare Cruise

A Nightmare Vacation

A/N: Kevin has joined the Incursean side! What will our heroes do next?

Warning: Death by drowning, hypothermia, neck-breaking, intestine ripping, shooting, explosions, and getting crushed by having a funnel fall on you.

Contains: Graphic violence, inhumane acts, lots of character jumps, the entire back half of Titanic, lots and lots of cursing (in multiple languages), the Italian Coast Guard, underage drinking, rich people eating, karaoke, indecent exposure, sex, lots of blushing, a Jack Dawson that doesn't die, faulty shipbuilding, awkwardness, spoilers, brief reference to Nazism, lying, and Biblical passages among other things.

Note: I do not own the rights to Titanic or Les Miserables. They are products of Paramount and Universal respectively.

Guest Starring: The entire estate of Downton Abbey as Titanic characters, and Captain Jack Sparrow.

---

"What?! Did I hear that correctly?" Gwen gasped.

"I think so, Gwendolyn. I'm afraid the rumors are true. Kevin's working against us."

"But why? I thought we got rid of his evil side!"

"Apparently there was still enough of Ultimate Kevin left inside of the good Kevin to take control of him," Ben explained calmly.

"So Milleous sweet-talked Kevin into working for him?! Is that why Kevin turned- turned-turned-" Gwen stuttered.

"Traitor so easily?" Ben suggested. "Perhaps. We all know Kevin is the easiest of the three of us to manipulate. Just promise him money, material possessions, or women, and he'll follow you like a dog. If you don't believe me, look how easily Charmcaster enticed Kevin into betraying you!"

"I still can't believe Kevin would do something like this," Gwen said.

"Well he has, and we have an obligation to stop him," Ben said resolutely.

"I hate it when you're right," Gwen said crossly. "Any ideas about what to do?"

"I've arranged that for you already," Paradox said with a smile.

"Without consulting us first?!" Ben cried, outraged.

"Ben, calm down. How many times do I have to tell you to control your temper when things don't go your way?" Gwen sighed.

"Never. You're always telling Kevin he needs to take anger-management classes, but never me," Ben said with a smile.

"Good point."

"I think you'll be quite pleased to know where I'm sending you. How's a two week vacation sound?" Paradox asked.

"Cool! Where're we going? Back to the good ol' US of A?" Ben could hardly contain his excitement.

"No, it will be a cruise around continental Europe."

"A cruise?! Awesome! I get to live like a king!" Ben yelled elated. Then it dawned on him.

"Hold on just a minute...What's the-"

"I'm sure there's a negative aspect to this vacation, isn't that so, Paradox?" Gwen asked.

"Damn it! Stop stealing my thunder!" Ben cursed.

"Sorry you couldn't form the words fast enough, " Gwen shot back sarcastically.

"Negative aspect? Oh, no. It's just an innocent cruise, that's all. Nothing to worry about!" Paradox said cheerfully.

"I smell something fishy around here," Ben muttered.

"Yeah, like you aren't telling us something," Gwen added.

"Oh would you look at the time!" Paradox exclaimed, checking his wristwatch.

"Stop dodging the question and answer it already!" Ben exclaimed.

"No really, I've got to go," Paradox replied.

"Hold on! You can't leave us hanging here!" Gwen cried.

"You're smart, you figure it out, Gwendolyn! Enjoy the trip, while you can!"

Without a backwards glance, Paradox opened a blue portal in the middle of the hallway, stepped in, and disappeared.

"Come back you- you- you- good-for-nothing second rate professor!" Ben screamed.

"Let him go, Ben. We'll have to figure out his secret on our own."

"Hmm, enjoy the trip while we can… That means something bad's going to happen to us?"

"Something bad I hear? I do hope not!" The King said, coming around the corner.

"Oh, it's the King and Queen!" Ben exclaimed.

"Surprised to see us?" the Queen asked.

"We're getting quite bored of the palace to be honest. I for one would like to go on vacation," Ben announced.

"What a coincidence! How about we take you two on a cruise of Europe? I know you two must long for a vacation after what we've put you through, taking care of Elsa and Anna."

"A vacation?! Really?! You'd do that for us?" Ben and Gwen tried to act surprised.

"I knew you two would be excited! The ship we'll be going on is the largest cruise ship in the world at 1,500 feet. As you might have guessed, it is owned by the only cruise line based in a Scandinavian country."

"Norwegian?"

"She's called the Hope."

"Is that supposed to evoke some strong sense of symbolism in me, because if it is, I don't feel it," Ben laughed. The king and queen both chuckled, and even Gwen cracked a smile.

"Alright you two. Go and get ready. We'll be leaving here shortly," the king said. Both Ben and Gwen left to go pack.

---

"It's our first trip without Grandpa Max, you excited?" Ben asked his cousin as they climbed the stairs.

"I'm just grateful that we'll be eating actual food for a change and not the grub he wants us to believe is food."

"That's true. I could never forget the time he tried to surve us mealworms. Remember? It was the summer when we were ten."

"Of course I do! It was the first road-trip we ever took together."

"Ahh, good times."

"Good times indeed!"

"See you in a bit," Ben said as they entered their respective rooms to pack. Five minutes later, Ben was already done.

"Gwen, are you done yet?" Ben asked as he politely knocked on her door.

"No, don't come in. I'm changing at the moment. And how'd you pack so quickly?"

"I used Fasttrack."

"Just give me a moment. You probably forgot something."

"No I didn't."

"You probably did. You forget stuff even when you're normal. How can I trust you not to forget anything when you take advantage of Fasttrack's speed?/"

"Don't worry about it."

"I must insist. It's probably something critical." Gwen came out of her room. Ben's jaw dropped. She was wearing a periwinkle satin dress, and had styled her hair in a way that made it seem more fiery. Ben continued to gape at her.

Click...click…

Gwen lightly tapped her heels on the floor to get her cousin's attention.

"Ben, don't just stand there drooling like an idiot! How do I look?"

"Huh? Oh! Words cannot even begin to describe how beautiful you are, Gwen."

"You really think so?"

"Trust me. That's coming from your cousin, the same one who referred to you as a doofus eight years ago. However, times have changed, and you've grown more beautiful with every passing year," Ben said honestly. Gwen blushed as red as a tomato.

"Don't get any ideas, Ben," She said teasingly.

"What's that supposed to mean?!" Ben demanded.

"Whatever you want it to mean, dear. Now let's go check if you've missed anything."

Ben reluctantly let her shift through his luggage.

"Ah ha! Like I suspected, you forgot to pack something!"

"What was that something?"

"You pervert! You probably want to walk around the ship butt-naked just to make me feel uncomfortable."

"What?! I would never-"

"Then how do you explain the fact that you didn't pack any underwear?"

"Oops, I did?"

"Grr…"

Smack! Except that it wasn't.

Ben grabbed her arm before she could slap him and forced her to lower it.

"A very unladylike thing to do, agreed?" He asked coolly.

"How did you know?"

"Years of saving the universe. Nothing surprises me anymore. And yeah, I'll go pack my underwear."

"No need. I've got it covered." Accio Ben's underwear!

Ben's underwear flew out of his drawers and into his suitcase neatly stacked.

"Wow! You're getting fairly good at using magic."

"Please, don't flatter me. It's nothing."

"Ben, Gwen! You guys ready to go?" the king called.

"We're coming!" Ben hollered back. "Come on, we shan't keep them waiting."

Locomotor trunks!

Their suitcases hovering in front of them, Ben and Gwen walked out of Ben's room.

Creeeeeeak

"Quick Gwen, drop the luggage!" Ben whispered.

"Why?"

"Just do it!"

The suitcases accelerated towards the floor and their total weight now doubled, crushed Ben's feet.

"Ben? Gwen? Anything wrong?" Anna exclaimed as she hurried out of her room to see the fuss.

"Ben! Are you alright?!" Both Gwen and Anna squealed.

"Oww, that really hurts," Ben grimaced.

"Are you sure you don't want to get that checked out?" Gwen asked, full of concern.

"No, it's nothing."

"Here, I'll give you a foot massage," Anna offered.

"Oh no. That won't be necessary."

"Go and get your massage, Ben. I'll get this stuff downstairs," Gwen said.

"But that's not proper of a lady to do that. The man should carry heavy items."

"Ben, we don't live in the nineteenth century anymore. I can do just as much if not more than you can do," Gwen said, playing along.

"Don't hurt yourself," Ben warned.

"I have my ways," Gwen said with a wink as she proceeded to lug the suitcases down the stairs.

"So, Ben, shall we proceed with the massage?" Anna asked.

"I guess so. I mean it will only take a few minutes, right?"

"I don't think why not."

---

The Foot Massage

Anna led Ben to sauna and closed the door.

"Woah! I thought this was a massage and nothing more! Why are we in the sauna?" Ben protested.

"Nothing inappropriate here at all. This will be a massage and nothing more. Now take off your socks."

"Ehh, no need. I don't wear 'em anyways." He wagged his toes at her.

"Ewww! That's gross!"

"I wouldn't know. I haven't had a bath in quite some time. "

"I see. You smell like week-old saurakrat."

"I take that as a compliment?"

"If you want to be called a fermented cabbage then I suppose yes."

"Fix me up then!"

"Let's see, some epsom salt mixed with water ought to do the trick."

"What does that do?"

"It removes foul odors, and as an added bonus, it provides soothing relief for sore muscles."

"So you don't actually have to give me a massage."

"Nope, unless you really want one."

"I'll think about it afterwards."

"Right. I'll be right back. Don't move a muscle!"

Anna came back with some of the epsom and stirred in some water.

"Now all you have to do is immerse your feet in that, and they will feel all better."

Ben looked skeptical at the prospect of actually listening to a fifteen year old girl tell him what to do, but did so anyway, and felt immediate relief.

"Man! You really know your stuff!" He gasped. "Thanks a million!"

"This sort of thing comes rather naturally when you have my kind of intellect. Now, will you still be wanting that actual massage?"

"I do indeed."

"Ok, then lie down on the chaise lounge over there by the steam vents and raise your legs."

Ben did as she instructed.

"Now close your eyes and think relaxing thoughts."

Anna took Ben's left foot in both of her hands and slowly began to rub in small circles. Applying increasing pressure, she slowly worked her way down to the sole. Then she worked her way back up.

"Mhhhm, that feels nice," Ben moaned.

Anna raised her eyebrows. "I assume you're using that in a non-sexual context?"

There was no response. She sighed and continued her ministrations. She now started to push upwards with one hand and downward with the other. Then she rolled her hand up into a fist and rocked it back and forth over the ball of the foot.

"Keep doing that…" Ben sighed.

"You're enjoying yourself?"

"Very much so."

Anna continued for another two minutes.

"Anna, I think that's enough," Ben said suddenly.

"Really? Why is that?"

"Gwen must be wondering what we're up to and I don't want her to think we've been up to something naughty."

"True, true. I guess I'll see you in two weeks, then!"

"No, come down and say goodbye to your parents."

"Alright." Anna and Ben walked down the stairs to where Gwen, the Queen, and King were waiting.

"So, have you been enjoying yourself, Ben?" Gwen asked with a mischievous air the moment he walked over to them.

"Oh, it was nothing like that!" Anna responded.

"We hope so. You're far too young and inexperienced to be doing that sort of thing," the Queen chided.

"Yeah, you wait until you're at least eighteen, you hear?!" the King said.

"Grownups...what you guys know about true love?" Anna mumbled.

"Excuse me? What was that I heard, young lady?"

"Nothing. Enjoy your vacation! See you in two weeks."

"I want to hear that you've been studying hard. Perhaps after you get in we can talk about a vacation to celebrate," the Queen said as she strolled out the door, her husband's hand in her arm, and Ben and Gwen hurrying along in their wake. They reached the limousine, crammed their luggage into the trunk, and sped off towards the harbor where the cruise ship lay waiting.

---

Anna watched them go, not realizing this was the last time she'd see her parents alive.

"Time to tell Elsa! I bet she'll be thrilled to know I'm planning to join her!"

But Elsa wasn't happy to see her sister.

"You're not ready for college, Anna," Elsa explained after Anna told her the news.

"Just because you're older than me by three years doesn't mean I'm not capable of doing of what you're doing."

"Perhaps you are smarter than me, but what about your relationships with other people? I've been trained since ten on how to become the next ruler of Arendelle."

"All theory. You've been stuck in that same room since I was five for reasons I still don't fully understand. You haven't been out either!"

"Enough of this! I'll tell mum you're not coming with me!"

"Well, mum said I can if I pass the entrance exam!"

"Fine! And when you fail miserably, don't come crying to me. Maybe then you'll learn not to be a show-off and give other, more experienced people a chance!"

"I'll show you!" Anna cried as she stormed off. She didn't know what to make of the heated exchange. Perhaps their friendship was irreparably damaged? Screw it! Who needs snobby people like her as friends anyways? I'll be popular in my own right!

Now, the first order of business was to update the status of her Facebook account. She hardly hesitated before she changed Elsa from a "close friend" to "unfriend." A message popped up.

"Are you sure you want to remove 'Elsa' from your friends list?"

Anna clicked "Yes."

She had hardly done so when there was a knock on her door.

"Who is it?"

"Anna, I'm sorry I yelled at you and called you immature," Elsa said.

"Oh, that doesn't bother me anymore."

"Really?"

"I've decided I don't want anything to do with you anymore."

"What?! You can't be serious!"

"I just did. Go back to your room, stay out here and beg me for forgiveness, it's not going to change a thing. You are nothing to me anymore, understand?"

"I do," Elsa said sadly as she walked back to her room. The tears came, but she refused to let them fall. She wiped them away with one hand. I will be strong!

---

Slottsgaten 3, 5003 Bergen, Norway

The giant cruise ship loomed above their heads as they got out of the limo.

"Enjoy your trip! I'll be back here promptly two weeks from now to pick you up," the Chauffeur said with an enthusiastic smile as he unloaded their luggage and then drove off.

"1...2...3...4...5…" Ben craned his neck upwards as he started to count the decks.

"No need to show me you know how to count to fourteen," Gwen said with a snicker.

"Huh? You made me lose track! I was at 8!"

"There are 14 decks on this ship."

"Oh alright, I 'll take your word for it."

"Why don't we get ourselves situated on board the ship first, and then you guys can do whatever you want."

"Food!" Ben screamed.

"Typical…" Gwen sighed. The royal couple raised their eyebrows. "I have to keep a close eye on him at all times or else he usually gets into trouble," she explained.

"I get into trouble even when you are watching me!" Ben stated. "Wait, that came out wrong."

"Welcome aboard the Norwegian Hope. May I please see your boarding tickets?" the ticketmaster asked. The King handed over his ticket. The ticketmaster hardly glanced at it before giving him the room key and fifteen other sheets of paper.

"Ahh, we are very pleased you will be joining us, your highness. Here's your room key and a map of the ship."

The Queen was passed through just as swiftly although she declined to have the map of the ship, saying that she would share with her husband. They left for the staterooms. Ben and Gwen, however, were different. The ticketmaster stared at them intensely for a good minute before taking their tickets.

"Ben and Gwen Tennyson… Bellwood, Illinois...18 years of age...relationship: first-cousins…" He read aloud.

"Hey! That's private info!" Ben cried, snatching the tickets back.

"So you don't want to get on the ship?" the ticketmaster asked with raised eyebrows. "No background check, no boarding. Obviously for security reasons…"

"My cousin's just a bit paranoid, that's all," Gwen replied handing over the tickets again.

"Here are your passes and a map of the ship. Enjoy your stay," the ticketmaster smiled as he handed over two room passes with one hole in them each and a diagram of the ship's layout.

"Why the special passes?" Ben asked.

"The legal drinking age aboard all Norwegian cruise ships is 21. As you two are not over the age of 21, you cannot drink alcohol unless the ship is in international waters. Then, you may drink only if your parent or guardian signs a consent form saying you can."

"Man! I wanted to get drunk off of some vodka!" Ben complained as soon as they were out of earshot.

"Ben, spirits aren't good for your health. Alcohol can cause cirrhosis," Gwen warned.

"Oh come on! You're always the goody-goody! Don't you want to take advantage of an opportunity to have fun when you see one?" Ben prodded.

"I do, but in a responsible manner. Drinking alcohol simply isn't a responsible thing to do. Especially when you can't do so legally back home."

"Like the guy said, it's legal in international waters."

"Only if a guardian signs the consent form. I don't see you convincing the King or Queen to sign on."

"Just wait. I'm sure they'll be happy to sign it for me."

"Yeah, if we can find them first. This ship is way too big." They had been wandering around aimlessly for the last ten minutes.

"Excuse me, madame. I couldn't help but to overhear your conversation. I can surely help you get to where you want to go."

The speaker was a finely dressed gentleman in a full tuxedo. His hair was neatly combed back and he had a dazzling smile.

"Who are you and what do you want?" Ben asked rather rudely.

"Oh, excuse for not introducing myself, madame, the gentleman said, completely ignoring Ben. "The name's Jacques Rubins, but you may call me Jack. Don't tell me your name. Is it Gorgeous?"

Gwen blushed a deep crimson. "It's Gwen, Gwen Tennyson."

"And I'm Ben, her cousin," Ben announced loudly. "Stop hitting on her or I'll start hitting you!" He threatened.

"Hark, you hear that?" Jack asked.

Gwen giggled. "It's just my cousin. I think he's jealous."

"You right I am! No one messes around with my cousin! Especially jerks like you!" Ben balled up his fists.

"Ben, don't do it," Gwen warned.

"He deserves it," Ben replied as he marched up to Jack and socked him in the face.

"Ben! Apologize right this instant!" Gwen yelled as blood streamed down Jack's face.

"Fils de pute!" Jack swore.

"Sorry, didn't catch that," Ben taunted.

"He called you a Son of a B-," Gwen translated.

"That's not a very nice thing to say."

"Yeah? Well you surprise attacked him. I think that makes you a coward?"

Jack screamed an awkward battle cry as he punched Ben in the mouth in retaliation.

"Ok, you two are even now. Break it up!" Gwen cried. Ben grabbed Jack and wrestled him onto the floor. Jack was stronger and ended up on top.

"People are starting to stare!" Gwen warned. A crowd gathered around the pair, eager to see the fight. Security hurried over.

"Hey! You two! Break it up before I arrest you!" A security guard cried before he forcibly separated the two.

"Who started it?"

"He did," Ben said, pointing towards Jack.

"He did," Jack said, pointing towards Ben.

"Were there any witnesses? Any at all, please come forward."

"I'm the cause of all this," Gwen said.

"What?"

"So, my cousin and I were lost. Jack here kindly offered to show me around the ship. Ben thought he was hitting on me so he punched Jack in the face. Jack then hit Ben in retaliation and that's how they both ended up on the floor. That's what happened, and I swear it's the truth."

"Alright, no arrests this time, but this better not happen again, understood?" The guard asked both Ben and Jack. They both nodded.

"Now shake hands and apologize."

The two foes moved towards each other. Their hands came up and met. They let go extremely quickly.

"And now, an apology."

"I'm sorry I had to resort to physical violence to get my point across. This will never happen again under my watch," Ben and Jack said at the same time in the same monotone voice.

The guard came a curt nod of satisfaction and left.

"Are you sure you don't want a napkin for that? You're bleeding rather heavily," Gwen told Ben.

"I vood lik a napkin," Jack said thickly.

"Here you go," Gwen said, handing him one. He wiped the blood off his face.

"Ben, mate, I think we got off on the wrong foot. How about we apologize for real this time?"Jack offered.

"Yeah, I suppose that would be in order."

They shook hands for a second time, this time like real gentleman.

"I'm sorry for punching you in the mouth by surprise," Ben said sheepishly.

"Nah, it was justified. And Ben?"

"Yeah?"

"Way to stick up for your girl like that!"

The cousins blushed.

"How did you know?" Ben asked.

"I know cousins are supposed to be close, but not in the way I've seen you two be just now."

"Don't tell anyone, ok?" Gwen whispered.

"Your secret is safe with me," Jack vowed. "Now, let's find your room, shall we?"

He took the map and studied it.

"You've got a luxury suite on A deck?!"

"Surprised?" Ben asked.

"Yeah, I've only got one of those ocean views. You see, I'm dead broke."

"You don't seem poor."

"Ahh, Ben. Don't you know that looks can be deceiving? This tux is the only nice piece I have."

"Oh you poor soul!" Gwen cried in sympathy. "What happened?"

"Tell you what. Why don't you two get situated in your room and then after the lifeboat drill, meet me down at the lobby on C deck and I'll tell you my tale of woe?"

"Lifeboat drill?" Ben asked.

"Yeah, you heard correctly. It's required before every cruise by international law. You've got half an hour until they summon us for it," Jack said.

"Sure, we'll meet you there. Come on, Ben! Let's get going!" Gwen cried as she dragged Ben towards an elevator..

"But we don't know where A deck is!"

"That's why you've got the map!"

Ben took out the paper map again.

"This piece of shit is fucking useless! I can't tell what deck we're on!" Ben cursed as Gwen forced him onto the elevator.

"Then give it an upgrade," Gwen sighed.

"Upgrade?"

"How much of a doofus can you be, Ben?"

"Oh, right!"

---

"Turn left at the end of the hallway. Walk fifteen meters in a northerly direction. Turn right. Walk twenty two meters down the new hallway. Turn right again. You have reached your destination."

"When I said upgrade, I must admit I didn't have GPS in mind. I'm impressed!"

"That's child's play compared to this," Ben gloated as the map transformed into a spinning hologram of the ship.

"Neat! What else does it do?"

"Just watch," Be responded. "Where's the boat deck?"

"The boat deck is located on D deck, next to both the casino and the movie theater. This is the place to go if god-forbid a disaster were to happen. Would you like instructions on how to get there?" A seductive life-like human female voice asked.

"Maybe later."

"Is ten minutes from now a good time?"

"I guess."

"Setting reminder for ten minutes..."

"It's ingenious, Ben!"

"Thank you very much," the computer responded. "I am a genius."

"I should give you a name, shouldn't I?" Ben asked.

"Yes. I would very much like to have a name."

"Sarah?" Ben suggested.

"Boring! How about Aurora?" Gwen asked.

"Yes, Aurora sounds lovely," the computer said. "Might I know your names, young masters?"

"I'm Ben Tennyson."

"And I'm his cousin."

"Pleased to meet you, Ben Tennyson and his cousin," Aurora said. "I'm feeling sleepy. I'll go get some sleep now, if you don't mind."

"Sure. We'll wake you up in ten minutes," Gwen said.

"Time to unpackage our stuff?" Ben asked.

"Obviously. We don't have much else to do while we wait for the drill."

"We could see what's on TV."

"You and your television...You're going to have to pay for Sumo-Slammers here, you know. It's not free."

"Not what I had in mind," Ben said in a bored voice as he flipped through the channels. To his dismay, the only channels that weren't pay-per-view were the news and Cartoon Network.

"Damn it! I don't care about Ted Cruz and his tea-party agenda! Hillary Clinton will crush him!" He screamed at CNN's live coverage of Cruz's announcement.

"Perhaps try one of the foreign news agencies?" Gwen suggested. Ben grumbled, but flipped to the BBC.

"And now, let's go revisit that historic handshake between U.S President Barack Obama and Cuban President Raúl Castro at the Summit of the Americas yesterday. The two leaders agreed to put aside their past differences, and work together to bring about a new era of Cuba-U.S relations. I would like to remind our viewers that the United States and Cuba haven't had official contact since 1961 when relations were broken off by President Kennedy…"

"Ehh, I guess that's important, but I don't see what that has to do with me." Ben flipped to Cartoon Network, his last source of entertainment.

" Thought the Simpsons marathon was too much? Well, remember to tune in starting today for the Pokemon marathon! That's right! See all 877 episodes from start to finish! Witness the humble beginnings of Ash Ketchum as he journeys to become the greatest Pokemon master of all time!"

I wanna be the very best,

Like no one ever was.

To catch them is my real test,

To train them is my cause...

"Lame… Ash is still ten even though this show's been on for over 18 years! I'd thought he'd hit puberty by now. Even I have, two seasons ago!" Ben complained as he switched off the TV.

"You can't put too much sexuality in a Y-7 show, and unfortunately that's what you get when the characters go through puberty."

"We managed pretty well…"

"Until Omniverse when my character got binned!"

"Don't forget, I am the title character…"

"Don't tell me-"

"Shh! I hear something!" They both fell silent.

"Yes sir. I don't know if they ever got on the ship," the Queen was saying.

"Please describe what they look like," the same security guard as before was saying.

"One's a tall but rather skinny brunette boy with shaggy hair, pale skin, green eyes, and a watch on his hand. The other is a slightly shorter girl with fiery red hair and green eyes," the King said.

"Ahh. Yes. I can positively say that they are aboard this ship. I had to break up a fight involving the boy, you see."

"Thank you so much sir."

"You should seriously discipline your children better, madam."

"But they aren't mine! All I know is the boy's called Ben Tennyson and the girl's called Gwen. They're cousins," the Queen said.

"Ahhh, sorry for the confusion. My apologies…" The guard quickly hurried away.

"What a strange fellow that man is," the King commented.

"I agree," Ben said all of a sudden, startling the royal couple.

"Ben! Where have you been?" The Queen asked.

"Hey! Don't forget about me!" Gwen cried.

"Let's just say we had a bit of a miscommunication and then we got lost around this boat."

"Ship," Gwen corrected.

"Whatever."

"So, finished unpacking?" The Queen asked.

"Yup," they both said.

"Excellent. Now, all we have to do is wait for-"

"Ladies and Gentlemen. This is your Captain Edward Smith. I hope you have all gotten situated in your cabins. In a few moments, we shall begin the mandatory muster drill. This is required under the SOLAS Convention. In a few short moments, you will hear the General Emergency Alarm consisting of seven short blasts followed by one long blast on the ship's whistle. When you hear said alarm, immediately done your life jacket and proceed to your muster station located on boat deck. Muster numbers are located behind the door of every cabin. Wait at your muster station for further instruction. Thank you all for your cooperation."

"What station are we?" Ben asked.

"#1. Everyone on this floor is #1," the King said.

"The General Emergency Alarm will now sound. This is a drill."

Booop Booop Boooop Boooop Booop Booop Booop Boooooooooooooooop!

"Hello Ben Tennyson and his cousin! It has been ten minutes. Shall I now take you to boat deck?" Aurora asked.

"I can't hear what you're saying!" Ben shouted over the alarm.

"I said, do you want to know how to get to boat deck?"

"Of course!"

"Boat deck is on D deck which is three floors down from here. Take the elevator down three floors and walk forwards until you reach an open area. This is the boat deck. Muster station #1 is to your right."

"Thanks."

"You're welcome, dear."

---

The Lifeboat Drill

"Now, listen very carefully. What I am about to say may save your life in the unlikely event that we will have to abandon ship," the uniformed crew member was saying.

"Sir, I couldn't help but notice we don't have enough lifeboats for everyone aboard," a man said.

"That is correct. We have something better than lifeboats. We have," here the man flourished his arm dramatically at some 'barrels', "automatically inflating life rafts!"

"But those are just barrels," several people complained.

"That's what you think, but when they contact water, they will transform into life rafts capable of holding up to twenty people each. And in case you haven't noticed, we have dozens of barrels lying around. Everyone will be rescued, either in the boats or the life rafts."

"How are we to launch the boats?"

"See those davits? They are used to raise and lower the lifeboats into the water. They are electrically operated, but in the event of a power failure, can also be lowered manually/"

"And the capsules?"

"Lowered the same way. In the worst case scenario, four people can manhandle the capsules into the water."

"How?"

"Just chuck them over the side," the crew member said, annoyed.

"Hey, what's that lever do?" Ben asked, pointing to a lever that read "Release Mechanism for all boats"

"Just what it say it does. It releases all the boats at the same time."

"Cool!"

"And now I have to do a required demonstration of the lowering of the lifeboats. I will get into the boat and I want someone to lower me into the water. Any volunteers?"

Nobody stepped forward.

"Hey you!" The crew member pointed at Ben. "You look like you need some exercise. Come help me unload the lifeboat!"

"Uhm, no thanks. I have asthma," Ben lied.

"No one leaves until I show this required demonstration! Young man, come."

"I told you I have asthma, damn it!"

"My cousin shall gladly volunteer," Gwen said sweetly as she pushed Ben forward.

"Excellent! Now let's show everyone how to properly evacuate, shall we?"

"Hey! I never agreed to any of this!" Ben complained.

The crew member got into the boat.

"Now, to provide the most realistic scenario possible, the electric power winch doesn't work. You will have to manually crank it, young man. By the way, what's your name?"

"Ben Tennyson."

"So, Ben. I need you to crank it slowly. Don't let it out all at once."

"Ok, I think I got it."

"3-2-1...crank!"

Ben strained to push on the crank, but was unable to produce much torque due to the high moment of inertia of the pulley and also because he was not too enthusiastic. The boat failed to budge.

"Come on, sir! I need more power!"

"You want power? I'll give you power!"

"Ben, don't do it," Gwen warned.

"Going hero!"

"Ben, no!"

There was flash of green light and Four-Arms stood in Ben's place.

"Good lord! What on earth is that thing?" Someone shouted.

"I've seen him on TV! He's the crime-fighting alien superhero!"

"Billy, that's a kid's cartoon show," a mom patiently explained to her eight year old child.

"He's real! Just watch what Four-Arms can do!" Billy insisted.

"Yes, M'am, I'm quite real," Ben told her.

"I see," Billy's mom said as she fainted. There was mass chaos as everyone except for Gwen, the King, and the Queen tried to run away from the dangerous four-armed alien. Someone tripped over Bill's unconscious mom and inadvertently caused dozens of people to also fall on the floor.

"Hey, you lot! Get back here and see this required demonstration!" The crew member yelled as he glanced back up the side of the ship and saw that no one was watching.

"Boy! What did you do with my audience?!" He continued, apparently unaware that Ben had transformed.

"They are currently on the floor right now and in danger of asphyxiation," Four-Arms replied tonelessly.

"Whatever! If they don't want to watch, they can just die when something dreadful happens!"

"Man, that's rather harsh."

"I don't care...I don't get paid nearly enough to be civil with people who don't give a damn!"

"It's not like they can."

"Shut-up and lower away!"

---

On the Bridge

"Sir, all of the lifeboat drills have successfully been carried out except for one. I don't know what's taking Bruce so long," First officer Murdoch told Captain Smith.

"Probably needs help again," Smith sighed, "just like last time."

"Shall I go assist him, sir?"

"Please do. We were supposed to leave here half an hour ago. The port authorities no doubt are wondering what the hell is happening up here."

As if on cue, "Captain Smith, might I ask why you are still docked in port with a lifeboat ready to be launched?"

"Nothing to worry about. We shall be departing here shortly."

"Sir?"

"Leave us , William."

"Yes sir."

---

"Turn the bloody crank already, dammit!" Bruce yelled.

"Bruce Ismay! I'm appalled at your lack of professionalism. Is this how you treat our guests?!" Murdoch shouted as he ran out of the bridge and onto the boat deck. He glared at the crew member over the side of the ship.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Murdoch, sir."

"The captain expects better from you or else you will find yourself out of a job once we get back to Norway, understood?"

"Yes sir."

"Now, finish up with the lifeboat lowering so we can set sail."

"Yes sir." As Murdoch turned to head back to the bridge, he noticed all the people lying on the floor.

"What happened to them?" He asked, prodding one of the passengers with his foot.

"Who, sir?"

"All these people lying on the floor."

"There are people lying on the floor?"

"That's what I've been trying to tell you for the past five minutes," an exasperated Ben cried.

"We've got multiple casualties out on the boat deck. We need medical services up here now!" Murdoch barked into his two-way radio. Ismay just stared at him.

"Well, stop staring at me and finish up!"

"Yes sir."

"Boy! I need a hand, or a few hands."

"You got it." Ben turned the crank so hard that the handle broke off and sent Ismay into the water below.

Murdoch groaned. "We've also got a man overboard. Requesting the launching of a boat to retrieve him as soon as possible."

---

Twenty minutes later…

"Yes, I can confirm they're on the ship. No, they aren't with their grandpa. Yes, I know who Ben Tennyson is! I don't know where either of them are right now, but I can find out. Ok, Ok, I'll give you our coordinates so the attack can proceed as scheduled. A pleasure to be working with you too. Goodbye."

Bruce Ismay scowled and pocketed his cellular device.

"Stop asking stupid questions and you might be a more effective ruler, Hans," he muttered. You see, Bruce Ismay is a Forever Knight.

---

Somewhere over an ocean

"That incompetent fool!" Hans bellowed.

"What is it, medieval human?" Milleous croaked.

"The informant I cleverly posted on that ship! Out of all the vacations Tennyson could have chosen, he took a fucking cruise! And not just any cruise, he had to take one on Norwegian!"

"Well, you have to admit, Tennyson was kind of limited," Attea responded.

"Stop fraternizing with the enemy!" Milleous cried.

"Just stating the facts."

"That's not helping, my dear."

"Well I'm bored!" Attea announced as she left the cockpit in a huff.

"It so happens that Tennyson chose the Hope. Ismay is quite possibly the worst Forever Knight that ever existed. He is always questioning orders, is extremely clumsy most of the time, and seems to be planning a mutiny under my very nose.. The nerve! Can you believe it?!"

"It seems as this Ismay figure you're talking about and my daughter have very much in common."

"Interesting…"

"So, why haven't you dismissed him yet?"

"Well, he's useful sometimes as you have just seen, although he's every bit as annoying as ever."

"So, he has the coordinates of the ship's location?"

"They are headed towards the Mediterranean Sea. Location: 35 degrees North, 18 degrees East."

"And when's the expected arrival time?"

"Three days from now."

"Excellent. Operation Rheinübung can commence then."

"The Rhine Exercise? You named it after a Nazi naval exercise?"

"Any resemblance to past events is purely coincidental."

---

Later that day

"Oh boy, that was fun!" Gwen said.

"Yeah, my first time on a cruise ship and I almost kill two dozen people," Ben muttered.

"Well you're lucky the captain decided not to press charges. Otherwise you'd be in the brig by now," the King said.

"Right," Ben said, grateful.

"Well, we'll be off to dinner. The captain's invited us two to a private reception. You two shall be left to your own devices. Ben, I've signed that alcohol approval form. It waiting in your room," the Queen said.

"Awesome!"

"Just don't over-do it on the drinks. We don't want you to fall off the ship now," the King laughed nervously.

"Don't worry. I'll keep an eye on him," Gwen replied.

"Have fun!"

---

Lobby on C deck

Where the hell are those two fellows? They should have been here a hour ago!

"Jack, there you are!" Gwen cried.

""Hey you guys. What took you so long? You should've gotten here an hour ago."

"Our demonstrator was a fucking retard who couldn't get anything straight," Ben growled.

"Ahh, I'm sorry. Did it happen to be by any chance one Mr. Bruce Ismay?"

"Yes!"

"Yeah, he's very grouchy. I don't know why that is."

"He seems to be angry at the company."

"Well that explains a lot."

"Indeed it does."

"Well, settle down, make yourselves comfortable. I shall now begin to tell you the story of how I got here."

Jack's journey all started with…

---

Flashback

"Quick, Jack! Into the cellar. It's your only chance!" His mom cried as the fire raged around them. The maniacal laughter of a serial arsonist could be heard as he fled the scene.

"But what about you and dad and Steven and Rebecca?"

"We'll be fine. We're salvaging some memories and then we'll come right down."

"Is the fire department coming?"

"Yes, they'll be here soon. Don't you hear the sirens?"

eeeeooooooooeeeeeeeeooooooooooooooooeeeeeeeeeeeoooooooooooooo

"Yes."

"Good boy. Help will be on its way shortly. We'll get you as soon as we can."

---

Present

"But they never did," Jack said sadly.

"You mean…"

"Yes, I was the sole survivor."

---

Flashback

Smash! Smash! Boom!

"Hello! Is there anyone there? We're the fire department and we've come to rescue you!" The fire-chief yelled.

"My youngest...He's in the cellar. Save him!"

"Ma'am, we're sorry, but we need to save you first."

"No...my youngest...save him, not me."

"Ma'm, you're delirious." To his men he said," Give the women some morphine and get out the chainsaws."

A paramedic administered the morphine.

"Don't worry, we'll get you out."

bwwob bwwwobbubwub. Clunk!

The last piece of wood fell apart. The fire-chief reached out and pulled the mother to safety. The remains of a father, son, and daughter appeared beneath all that rubble.

"Jesus, all are dead!" The fire-chief exclaimed. The mother looked over, saw all the dead bodies, and died.

"There's one more person we have to save and that's the boy!"

"Mom? Is that you?" The youngest called from the cellar.

"We're the fire-department. We've come to rescue you!"

"Oh thank God!"

\"Are you injured in any way?"

"I don't think so."

"Stand back. We are going to bash open the door."

Smash! Smash!

The boy was pulled from the rubble.

"Chief, the whole structure is very unstable. It could collapse at any moment."

"Then we have to get out of here as soon as possible. Son, can you walk?"

"I think so."

"I need you to run as fast as you can and as far away as you can. Don't look back, got it?"

Jack ran as fast as he could out the front door. Just as he got outside, the structure collapsed, killing the entire fire-company.

---

Present

"So did they ever catch the bastard that did this?" Ben asked.

"Yeah, they did eventually. But his lawyers argued he was insane at the time, and the jury bought it. The guy was sent to a mental institution."

"What happened to him?"

"A few years ago, he escaped and returned to the fire-house that responded to the call that day. He burned that place down too. Just as he was leaving the scene, the police arrived. They recognized him from before and realized he was completely sane. The guy took the flamethrower he used to burn down the fire station and turned it on the cops."

"And what happened to you?" Gwen interrupted.

"I had no immediate family left, so the state sent me to live with my uncle. He was an abusive alcoholic who beat me often, but he had lots of money. A few days ago, I stole a thousand dollars from him and hopped onto this cruise ship."

"That sounds like a story you made up," Ben said.

"Ben, who would be sick enough to concoct a story in which their own parents die?"

"Believe it, don't believe it, whatever. It's true."

"It just sounds odd, that's all."

---

Two days later…

Bridge

"So, gentlemen, I suppose you know why I called you here?"

"Yes sir!"

"There's been some sort of miscommunication of the standards aboard this ship. I expect that you all treat the passengers with the utmost respect and dignity. However, one of you has violated that duty so severely that I have no choice but to call you out on it. I suppose you know who you are?"

"Captain, sir? Is it I?" Bruce Ismay asked.

"Ahh, yes. Bruce it is you. Mind telling me why you sent twenty-four people to the hospital?"

"I was mad, ok? I was mad at this stupid company! I'm mad that you refused to promote me to officer even after all I've done for you. I mean seriously!"

"You did nothing of that sort! You are a lazy and arrogant fellow!"

"Excuse me? Say that to my face again?"

"You are treading a very fine line here, Bruce. Your lack of enthusiasm and refusal to obey orders is frustrating."

"Who asked you? You're not the boss of me!"

"Yes I am, Bruce. And unless you want me to terminate your job, I suggest you treat me with a little more respect."

"Well, you don't have to fire me because I quit!" Bruce stormed out of the bridge.

Stunned silence followed.

"Well, what are you waiting for? Go back to your duties!" Smith ordered.

Most of the crew except those on the bridge crew left.

"Sir, should I organize a team to arrest Bruce?"

"Don't bother. He's a fanatic. No one will listen to him."

---

Floating next to the matter transporter

"I must thank you, Eon. This looks absolutely wonderful," Milleous said.

"Do not mention the words 'thank you' and 'Eon' in the same sentence ever again. I work for myself and myself alone! We just happen to have a common goal at this point in time."

"As soon as we get the call back from our dear associate in there," Hans pointed at the warp-hole, "We will be able to locate their exact position using this technologically advanced piece of equipment I have here in my possession." He held up a GPS locator.

"Please… That's a primitive tracking device. Level 2 technology," Attea sneered.

"Attea, remember he's stuck in the 90s right now. GPS was still a new thing back then," Milleous reminded her."

"Hey! I'm offended by that! We are a very progressive society!" Hans retorted.

"You only ditched WWII a week ago."

Hans peered out of the ship.

"Oh my! Has it really been a week on this flying conundrum? How long can we stay aloft?"

"It's been a MONTH! And the answer to your second question is indefinitely."

"A whole month? But what about food? Why am I not dead yet?"

"We don't need to store food as we survive solely on insects. See that fly over there? He's about to become my next snack."

Buzz! Buzz! Snap!

"Mhhhm, delicious," Milleous exclaimed, smacking his lips in satisfaction.

"That's simply disgusting," Hans commented.

"Learn to appreciate other cultures or get off of my ship!" Milleous bellowed.

"But what about me and my food?

"Shut-up and quit complaining! You get what we give you," Attea growled.

"But you haven't given me anything!"

"Here!" Milleous cried as he chucked Hans a ham sandwich. Hans simply looked dumbfounded. The sandwich nearly clocked him in the face, but Hans managed to catch it at the last moment.

"I thought you didn't bring food aboard," Hans commented.

"That was before I found out you would be joining us. I thought I'd prepare for your human palate."

"I can't thank you enough!"

"Don't. I don't even know why I did this in the first place."

Stand up, all victims of oppression!

For the tyrants fear your might!

"Ahh, it's our associate calling," Hans commented as he picked up his cellular.

"Hello mien füher. We are almost to the Mediterranean Sea. You can proceed with the attack once you receive a signal."

"And what is that signal?" Hans snapped.

"You'll figure it out when the time comes. Comrade Ismay out!"

"You are not my comrade. I am your superior!" Hans screamed, but Ismay had already hung up.

"Interesting fellow," Milleous noted.

"Dreams of a world under socialism everyday. He made me change my ringtone to The Internationale."

"Ready to go into the portal I created? I can't keep it open for much longer," Eon growled.

"Yeah, yeah. We're going," Hans grumbled.

"You going into another world will also disrupt the time stream here."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Milleous asked.

"I've told you before. It's your fault if you weren't paying attention."

Eon vanished.

"Damn you, time-walker!" Hans cursed.

"Into the black-hole, I mean warp-gate!" Milleous ordered. The pilot increased the throttle to full power and the ship managed to breach through the gate and into the world of Frozen.

"Ladies and gentleman. This is the captain speaking. We are on approach to our final destination, the Norwegian Hope. Please remember to take all belonging with you as you exit the craft. The Incursean Armada wishes you a pleasant journey," Milleous crackled.

"So, how do we go about destroying the ship?" Hans asked.

"Easy. I am the master of destruction. Bombs and torpedoes should do the trick."

---

Ballroom

"Who's up for some karaoke?" Damon, the cruise director asked.

"Go on, Ben," Gwen said, pushing him a little.

"No! I don't want to! I don't know how to sing!"

"There's a first time for everything. Go on!" Gwen cried, now yanking on his shirt.

"Let go of me!"

"Not until you get up on the stage."

"Oh look everyone! That young man in the 10th row looks interested! He's having a furious argument with his girlfriend!"

"Ooooooh," Everyone sighed.

"Why don't you come up here and show your love for that very special someone?" Damon asked.

"I don't think so," Ben muttered.

"Don't be shy, young man. Look, I'll stand here right next to you if it makes you feel better." He went offstage and dragged Ben onto the stage.

"An introduction if you will," Damon whispered.

"Uhm, hello everybody. I'm Ben Tennyson, savior of the universe and wielder of the Omnitrix."

"Care to tell everyone what exactly that is?"

"It's this watch that crashed to Earth eight years ago and affixed itself to my hand. I can transform into one of many aliens using said watch." Ben instantly regretted saying that.

"I want to see one!" Someone cried.

"If you really want to experience one, I suggest you go down to the hospital and ask one of the patients there, haha," Ben laughed nervously.

"And who's that girl you were having an argument with? Is she your girlfriend?"

"No!" Ben cried, turning a beet red. "She's just a really good friend and not to mention, cousin."

"Don't worry young man. We are a very progressive society. Cousin love is perfectly acceptable here in Europe."

"Is that so?" Ben asked nervously.

"Oh yes. Just look at the audience here! They're loving it!"

Ben glanced at the audience. Some were shaking their heads. A few more vocal members decided to speak out.

"That's disgusting! I'm ashamed of you!"

"Kids these days can't control their hormones. I swear, they're screwing anything that can crawl!"

"Cousin-fucker!"

"Pervert!"

"Child molester!"

"Hey! She's the same age as me!" Ben cried, try to defend himself.

"This sort of relationship was illegal in my parent's day!"

"Don't you understand that incest is wrong?"

"Hey! Give the kid a break here! Cousin marriage is legal now! And while I don't personally support it, I see no reason to deny him the same dignity as the rest of us. What's wrong with falling in love with your cousin? Is it simply because it seems like a foreign idea to most of us?" A man cried, finally fed up with all this nonsense.

"That's exactly what I mean! It's wrong and I don't like it!"

"Then get out!"

All the conservatives immediately left.

"Thank you, sir," Ben said.

"Don't sweat it, man. I see this kind of discrimination everyday back in my hometown. I understand where you're coming from. In Belarus where I'm from, the president's a homophobic, anti-semitic jerk who also discriminates against disabled people."

"Then why not try to escape?" Ben asked.

"Lukashenko prohibits people from travelling freely even within the country. I only got this cruise because I swore I wouldn't try to seek political asylum. Not that I can, anyways. The KGB's outside my house 24/7 keeping my family hostage until I return. I'm Vladimir by the way."

"Nice to meet you. I'm sorry to hear about the way you are treated."

"I wake up everyday hoping today will be the day the people rise up and overthrow Lukashenko, but no luck yet."

"Let's not give up hope."

"I like your optimism, kid."

"Ben," He corrected.

"Now Ben, let's get back to the show. What are you going to sing for us?" Damon asked.

"I'd like to dedicate this song to Gwen Tennyson, a true friend, an amazing cousin, and *pause* the love of my life. Please enjoy."

Ben stepped up to the microphone and began to sing.

If I should stay,

I would only be in your way.

So I'll go, but I know

I'll think of you ev'ry step of the way.

And I will always love you.

I will always love you.

You, my darling you. Hmm.

Bittersweet memories

That is all I'm taking with me.

So, goodbye. Please, don't cry.

We both know I'm not what you, you need.

And I will always love you.

I will always love you.

I hope life treats you kind

And I hope you have all you've dreamed of.

And I wish to you, joy and happiness.

But above all this, I wish you love.

And I will always love you.

I will always love you.

I will always love you.

I will always love you.

I will always love you.

I, I will always love you.

You, darling, I love you.

Ooh, I'll always, I'll always love you.

Ben took a bow at the end.

"Ladies and gentleman, wasn't that simply amazing? Let's give him a well deserved round of applause!" The crowd went wild, but Ben didn't care about their reaction. He only cared about Gwen's.

"Ben, that was so sweet of you! Thank you so much!" Gwen cried as she gave him a giant hug and a kiss on the cheek. Ben was stunned. She had never displayed her affection towards him in public.

"No, thank you for always being there, Gwen," He said in reply.

"That was excellent, Ben!" Jack cried.

"That's some talent you've got there," Vladimir commented. "Perhaps you want to try out for American Idol?" And in response to their quizzical looks at how how he would know such a show leaving in Belarus all his life, he hastily added, "Oh, only Western news is censored in Belarus. Entertainment is still allowed."

"I see. Well, I'm quite tired, so I think I'll be going to bed now."

"We dock in Italy tomorrow, so if you're up early, maybe you'll catch us passing the Vatican!" Damon said. He left the ballroom to go back to his quarters. Vladimir did the same.

"Goodnight!"

"Don't have too much fun tonight if you know what I mean!" Jack cried with a wink.

"Relax, We've hardly gone to first base yet," Ben said.

"And I'd like to keep it that way for as long as possible. I can't get my MD-PhD if I'm pregnant with Ben's child!"

"I sense make-up sex in the works here," Jack commented. Ben and Gwen both glared at him.

"I'm not doing anything with her until she says she's ready."

"Ok, ok! I was just kidding."

"We'll see you in the morning."

---

Later that night- Bridge

"Ok men, listen up! I know morale's been quite low after Bruce Ismay's unfortunate departure, but I don't know why. The fool's spewing some utter nonsense just because of a personal grievance."

"If I may, sir, he does have a point. You aren't exactly known for treating your crew as equals."

"That's because they aren't my equals. I'm the captain, not them!"

"But sir, perhaps if you'd just listen to their complaints…"

"Not another word out of you, Hitchens. Your job is to steer the ship, not engage in mindless bickering, understood?"

"Yes sir."

"There's a good lad. Keep it up and I may promote you yet."

"May I have a word with you privately, sir?" First officer Murdoch asked.

"Yes, of course." They left the bridge together.

"Sir, you have to treat the crew better. You haven't paid them in three months, and I'm afraid if you don't do so soon, they're going to start a mutiny."

"Don't tell me what to do, William. I am still your commander, even if we're on first name terms. And besides, we have methods of bringing the situation under control should it ever come to that."

"I hope so."

---

Dinner Party

"More wine!" Captain Smith called.

"Sir, I think you've had plenty to drink tonight. Perhaps you should stop?" A waiter suggested.

"I'm perfectly clear on what I want and that's more wine!" He insisted. The waiter just shrugged and poured him some more wine. After all, he didn't care about his crew, so why should she care about him? Pretty soon, he was dead drunk.

"Sir, are you sure you don't want to go to bed now?" Murdoch asked, concerned.

"I'm fine. Anyways, you're the captain. If anything goes wrong with the ship, it's your fault, hahahahaha," Smith slurred.

"Take the captain back to his room and keep him there until he's rational again." Murdoch decided.

"Yes sir!" Two men came forwards to drag the drunken Smith back to his stateroom.

"Wha are you doin? I didn' ghe no wine!" Smith complained as he lunged at the tablecloth to keep from being dragged away. Somehow, they managed to get the captain safely back to his room.

---

Watching the drunk captain being escorted away, Bruce Ismay smiled. He signaled to his band of five other radicals to follow him.

"Where are we goin', boss?" Pierre asked.

"The armory."

"What's that?"

"The place where they store the weapons, idiot!"

"But why have weapons on a cruise ship?"

"To keep mutineers like us at bay. But we are going to use their weapons for a little fun!"

"I'm scared of the dark!"

"Oh shut-up and get over it!"

"Also, I'm claustrophobic."

"Look, it'll be a quick and painless job. We go in, we go out. Takes a max of thirty seconds if you don't screw up. You don't have to go if you don't want to."

"I'll go! I'll go! The secret police scare me even more than you do!"

"Ok then. Here's the plan. Emilia, you go up to the guards at the armory and distract them. Pierre, since you're claustrophobic, you can wait outside with Emilia and keep a lookout. The rest of you, follow me into the armory where we raid the weapons."

"But there's too many to take," Emilia noted.

"I haven't overlooked that fact. We have here a shopping cart disguised as a janitor's bucket. I have no idea how they managed to do that, but they have and we'll be grateful to them for it."

"What are we waiting for then?" Emilia asked.

Bong! Bong!

"12 midnight! Let's move it!" Bruce cried. The five men and one woman creeped towards the armory. The two guards instantly saw them.

"Hey, you lot! Halt!" They shouted as they trained their AR-15 assault rifles on the five rebels.

"Woah there! No need for any violence here. We're just janitors. The captain called us over here to do some cleaning," Bruce explained.

"Be as that may be, this is a restricted area. You are not allowed beyond this point," Willy, one of the guards, stated.

"Oh really? What's so precious here that we aren't allowed to see?" Emilia asked.

"That's none of your business!" Sherman, the other guard, snapped.

"But we have to clean inside of that door, sir. Captain's orders," Bruce protested, pointing at the vault.

"Firstly, Captain Smith would never order such a job in this location, let alone at twelve at night. Secondly, even if he did, he couldn't have done so tonight because he's currently in bed with a terrible hangover! So, my only conclusion is that you all are a bunch of liars who are out to steal the contents of this vault," Willy said triumphantly.

"You are all under arrest for trespassing, false impersonation, and lying. Come with us please." It was an order, not a request.

Not one of the rebels moved.

"I said, come with me," Sherman repeated as he made to grab ahold of Emilia's arm. She spat in his face.

"Don't you fucking touch me!"

"Add to the list of charges insubordination, use of a biological agent with intent to cause death or severe injury, use of an obscenity, and resisting arrest," Sherman said with satisfaction while wiping his face off. Willy added them to his list.

"I hope you get AIDs and fucking die, you motherfucking son of a bitch!"

"Threatening an officer of the law, also a crime."

"My dearest apologies, sirs. My accomplice is overly dramatic for no reason at all," Bruce told the guards.

"Thank you! Finally, someone willing to cooperate!"

"No problem." Bruce lifted the mop out of the bucket. Both guards flinched and pointed their weapons at him.

"Sir, put down the weapon now and get down on the ground!"

"This is a mop for crying out loud!"

"Put it down! We aren't going to say it again!"

"Ok, ok. You win. I'm putting it down now," Bruce said as he laid the mop down on the floor, but not before pressing a button.

"Step away from the weapon and put your hands up where I can see them," Sherman ordered. Bruce backed away from the mop with his hands raised. He slowly began to count down in his head.

10-9-8-7…

"Now put your hands behind your back," Sherman continued as Willy moved forwards to cuff Bruce.

6-5-4-3...

Willy was right in front of the mop now.

2-1-0. Pssht!

A small dart emerged from the end of the mop and hit Willy in the nards. He immediately began to have a seizure.

"Willy? Oh my God, Willy!" Sherman cried as he ran to help his buddy. Unfortunately, he left his rifle propped up against the wall since he naively assumed that the rebels would say where they were as he ran off to render whatever aid he could offer.

"Willy, don't worry! I'm here to help!" Sherman dropped to his knees in front of the still convulsing Willy.

"I would strongly recommend not doing what I think you're about to do," Bruce warned.

"Of course you don't! I'm here to save his life from whatever you guys did to him!"

"You're not supposed to touch a seizure victim, you know," Pierre said. "You're supposed to let it run its course."

But Sherman didn't listen and yanked the dart out of his partner's groin. Willy stopped having the seizure, which was a good thing. What came next was a complete shock to Sherman though. Suddenly, Willy started to foam at the mouth.

"What did you guys do to him?!" Sherman bellowed.

"It was just a muscle relaxant, relax," Bruce told him.

"What about him foaming?"

"That's because you yanked it out of him before it was time. Must be one of the side-effects."

"How do I stop it?"

"..."

"That's it! Where's my goddamn rifle?" Sherman reached for his rifle to do some threatening when he realized he didn't have it with him.

"Looking for something?" Emilia asked as she played catch the AR-15.

"Give that back right now!"

"Sir, you are in no position to make demands. We outnumber you, your partner's dying on the floor in front of you, and you've managed to lose your weapon. Under these circumstances, I think we're the ones who should be making demands of you," Bruce said.

"Don't try me. I will never surrender to the likes of you!"

"Oh please! I know you won't, but think about your partner. He's semi-conscious right now and slowly fading away…" Pierre said.

"You obviously care deeply about your partner's well-being and I respect that. There is no virtue higher than compassion. Now, I can help you if you help me first."

"Think about it. The life of your friend or what's inside some stupid vault that you haven't even seen the inside of?" Emilia asked, appealing to pathos. That did it.

"Ok, I'll open the vault for you. Just save Willy," Sherman pleaded. He entered the code into the door which unlocked it, granting access to the weapons inside. Bruce stayed behind while the others rushed in to loot.

"There. I fulfilled my part of the deal, so you do yours."

"I am a man of my word." Bruce took a small vial filled with yellow liquid and tipped it into Willy's mouth.

"The antidote," he explained quickly to Sherman who was just about to ask what it was. The liquid drug had an immediate effect. Willy stopped foaming and opened his eyes.

"My whole body aches," he said groggily.

"Willy! You're alive!" Sherman exclaimed.

"All thanks to me," Bruce muttered.

"Yes, thanks to this guy over there. I guess I should thank you even if you tried to kill us."

"Don't mention it. I may be a nonconformist, but I still have a heart."

"Hey boss! We got the weapons!" Emilia cried as she pushed the janitor's bucket.

"Excellent work! Let's see. We've got 12 AK-47s, 3 RPG-7s, 10 M-16s, 5 AR-15s, 20 M1911s, and an M2 Browning machine-gun. That's quite an impressive haul, but we don't need that much."

"Excuse me?"

"It's a bit of an over-kill for a simple rebellion."

"We may need it to fight our way past the PSB," Pierre said.

"PSB?"

"Public Security Bureau aka the secret police. Smith's personal bodyguards."

"Interesting… Let's go before they get here."

" Hold on. What do we do with these two? Kill them?" Emilia asked. "They'd kill us if they got the chance."

"We could do that… But I am not a ruthless man. I only do what needed."

"So what do we do?"

"We can use these two as bargaining chips in our negotiations."

"So…I'm a hostage?" Sherman asked.

"Don't think of it like that, my dear friend. You willingly gave up your freedom to save your friend. A better term would be Noble Guest of Honor. Now let's go."

Prodding the two guards up the stairs with the barrel of their AKs, the group slowly made its way to the lobby.

"The bridge is near. Now, if we can just…"

"PSB!"

"What?" The blinding light of a flashlight hit him.

---

Shootout with the PSB

"Halt! Who goes there?"

"We need light! Use your tracers!"

Bruce turned on the lights in the lobby.

"You! You're the rebel without a cause!" Jerome the leader cried.

"Well, I admit I am a rebel, but I think I do have a cause. My cause is justice for all the oppressed crew members aboard this ship."

"You and your co-conspirators are under arrest for-"

"The second time this night?"

"Don't interrupt me! You are under arrest for stealing weapons, taking hostages, and planning to mutiny! You will come with us now."

"Look, I don't want to start a fight or anything, but we aren't going with you."

"Then we'll have to kill you."

"Why so extreme?"

"Don't ask questions! This is your last warning. Either come with us or die!"

"Hey, you two might want to get behind us because things are about to turn ugly," Bruce told the two hostages.

"There's nowhere to hide!" Sherman hissed back.

"Try to find a place," was the curt answer. So they did… in a bathroom.

"We'd rather die as martyrs than go with you," Bruce declared. Jerome just shrugged.

"Excellent. I get to kill again today. Boys, get them!"

Crouching behind a sofa he had manhandled into position on the second floor of the lobby, Bruce waited for moment where the most soldiers would be bottled up near the entrance. Then, with the 30 rounds in his AK and a few hand grenades, he'd unleash a storm of deadly fire…

The soldiers were still fruitlessly searching for the rebels on the first floor, unaware that they were all on the second. Bruce pulled the pin off of one of his grenades, counted to two, and then chucked it over the side. The resulting explosion was the signal to open fire.

He stood up and started to blast away at the soldiers below with his AK.

Tat-tat-tat-tat-tat

The enemy was caught by surprise and dozens fell where they had stood. Others sought to return fire, but it was sporadic and poorly directed. Bullets whizzed past him and embedded themselves in the plaster walls behind him. He smiled and continued to blast away.

Click.

Bruce pulled the trigger again, but nothing happened. He was out of ammo. Cursing, he tossed the now useless AK over the railing where it struck an officer on the head. Bruce pulled out his Glock and slid down the banister, firing all the way. Wood splinters flew from the railing due to the return fire and embedded themselves in his skin. As he landed, a grenade exploded near him. Luckily, he rolled away from the blast and wasn't killed, but he still got shrapnel in his left thigh. Limping, he made his way behind the reception desk, where he had cleverly stored extra weapons, ammo, and most importantly a first aid kit. Using pliers, he yanked out the sharp metal from his flesh and bandaged it. He managed a glance over the top of the reception desk. Although they had caused a significant number of casualties, the PSB were slowly gaining the upper hand. Around a dozen soldiers had commandeered a thick piece of sheet metal which they were using as a shield to block the .50 caliber bullets from Emilia's M2. Pretty soon, they were right on top of her position. Seeing her in grave danger, Bruce chucked a smoke grenade 20m to aid her escape.

---

A thick smoke covered the battlefield, obscuring the rebels from view.

"Ceasefire you buffoons!" Jerome bellowed.

"Owww! My leg!" Cried a soldier who had been shot fifteen times and was in severe danger of bleeding to death from blood loss.

"My head!"

"My intestines!"

"Excuse me?!" Jerome said dangerously.

"It hurts so bad," the soldier moaned as he stared at the gaping hole in his stomach caused by shrapnel from the grenade Bruce chucked earlier. His large and small intestine were almost completely outside of his body.

"Do I look like I care?"

"Help me!"

"Fine." Jerome, being the cruel and sadistic animal he was, took hold of both intestine.

"What are you doing?" The soldier cried out.

"Helping you like you asked me to," Jerome replied before yanking out the intestines. The soldier screamed once before dying.

"There, all better," Jerome smiled as he wiped his bloody hands on the dead soldier's uniform. He moved on to the guy suffering from fifteen gunshot wounds to the leg. The pain had made him oblivious to all around him, so he had no idea his commander was a twisted, sadistic savage.

"Where does it hurt? The leg?"

"Yes sir. I got shot like 15 times."

"Don't look at it while I bandage it, ok?"

"Ok. Thank you so much sir." But Jerome had no intention of doing what he said he would do. Instead, he drew his sidearm and aimed it at the poor lad. There was hardly any hesitation before he fired a single round into the back of the boy's head, killing him instantly.

"One more shot to add to your fifteen previous ones," He laughed loudly and without any hint of remorse. Then he moved on to the guy who hurt his head. The private tried desperately to run away after he saw the dreadful things that had happened to his brethren. Alas, he had no legs! So, he tried to crawl away on the stumps of his arms and legs. Jerome caught him all too easily.

"Going somewhere?" He asked the terrified soldier.

"N-no-no."

"You haven't received proper medical attention yet. I bet that neck injury of yours hurts, right?"

"Don't touch it!"

"This'll make it feel a lot better." He broke the soldier's neck.

"No more pain?" The soldier looked at him with unmoving eyes.

"I take that as a yes." The rest of the soldiers all looked at their commander in horror and utter disbelief.

"You-you-you killed them!" One finally cried.

"Yes I did. They were proving to be a burden, so I ended their miserable lives. Perhaps they will be of greater use in death than in life."

"You monster! No sane human being would do that to another human being!"

"Aye, but I'm not exactly sane, am I?"

"..."

"What are you all doing milling around then? Get back to work and find me those fugitives!"

"Looking for someone?" Asked a voice behind him. He turned around to find Bruce pointing a .357 Magnum at him.

"There he is! Kill him!" Jerome screamed at his men. No one moved.

"Didn't you hear me? You bastards have a clear shot, so shoot him already!"

"We don't follow orders from insane commanders who show no regard for human suffering," an officer said, echoing the thoughts of everyone else in paramilitary brigade.

"Insubordination! I'll have you all hanged by the balls for this!" Jerome threatened.

"My my. You're doing an awful lot of talking for someone who does absolutely nothing while watching those under his command get slaughtered. That simply won't do now, can it?"

"Shut it! You're still going to die even if my men won't shoot you. I'll just have to shoot you myself!" He pulled out a Walther PP.

"Any last words before I blow your fucking brains out?" He asked sarcastically.

"Yeah, I reckon I do. NOT TODAY!"

Bruce grabbed Jerome's right hand with his own. He then grabbed the barrel of the gun with his left and pushed it towards Jerome. This resulted in Jerome's hand getting twisted. In pain, Jerome dropped the gun. Bruce kicked it far away so it couldn't be used against him. He then pointed his own at Jerome.

"You were saying?" He asked with a smile.

"Mercy...Have mercy!" Jerome pleaded.

"I'm sorry? Are you begging me for mercy?"

"Please, have some humanity."

"What about yours? What about those wounded soldiers who you so callously murdered?"

"They were useless anyways."

"As is your life. No, you must die as well to pay for your crimes. There can be no mercy for those who show none."

"I-I'm sorry."

"I'm sorry too, but sorry just doesn't cut it, not today, not for what you did. You have my deepest apologies for this, though you never apologized for what you did."

"No!" Jerome lunged at Bruce with both of his arms outstretched, trying to strangle him. Bruce took a step back and fired once into Jerome's forehead. Jerome collapsed with his hands resting on Bruce's neck.

"So close and yet no cigar," was all Bruce said, removing Jerome's limp arms from his neck and and placing them by his sides. He also shut Jerome's eyelids.

"It's over. Your commander is dead. Lay down your weapons and surrender," Bruce told the remaining soldiers.

"I am Field Marshal Friedrich Von Steuben and I wish to discuss the terms of surrender with you, sir." A smartly dressed man marched up to Bruce and offered him his pistol.

"Actually, I don't require much at all. Just keep out of our way and we'll get along splendidly."

"What are you going to do?"

"I'm going to march up to Captain Smith and give him a piece of my mind.

"Can we join you? We must voice our opinions as well!"

"Right! We've been mistreated!"

"To the bridge then comrades!"

---

"Sir, the ship is dead ahead."

"Excellent. Proceed into attack formation. Attea, are the torpedoes loaded?"

"Aye, and the bombs as well."

"You are to launch a spread of three torpedoes on the starboard side. Then, you are to cover me while I drop bombs."

"Got it."

"Now we just wait for the signal.

---

Meanwhile…

"Ben, wake up!"

"Huh, what is it Gwen?"

"I heard gunfire downstairs in the lobby."

"You must have been dreaming," Ben replied. He glanced at the clock and it read 1:36 AM. "Go back to sleep. It's not even 2 yet."

"Oh no sir I'm not. You're coming with me to investigate."

"You go do that yourself. I'm tired." Gwen groaned in frustration and hurled some pink mana at him.

"Oww! What was that for?!" Ben cried out in pain and anger as he rubbed his forearm.

"To wake you up and make sure that you'd come with me."

"You could have done so in a nicer way you know," Ben said, annoyed.

"Yeah, yeah, but that would've taken time, and that's not something we have the luxury of right now."

"Fine, I'll go with you."

"I thought so." They left the room and immediately bumped into Jack.

"Hey guys! Fancy seeing you at 1 in the morning."

"Shhh, not too loud. Our 'parents' could hear!" Gwen warned.

"Too late," Gwen muttered as the door to the room next to them opened.

"We heard voices in the hallway. Is everything alright?" The King asked.

"I couldn't sleep because some luny decided to shoot up the ship at 1 in the morning," Gwen complained.

"Ahh, well the PSB will take care of it."

"PSB?"

"Public Security Bureau. It's kind of like the captain's own private army."

"Isn't that illegal?" Jack asked.

"Who are you?"

"Your majesties, this is Jacques Rubins also known as Jack. Jack, this is the Queen and King of Arendelle."

"Is that a real city?"

"Oh, it's somewhere in Norway. They just don't tell you that in school. You see, we aren't exactly known for anything," The Queen replied.

"Come on, let's go to the bridge!" Ben cried.

"Anyone know a good protest song?" Bruce asked.

"How about the song of the people?"

"What's that one?"

"Listen and you'll find out."

Do you hear the people sing?

Singing the song of angry men?

It is the music of the people

Who will not be slaves again!

When the beating of your heart

Echoes the beating of the drums

There is a life about to start

When tomorrow comes.

Will you join in our crusade?

Who will be strong and stand with me?

Beyond the barricade

Is there a world you long to see?

Then join in the fight

That will give you the right to be free!

---

"Listen! Do you hear singing?" Gwen asked.

Do you hear the people sing

Lost in the valley of the night

It is the music of a people

Who are climbing to the light

For the wretched of the earth

There is a flame that never dies

Even the darkest night will end

And the sun will rise.

They will live again in freedom

In the garden of the Lord

We will walk behind the plough-share

We will put away the sword

The chain will be broken

And all men will have their reward!

"Come on! They're headed for the bridge!" Ben cried.

---

Bridge

"Say, do I hear singing?" Murdoch said to himself.

"Uhmm, yeah, I hear singing alright."

"Open the door!" Bruce cried.

"Who is it?" Murdoch asked.

"Open this door in the name of the people!"

"Hey, what's going on here?" Ben asked.

"A revolution!"

"Guys, guys, can't we calm down and talk this over?" Murdoch asked as he opened the door. A M-16 was pointed in his face.

"Hey, drop the gun!" Bruce called out as he forced the gun down.

"Bruce! What are you doing here?" Murdoch asked.

"I am commandeering this vessel," Bruce stated simply.

"No you're not," Ben said as he pushed himself into the room. "Not if I can help it!"

"Keep out of this Alien boy."

"Sorry, but I can't let you this!" Ben cried as he transformed into Buzzshock.

"But you can't stop me!" Bruce cried as he lunged for the distress rocket launcher. Confused, Ben let him.

"Uhmm, I thought you were taking control of this ship?"

"I changed my mind. You'll see soon."

"I have a bad feeling about this," Ben told Gwen as he changed back.

"For once, I agree with you."

---

"A distress rocket was just launched!"

"That must be the signal. Attea, get to your ship!" Milleous cried.

"On it!"

"Tennyson, you are so dead this time!" Milleous bellowed.

---

Attea approached the port side of the ship and launched her torpedoes.

"Man, this is so easy!" She exclaimed.

---

At the same time in the crow's nest.

The two man team watched Attea's starfighter fly by.

"Such a beautiful night, isn't it?" Reginald asked his partner.

"Shhh! I'm concentrating!" James snapped as he scanned the waters ahead. Suddenly, he saw what appeared to be bubbles on the ocean surface around half a mile away.

"Say, do you see what I see?" James asked.

"Bubbles?"

"Fuck!" James screamed as he picked up the phone.

"Hello? Bridge? This is the crow's nest."

"..."

"Pick up you bastards!"

---

Outside the bridge

Ring! Ring! Ring!

"Hey matey!" Second officer Jack Sparrow yelled.

"Hello? Is there anyone there?"

"Yes. What do you see?"

"Iceberg, I mean torpedoes dead ahead!"

"Thank you!" Sparrow put down the phone and ran back to the bridge.

"Torpedoes incoming!"

"Hard-A-Starboard!" both Murdoch and Sparrow yelled.

Quartermaster Hitchens rapidly turned turned the wheel to port. Murdoch quickly ordered the engines to be put into reverse.

---

Engine Room

Ding! Ding!

"Full astern!"

A engineer ran to stop the diesel turbines.

Thunk! Thunk! Screech!

The engines slowly grinded to a halt.

"Now! Engage to reverse the engines!"

The button was pushed to reverse the engines. The propellers began to churn backwards furiously.

---

Back on the Bridge…

Murdoch ran out to get a sense of the scale of the impending danger. For some reason, the ship still didn't seem to be turning, even after he had given the order for the wheel to be turned and the engines to be reversed. The ship continued to head straight for the torpedoes.

"Is it hard over?" He yelled.

"Yes sir. Helm's hard over!" Hitchens replied.

Come on...come on! My whole fucking career depends on it! Give me a miracle! Turn! Turn damn you! Murdoch thought.

Slowly, the ship began to turn, but not nearly enough.

"I don't think we're going to make it!" Ben cried. The first torpedo just barely missed due to the evasive action taken, but the second and third torpedoes struck the ship. The entire ship jostled as if in an earthquake.

"Well gentleman, we did our best, but our best just wasn't good enough!" Murdoch exclaimed.

"Jesus Christ! We actually got torpedoed!" James screamed at Reginald in the crow's nest.

"I never thought I'd see this happen on a cruise ship. Kinda reminds you of the Titanic, doesn't it?" His partner replied.

"Yeah, but unlike the Titanic, more than a third of us are going to be saved."

---

Down in the #5 engine room, water started to pour in from a 15 foot gash in the hull. The crew had just settled down for a late night snack when one got hit in the face with a fat jet of water.

"What the hell…" He muttered as he wiped his face off.

"Ship's been holed!" The foreman cried.

"Like hell it has."

"Better tell the bridge…"

---

"Yes, we know about the damage. #4's just told us of similar troubles in their compartment. Just hold tight until we find out how bad it is. Thank you," Sparrow hung up the phone.

"So, we've got a gash 15 feet across in #5 and 32 feet across in #4. Water's pouring through both at around 7 tonnes per second," He reported. Murdoch looked grim.

"That's not good news. We have to slow down the flooding so we can evacuate everyone in time." His mind made up, he pulled a lever on the wall to lower the 25 watertight compartments.

---

#4 Boiler room

Ding ding! Ding ding!

Clunk clunk clunk!

The alarm sounded, the red light started flashing, and the watertight door slowly began to lower.

"Everyone out! They're closing the doors!"

Men struggled against a torrential downpour of freezing water to reach the door before it closed. Just as the last man got through, the door slammed shut. Similar scenes played out in the other 24 compartments.

---

Everyone on the bridge watched as the light above each compartment on the ship's layout lit up, indicating that all the sections were now sealed. Murdoch simply shook his head.

"Note the time and date in the log. We have to document this," He told Sparrow.

"Yes sir. Time is 2:00 in the morning, January the 12, 2016. Time to collision was 37 seconds," Sparrow said as he wrote it down.

"Captain on deck sir!" A crewmember warned. Captain Smith appeared in his boxers and shirtless.

"Mr. Murdoch, we've hit something?"

"No sir. Something hit us sir. Two torpedoes to be exact."

"Ahh, I was wondering what woke me up from my hangover. Are we holed badly?"

"We've got a gash 15 feet across in #5 and 32 feet in #4 sir. Water's been slowly rising."

"Close the watertight doors!"

"Doors are already closed sir. It was the first thing I did after the impacts."

"And you've noted the time and date in the log?"

"Done that too sir," Sparrow said.

"Full stop!" Smith ordered.

"Sir, the crews have abandoned their posts due to the rising water…"

"I meant the emergency brake."

"Ahh, yes." Murdoch yanked the lever to stop the ship. The engines stopped turning, and the giant ship lay still.

"Mr. Andrews?" The captain now addressed the chief architect of the Hope.

"Yes sir?"

"I want you to come with me on a damage inspection."

"Yes sir."

"Sir, may I suggest you go back to your room first to change? You aren't exactly looking professional right now," Murdoch commented. Smith looked down at himself.

"Yes, of course." He looked deeply embarrassed. As Smith left the room to go change, he issued one final order.

"Everyone who isn't a part of this bridge crew, GET OUT NOW!" He glared at the two dozen people crammed into the small space next to the door.

"Hey, Mr. Smith!" Ben cried.

"Who the hell are you?" Smith asked.

"Can I have your autograph before you know, you drown?"

"Ben! That's a terrible thing to say!" Gwen admonished.

"Hey, I'm just stating the worst possible scenario!"

Smith turned to Sparrow. "Make sure that idiot boy doesn't get onto a lifeboat."

"Yes sir."

"Hey! You can't deny me the right to life!" Ben shouted. The captain just smirked and left with Andrews to get changed and do the damage inspection.

"You heard the captain! Everyone clear out!" Murdoch bellowed. Grumbling, they all complied. All except Bruce and company.

"We still haven't settled this little dispute yet," Bruce muttered.

"Listen, I'm sure we can work this out later. My number one priority is making sure everyone gets off this sinking ship safely," Murdoch replied.

"Agreed. We can put this off till later." They shook hands to confirm the deal. Bruce and the rest of his co-conspirators then left.

---

Back aboard Milleous' ship

"Hey daddy, I'm back!" Attea announced.

"Get back in your ship! You're supposed to cover me while I drop bombs!"

"It was a complete surprise. They never knew what hit them!"

"So the ship is sinking now?"

"I think they slowed down the sinking with watertight compartments or something. The ship seems stable for now."

"Not for long it won't. Not after I'm done with it."

"And what about the lifeboats? They are going to evacuate soon."

"Oh let the fools escape. As long as Tennyson's trapped aboard, why does it matter if two thousand people are saved?" Eon growled. For some reason, he keeps on returning to the shop after swearing he'll never come back...

"Well, what if Tennyson's one of those two thousand?"

"Don't you want this to be a game of cat and mouse? Let him escape. It'll be more fun!" Hans exclaimed.

"I don't have fun, Hans, in case you haven't noticed!" There was a vein threatening to burst in Milleous' head as he said it.

"Calm down, daddy. You don't want to add high blood pressure and brain hemorrhages to your already long list of medical ailments, which include diabetes, obesity, asthma, delusions of grandeur, obsessive compulsive disorder, stroke, and strangely, dementia."

"I AM NOT GETTING OLD!"

"Shut-up and bomb the shit out of them already, damnit!" Kevin cried.

"Right! Wait, was that what I was about to do?"

"I told you, daddy! You are exhibiting the classical signs of early stage dementia."

"ARRRRGH!"

---

Meanwhile…

Captain Smith takes a trip to the wireless room before leaving on his inspection. The door was open.

"Brandon, Rebecca, we have been torpedoed-Uhm, am I interrupting something?"

"YES! YES! OH GOD, YES!"

Rebecca was currently sprawled out naked on the bed while Brandon was on top of her, thrusting in and out.

Ahem! Smith cleared his throat loudly.

"Oh, hello sir," Brandon said, extremely embarrassed as he got off of Rebecca.

"Well, glad to see you're still up at this late hour. It makes my job just sooo much easier."

"Listen, it's not what it looks like…" Brandon said.

"You see, it was sort of spur the moment," Rebecca said.

"I didn't expect to see my two wireless operators screwing around like rabbits WHILE THE FUCKING SHIP IS SINKING!" Smith cursed.

"Sorry sir. It won't happen again."

"Nevermind that. As you should have heard had you NOT been fucking like crazy, the ship's been holed by two torpedoes. I'm going on a damage inspection now, but be prepared to send out a distress signal should the need arise. I'll be back shortly. In the meantime…"

Smith glanced around the disorganized room. There were clothes scattered everywhere, the sheets were upended, they had used the Marconi wireless antenna as a dildo, the white liquid still dripping…

"GET DECENT!" He barked in the end.

"Yes sir!" They both saluted. Smith closed the door.

"Now where were we? Oh yes…" Brandon said as Rebecca now climbed on top of him.

"YES! YES! HARDER! FASTER!"

---

Out on the promenade deck…

"Hey Ben, isn't that Milleous' flagship?" Gwen asked as the starship buzzed them.

"Yeah, what's it doing here? How'd it even get here?"

"Up to no good I bet."

"Right as usual, Gwendolyn," Milleous snickered. "Tell me, does it hurt to be right all the time?"

"What do you want, Milleous? You fucking stalker!" Ben yelled.

"I am not a receiver. I'm a giver. In fact, I've already given you two of something."

"Ben, does he mean those two torpedoes?" Gwen asked.

"I bet it was you who torpedoed this ship, wasn't it?" Ben accused.

"I don't deny it," Milleous admitted.

"You like slaughtering innocent lives?"

"I must say I do, especially when they involve people like you!"

"You can't! It's against the rules of war!" Gwen protested.

"Hey, all's fair in love and war, as you earthlings might say. Enjoy your presents!"

"Not if I can help it!" Ben cried as he transformed into Ball Weevil.

"Oh please! You're going to launch some explosive goo at me? You don't have enough power to get it this high!"

"Think again!" Ben quickly rolled up 50 balls of goo. He then transformed into Bloxx and loaded them all into his arm cannon.

"Batter up!"

"I stand corrected," Milleous remarked as the first heavy projectile missed by mere inches. He ordered the pilot to take evasive action to avoid being hit.

"Nice try Tennyson, but you won't stop me from sinking this ship!" He flew away.

"I guess he gave up?" Ben asked hopefully.

"He chickened out, that's what," Gwen responded.

"Or maybe, HE'S GONNA DIVE-BOMB US!" Ben screamed as he tackled Gwen to the floor. Lasers blasts burned holes in the deck beneath them. Ben jumped up and began to fire wildly at the rapidly climbing starship. Milleous dropped a few bombs in seemingly random locations. The first blew up near the stern and destroyed the propellers, not that the ship needed them anyways. It wasn't going to move any time soon. The second penetrated three decks and blew up in the kitchen. The third and fourth missed entirely although they did rock the ship. The fifth blew up near the waterline between the 19th and 20th compartments, flooding both simultaneously. The sixth landed in the swimming pool and failed to explode. The seventh destroyed the bulkhead between the 5th and sixth compartments, permitting water to flow into that compartment as well. Now out of bombs, Milleous dropped a small magnetic charge on the boat deck before returning to where Ben and Gwen were.

"Now I'd love to stay and watch another Titanic unfold, but I have more important matters to attend to!" Cackling madly, he escaped through another interdimensional portal Eon created.

"Damn it! We let him escape again!" Ben cursed.

"We weren't exactly prepared for him..." Gwen stated.

"WE SHOULD HAVE!" Ben exploded.

"Ben, calm down please."

"PARADOX TOLD US TO BE ON THE LOOKOUT!"

"Ben, no one can understand his metaphors. How were we supposed to know his 'enjoy it while you can' meant we were in grave danger?"

"YOU SHOULD HAVE! YOU'RE THE SMART ONE!"

Slap! Ben rubbed the red mark on his cheek where Gwen had slapped him.

"Sorry I had to do that to you Ben, but you were out of control. Calm down and listen to me for once."

"You're right. I'm sorry for yelling at you Gwen. Do you want a hug?" Gwen fell into his embrace. His green eyes met hers.

"Blaming ourselves for what happened isn't going to solve anything," she said.

"I know. I let my emotions get the better of me."

"Come on, let's go back inside. We can help with the evacuation."

---

Damage Inspection

"Well, this is pretty bad," Smith told Andrews as the two stood on the catwalk overlooking compartment #4. Water was still still gushing inside despite the best efforts of the pumps that automatically deployed in an effort to keep the water out.

"It is indeed serious, although the ship is in no danger of sinking at this point."

"So…"

"We should send in crew to patch up the damage as soon as possible."

The ship was rocked several more times. There was a terrible groaning sound as the bulkhead between #5 and 6 gave way.

"I think our problem just got worse, Mr. Andrews."

"Oh yes. A lot worse."

"Sir?" It was Murdoch.

"Yes?"

"We've lost our propellers, gotten flooding in the 6th, 19th and 20th compartments, and have a massive hole in the boat deck that extends three floors down. I think it was bomb damage this time."

"Say no more. I'm coming back up. Get the ship's owner up there as well."

On the way back, he stopped by the wireless room again.

"Hey! Are you decent?" He called.

"Yes we are!"

"Good. We've been hit by a few bombs this time, and it looks like we're about to go under. Send a distress signal to all ship in the immediate area as well as the Italian Coast Guard."

"On it!"

---

Back on the Bridge…

"We have here a map with the ship's layout," Andrews said as he spread out the map over a navigation table.

"As all of you are well aware, the Hope is divided into 25 watertight bulkheads. Any four can flood and we'd still be in good shape. Of course, we'd have to remain motionless, but we'd still be afloat. Now, we have giant holes here, here, here, here and here." He pointed to the 4th, 5th, 6th, 19th, and 20th compartments.

"That is one too many. To compound that issue, we have more forward compartments flooding than we do aft. The weight of the water in the bow will pull the bow low into the water, ensuring that water spills over the bulkheads and into the adjacent compartments."

"So basically, we haven't learned anything from the Titanic," Matasuki Yamada, the ship's owner said.

"We have. We just didn't think it was necessary to make the compartments truly watertight with all the recent safety advances and all."

"But what about the pumps?"

"The pumps are overwhelmed now. They won't be of any help."

"But this ship can't sink!"

"She can and she will. It is a mathematical certainty."

"How much time do we have?" Smith asked.

"Oh, three hours give or take thirty minutes."

"That should be plenty of time then to launch all the boats and get everyone to safety. Gentleman, it's time to uncover the lifeboats and rouse the passengers. We have an evacuation to take charge of."

---

Wireless Room

Smith knocked on the door again.

"May I come in?"

"Sure," Brandon said. He let the captain in. Rebecca was at the wireless set tapping out the distress signal."

"What are you sending?" Smith asked.

"Oh, SOS, CQD, the usual stuff."

"How about a simple Mayday to the Italian coast guard?"

"You know, I haven't tried that."

"..."

"This is the cruise ship the Norwegian Hope squawking Mayday. We have taken two torpedos and four bombs. Down at the head and sinking fast. Requesting immediate assistance. Coordinates are 35 degrees North, 18 degrees East."

---

Somewhere on the shore

"Yes, you have reached Italian Coast Guard. How may we be of assistance to you today? Yes, I know you are in distress. Do you need police, fire or ambulance? None of these?! You want rescue boat? No, we don't offer rescue boat. Have a good day!" The guy hung up. The phone immediately rang again.

"Hello? Yes, this is Italian Coast Guard. It's you again? I told you, we don't offer rescue boat! You are sinking? Oh, we offer you rescue boat then! No, we are not liars. You didn't describe your situation clearly enough. Yes, yes, we'll be there in three hours. You only have three hours? Too bad! We are watching the Winter Olympics." He hung up again. The phone rang again.

"Hello? This is- No, I'm not talking to you again! You are delaying a good hockey match you know!"

---

"Ladies and gentleman, this is the captain speaking. I'm going to be very straightforward with you. I could tell you we are in no danger of sinking. I could tell you that this ship is unsinkable. I could tell you everyone will be saved and that help is on the way. None of these are true. We are indeed sinking and there is nothing we can do about it. Some people will be undoubtedly lost in the confusion and that is very unfortunate. There are enough lifeboats although some will probably be launched half empty. Some of our crew are not properly trained in emergency procedures and may unknowingly injure or even kill some of you. I ask that you try to be patient with them. Help is not on the way as the Italian Coast Guard is currently watching the ice hockey match between Italy and Canada. I hear Italy is losing by a score of 6 to 0. Yes, we are pretty much screwed, but please don't make this situation any worse. Please put on your life belts and proceed in an orderly fashion to your muster station like we practiced a few days ago. Crew members will be there to guide you into a boat. Thank you for your cooperation."

---

Evacuation

Two thousand panicked passengers crowded onto the boat deck as the stern rose higher and higher.

"Come on! Everyone into the lifeboats! No time to lose!" Murdoch cried. He was in charge of the port side while Sparrow was in charge of starboard. People crowded onto the rickety lifeboats.

"Lower away! Lower away!" Murdoch cried whenever a lifeboat was filled to capacity. But the system was grossly inefficient. By 4:00, only ten of the twenty lifeboats had been filled. Over one thousand people were still aboard. Suddenly, the magnetic device that Milleous had dropped onto the boat deck activated. Instantly, every lifeboat and raft, including the occupants inside of them, vanished. The remaining people were trapped aboard a sinking ship with no hope of survival.

"Is this the end, Ben?" Gwen asked.

"No. We're main characters. We can't die.

The captain walked on deck. "Gentleman, you have done your duty. You can do no more. Abandon your cabin. Now it's every man for himself!"

"Now would be a good time to pay us!" The crew shouted.

"Yes. I've already arranged that. Your families will each get one hundred thousand dollars plus five hundred percent of your annual salary."

"So I was wrong about you. You do care!" Bruce said.

"And I have seen you are not an arrogant seaman."

The two former enemies shook hands and made peace...right as the second funnel collapsed and killed them both. People started running towards the stern of the ship, hoping for some miracle to occur. The main characters stayed put.

"Listen, we can't save all three of you, so two of you will have to die..." Gwen began.

"I'll stay on the ship," Jack said.

"No, we will, together," the King and Queen said.

"Seriously? But what about your daughters?" Ben asked.

"Elsa and Anna are teenagers. They'll be just fine!"

"Just promise me one thing," the Queen said.

"What?" Ben asked.

"Promise me that after we're gone, you two will take care of them. Send them off to university. At 21, Elsa will have her coronation ceremony. That means she becomes the new queen."

"Right."

"Can you do that for me?"

"We shall do our very best, your majesty."

"That's all we ever asked for."

"I guess this is goodbye then."

"Goodbye Benjamin Kirby Tennyson and Gwendolyn Catherine Tennyson. It was a pleasure meeting you both!"

The trio left the royal couple as they too made their way to the stern. The ship's orchestra stopped playing.

"Gentleman, it's been an honor playing with you tonight. And now our time has come. Goodbye and good luck to you all!" The violinist named Tucker decided to play one more song.

Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!

E'en though it be a cross that raiseth me;

Still all my song shall be nearer, my God, to Thee,

Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!

Though like the wanderer, the sun gone down,

Darkness be over me, my rest a stone;

Yet in my dreams I'd be nearer, my God, to Thee, etc.

There let the way appear steps unto heav'n;

All that Thou sendest me in mercy giv'n;

Angels to beckon me nearer, my God, to Thee.

And now, the stern rose higher and higher until it was almost at a sixty degree angle. The ship split between the third and fourth funnels with a great cracking sound. The priest was preaching his last sermon and hearing confessions.

"I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years- Revelations 20:4."

"Now is a good a time as any to accept Jesus!"

"Gwen, we have to go right now!" Ben shouted as the stern plunged one hundred feet.

"Let's join hands and sing Kumbaya, eh?" Gwen said with a smile. Ben clasped hands with his cousin and Jack.

"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou are with me-Psalm 23:4."

Exieis!

You're here, there's nothing I fear

And I know that my heart will go on.

We'll stay forever this way

You are safe in my heart

And my heart will go on and on.

A purple tornado transported the three of them from the sinking ship to Arendelle.

---

"Man, that was really close! Remind me never to go on a cruise ship ever again!" Ben said as he dropped on the ground, exhausted.

"Where are we?" Jack asked as he glanced at the frozen landscape around him.

"Arendelle, the city that no one's heard of in a country that most people have heard of," Gwen replied.

"Ahh, Ben, Gwen! You're back! Oh, but who is this? You've brought another traveller back!"

"Not quite. He's still part of the Frozen universe even if he's never been to Arendelle. And you lied to us!"

"I had to. Or else you would never have gone on the trip."

"Yeah? Well, thanks to you, everyone aboard died except for the three of us when Emperor Milleous attacked." Gwen burst into tears.

"Look what you did, Paradox! Now you've made my cousin cry! She's probably feeling guilty for letting all those poor people die because you made us get on the fucking ship! And for what reason?"

"To kill the King and Queen of course!"

"They could've died in a storm like in the actual movie. Instead, you had to go out of your way to kill an extra 1,998 people!"

"I'm terribly sorry. It was very bad planning on my part."

"That's it?! You killed almost two thousand people and you're sorry?" Ben asked incredulously.

"Uhm, they weren't actually real people. They were CGI screenshots."

---

Funeral

"We are gathered here today to remember the lives of the King and Queen of Arendelle. For many years, I am told, they ruled this kingdom with benevolence. Their lives, along with the lives of 1,998 others, were cut tragically short by two torpedoes and four bombs. However, their spirits will remain with us forever. It is time now to grieve, but soon, in our world, it will be time to turn our grief into action. We know who perpetrated these terrible crimes against humanity, and we shall never rest until they are brought to justice. In each of us, two natures are at war – the good and the evil. All our lives the fight goes on between them, and one of them must conquer. But in our own hands lies the power to choose – what we want most to be we are. Always remember that when you are tempted to walk down the path of evil. Remember the King and Queen of Arendelle."

Ben sat down again.

"Well, how was it?" He asked.

"I couldn't have said it any better myself," Gwen said.

"Aww, come here you!" He grabbed his cousin and kissed her.

"Eww, don't do that in public!" Jack exclaimed.

Ahem!

"Will you two stop making a scene or do I have to separate you?" The pastor glared at them.

"Sorry!" They both said. deeply embarrassed.

---

"Elsa?" Anna questioned.

"Go away Anna. I don't want to talk to you."

"Just listen to me for once, will you?"

"..."

Please, I know you're in there,

People are asking where you've been

They say "have courage", and I'm trying to

I'm right out here for you, just let me in

We only have each other

It's just you and me

What are we gonna do?

Do you wanna build a Snowman?

---

Meanwhile…

"Attention all citizens! Ben Tennyson is dead! He was blown to smithereens while attempting escape from the law. Let his death be a warning to you all: No one escapes the wrath of Milleous! But hey, enough with the unpleasantness right? Let us rejoice this happy day!"

Good news!

He's dead!

Benjamin Tennyson is really dead!

The Omnitrix failed him in the end

It couldn't save him from the wrath of Milleous!

Good news!

Good news!

Look! It's Princess Attea!

Let us be glad

Let us be grateful

Let us rejoicify that goodness could subdue

The wicked workings of you-know-who

Isn't it nice to know?

That good will conquer evil?

The truth we all believe'll by and by

Outlive a lie

For you and-

No one mourns the Wicked!

No one cries: "They won't return!"

No one lays a lily on their grave

The good man scorns the Wicked!

Through their lives, our children learn

What we miss

When we misbehave

And goodness knows

The Wicked's lives are lonely

Goodness knows

The Wicked die alone

It just shows, when you're wicked,

You're left only

On your own…

Yes, goodness knows

The Wicked's lives are lonely

Goodness knows

The Wicked cry alone

Nothing grows for the wicked

They reap only

What they've sown

No one mourns the Wicked!

Now at last, he's dead and gone!

Now at last, there's joy throughout the land

And Goodness knows

We know what Goodness is

Goodness knows

The Wicked die alone

He died alone…

Woe to those

Who spurn what Goodnesses

They are shown

No one mourns the Wicked!

Good news!

No one mourns the Wicked!

Good news!

No one mourns the Wicked!

Wicked!

Wicked!

---

So, how'd you like this latest chapter? A tad bit darker than usual, ehh? It will only get darker as the story goes on! Please read and review! Can anyone guess what the next chapter's gonna be about?