The Elite: Chapter 02

Berto is sitting at an outdoor table wearing casual clothing. He tugs at his collar as he asks his date, "So, what do you do as a hobby?"

She shrugs, "I tend to do a lot of reading and some research," the woman picks up her cup of coffee. "What about you? I know you mentioned working at N-Tek. But you barely went into detail."

"Well, I'm an inventor of sorts," he tells her.

"Really? What kind of things do you invent?"

"Lots of stuff!" Berto nearly shouts. "A good deal of the tech they use. My design."

"That's so cool," she sets her cup down. "Anything big more recently,"

Berto rubs the back of his neck. "Many of my current projects are top secret," he looks at her and sees the sad 'oh' look on her face. "There is one thing, though!" he leans in and says, "The Takion Mass Engine."

The woman is intrigued. "That sounds big."

"It is," he smiles as his nervousness is nearly forgotten. "As you may know, Max Steel emits a rare form of energy. The Takion Mass Engine will allow that energy to be multiplied greatly with just a little intake."

"Wow!" she leans back. "Can it be done with any form of energy or just Max Steel's?"

Berto held his chin in thought before answering, "Well, in theory I suppose it can work with other forms of energy. But that would depend on the type of energy and its stability."

"I would love to see it," she tells him.

He sighs and looks down at the table. "I'm afraid that my lab is off limits to the public."

Berto feels a hand placed on top of his, he looks up at the woman. Her eyes glow as she speaks in another language and Berto's eyes begin to glow pink.

"I'm sure you can make an exception for me."

"Anything for you…" he trails off, "I never did get your name."

"I'm Charmcaster."

.oOo.

The group of teens just sit there, staring at Prof. Paradox.

Then Lance slams his hands on the table. "What is going on here!? Where are we? Who are you?" he points to Paradox before gesturing to the rest of the group. "And who are all these people?"

Kim speaks up. "I would like to know as well."

Steel is floating near a window. "Looks like we are orbiting Earth. From my calculations somewhere over a Bellwood,"' he taps his face. "Now where have I heard that before!"

Ron jumps up from his seat. "Bellwood!?" he looks at Rufus. "As in the same city as…" he looks over and sees Ben and lets out a squeal. "You're Ben 10! You saved the world a hundred times. I have all your action figures. My favorite is Atomix!" Rufus starts jumping in place, "And Rufus' is Mole-Stache."

Ben Smiles at the sidekick. "Yeah well, wait!" he stops in mid-sentence. "I have action figures?"

"Yeah!" he shouts.

"Cool!"

Max stands up. "Hey, I saved the Earth too,"

Ron looks him up and down before saying, "And you are?"

"You're kidding, right?" Max turns to the rest of the group. "Surely you guys know who I am?"

Everyone just turns to each other shrugging. Except for Newton. "Max Steel, Savior of Copper Canyon, the Ultralink hero, secret weapon of N-Tek; a military operation that was secret until a few years ago."

"At least someone knows me," Max says with relief.

"It wasn't hard to access the news feed from your city," Newton admits. "But now seeing you without your helmet, I can identify you as Maxwell McGrath. Son of Molly and Jim McGrath. I can also determine that at least one of them must not be human as I detect a Takion energy signature being emitted from your body."

Ilana looks to Lance "Takion! I thought they were extinct?"

Max stood there slack jawed. "How did you…"

"He's a robot," Steel answered before Max could finish.

Newton looks at his 'siblings' before turning back to the group who are staring at him. Newton lets his disguise fade. "I am Octus."

Many of the group marveled at him, except Ben who says, "Eh! You see one alien robot you've seen them all."

Duncan has been sitting quietly before slamming his fist in the table breaking a good chunk out of it and shouts, "Enough! Have you all forgotten that we were basically kidnapped by this guy!?" and gestures to Paradox.

"Apologies for my intrusion," Paradox reaches into his coat pocket to pull out a brown paper bag. "Perhaps you'd all like a gumball as an apology?"

Ron was the only one to rush up for one. He also got one for Rufus. The others, with the exception for Ben, raised a brow at him.

Ben looks to the others and tells them, "You'll get used to it," and turns back to the Professor. "So, I'm guessing it's some big event that has potential to rewrite the course of time."

"Close, Master Benjamin," Paradox tells them. "It has potential to change all of reality."

Before anything else is said, the voice of Grandpa Max is heard shouting from outside the room. "I told you; I did not order anything! How did you even get up here?"

"Blukic let him up."

"Nu-uh, it was Driba."

"Was not!"

"Was Too!"

"Look, sir, we are just delivery guys. We just follow the orders," a new voice says. "Which states specifically to bring in over a dozen orders of chili fries and nacos, nine Mr. Smoothies, and one small bag of charcoal."

"Well, you got the wrong place," Grandpa Max with two Galvans on his shoulders says as the door slides open. "Now, you can…" whatever the old Plumber was about to say becomes forgotten as he sees his grandson, Prof. Paradox, and several others surrounding the table. With a heavy sigh, the Plumber asks, "What do I owe you?" as he turns to three delivery boys carrying several large bags.

.oOo.

Later.

"You never had Bueno Naco!?" Ron gasps.

Ben shrugs. "Didn't get the chance to," as he tries one. "Pretty good. Too bad there's not one nearby."

"I thought every city had a Bueno Naco?"

"We used to have one, but one time when I turned into Way Big, I accidentally stepped on it."

Ron lets out another gasp. "Betrayed by my own hero." Rufus runs up the blonde's arm and pats his shoulder, trying to comfort.

"So," Max starts. "You're Kim Possible? The girl who can do anything. You managed to save the world without missing class. I'm a big fan."

"It was no biggie," Kim waves him off. "Besides, you've saved the world countless times yourself."

"Yeah, but I still failed algebra," Max groans. "Got any pointers? I really don't want to tend summer school."

Lance speaks up as he picks at the chili fries. "I could use some as well. Saving the world would be much easier without having to worry about classes," he sighs. "Also, I hate having to resist punching bullies."

Octus now back in his human disguise just observes the interactions among the other teens.

Steel then hovers up to him. "So, Octus—"

"Newton," the robot insists. "In this form I prefer to be called Newton."

"Well, Newton. I'm N'Barro Aksteel X377. But you can call me Steel. I must say, I thought Ultralinks was the most advanced technology around. But now looking at you. I have to ask, how fast you can process information?"

"I rather not discuss that information."

"C'mon," the drone puts one of his arms around Newton's shoulders. "Robot to Robot."

"As I said, I rather not," Newton's eyes narrow at the Ultralink.

Steel flies away and mumbles, "Geeze, what's got your circuits in a twist?"

Duncan munches on his coal. The kaiju prince is now wearing a white shirt with the plumber emblem on it and a pair of jeans and shoes that Grandpa Max loaned him. He then glances to his side and sees Ilana staring. She quickly turns her head to take a sip of her smoothies, pretending like she was not staring. "Take a picture. It'll last longer," the kaiju hybrid is no stranger to getting stares. Even before getting scales.

The Galalunian princess sighs. "Apologies. I was trying to figure out what planet you hail from. My father has introduced me to many other races, but I'm not familiar with yours. Nor of one that feasts on coal."

"I'm from Earth."

"Really?" Ilana tilts her head. "You don't look like a local. Unless you're a mutation."

Duncan digs his claws into the table. The kaiju is getting irritated by these questions. "I was born this way. My mother is human. My dad isn't."

"Oh! So, you're a hybrid like Max," she looks over to see Max along with Kim, Ron, and Ben. "That would explain why I don't recognize your appearance. It would better help for me to better act around you to know where you father hails from."

"He's from Earth too."

"But, you just said. How can your parents both be from Earth yet not both are not human?"

Duncan let out a sigh as he knows what's about to come next. "My father's Belloc."

All the chatter quieted down at that moment as all eyes met him.

Lance then questions. "Belloc? As in the king of the monsters?" he receives a nod from the kaiju hybrid.

Kim tries to wrap her head around it. "Your mom and dad…were a thing?" she turns to Max and then to Ben. "Is that messed up? I can't tell."

"Don't ask me," the Omnitrix hero shrugs. "I was once engaged to a Tetramand princess," all eyes turn to him. "It was a while ago and I managed to get it called off."

"Hold up!" Ron stands. "Kaiju are, like, forty stories high. How is that possible?"

Steel crosses his arms. "That's what I would like to know. As such a union is impossible and compatibility is nonexistent."

Prof. Paradox chooses that moment to speak up. "It's actually quite interesting. You see, the two conceived Duncan—"

Duncan growls. "Look! I don't know the answer to that, and I really don't want to know! Okay!? I've been avoiding this discussion my whole life," he groans.

That is when Grandpa Max coughs. "As interesting this conversation may be. I want to know is what everyone is doing here and why you put the bill in my name?"

"Why, Max, you told me that when we need a special meeting you insisted on paying for the meals."

"No, I didn't.'

"Hm?" the Time Walker thinks for a moment. "I guess you haven't. At least not yet." the Professor says. "As for why we have gathered. Perhaps you should hear it from someone who was present?" he holds his watch out and a portal suddenly opens over one of the empty seats. Out comes Doyle landing in the seat with an 'Oof'. He looks around at the kids and soon spots Paradox.

"You!" the Mercenary jumps out of his seat and points at the Professor. "I've been falling for three hours!"

"You should try falling for three billion years. On second thought, wouldn't recommend it."

The Merc just glares at him. He then falls back into his seat to take another look around the table. "So, these are the Elite you've been talking about? Looks like a bunch of kids."

"They may be younger than what you expected, Mr. Blackwell. But I assure you they live up to being the Elite."

"Professor!" Ben calls him. "Are we the Elite?"

"Indeed, you are, Master Ben."

"Hold up!" Doyle stares at the alien shapeshifter. "You don't know?" he turns back to the Professor. "How do they not know? You talked about them as if they've been doing this for a long time."

"Well, they have done so from my perspective. However, from what I can conclude is that this must be their first gathering."

The Mercenary grumbles. "I hate Time Travelers."

"Excuse me, Mr. Paradox, sir," Ilana raises her hand. "Exactly what are the Elite and what does that have to do with us?"

"Ah, well, from what I've seen, the Elite are a group of extraordinary individuals who work together to protect the Earth and all beyond from threats that is rather difficult for any one of them to handle."

"You're all powerful, right?" Lance points out. "Why can't you just stop this threat with a snap of your fingers?"

"Always a soldier first, Lance," the Professor sighs. "There are certain events in time that I cannot interfere. At least not directly. Certain things must happen for time and reality to continue. This particular event is something else. For some reason I can't travel to the exact moment it happens. So, I'm not sure what is going to happen. I'm not even aloud to view the moment."

Ben thinks for a moment. "So, whatever is going to happen has an impact so big that even you are pushed to the side. When you're worried, Paradox, that's when I know I should worry."

"Do not fret, Ben. That's why I brought you all together," the Professor gestures around the room. "The Elite. The best of the best this world…" then glances at Max, Steel, and the Galalunians. "and others have to offer."

The teens look among themselves. Knowing the deeds of the others.

"Yeah, Okay," Doyle speaks up. "But can they fix this screw up?"

Steel flies up to him. "Exactly what did you do, Cool Mercenary guy?"

The Merc takes a deep breath. "I was hired to escort a woman up an icy cold mountain to a temple near the top. Only, I've been up that way and knew there weren't any temples. But when we got there, the lady did a voodoo trick and a temple appeared out of nowhere. From the temple, we found an idol. She used it to summon a demon to attack me. After that, she and the demon disappeared," he leans back and mumbles. "Stupid Charmcaster. She never did pay me."

"Wait!" Ben stands up. "Did you say Charmcaster?"

"Yeah. You know the witch?"

"Afraid so," Ben face palms. "She's crazy."

"Tell me about it."

"Do you have an image of the idol. My cousin might be able to help, she knows a lot about mystical idols," the Wielder of the Omnitrix then slumps. "Except she's on the other side of the galaxy. Hey, Paradox, can…" Ben turns only to find the Professor has vanished. "Great! I hate it when he does this."

Lance asks. "Does he do that often? Just dump a mission on you and leave you to take care of it."

With a sigh, Tennyson answers. "More often than I want to admit."

"He may not have a choice," Newton speaks up. "If what he said is true, It could be that the possible shockwave that capable of altering reality forced him out of this point and time. Prof. Paradox may not be seen until after this event."

Everyone looks down. Debating on what the next move should be.

Then a voice rings throughout the entire Plumber Headquarters by intercom.

"Magister Tennyson! There are three ships approaching from the surface," a woman says. "They're requesting to dock?"

Grandpa Max goes to a nearby computer and presses a few keys. "Do you know who they belong to?"

"They each seem to be from different factions. N-Tek, MEGTAF, and G3."

"I'm familiar with N-TEK and MEGTAF but this would be our first contact with G3."

Ilana steps up to him. "They're friends of ours." Lance and Newton agreed with her.

The Plumber looks at the two Galalunians and the robot. "Very well," he turns back to the computer. "Give them the green light. I'll come and greet them personally."

End

NOTE: Sorry for the wait. Been too busy to actually write anything new due to work. Most of what I had been publishing were things I wrote a long time ago. And after some time did free up I was experiencing an error that wouldn't let me save what I wrote. All good now. Hopefully, you guys won't have to wait as long until the next chapter.