Chapter 9: Arrested Development
"Seriously, Dex, I haven't seen anyone so excited since Bubbles discovered role playing."
"Tell me he didn't squee."
"Uh, no, thankfully."
"How was it he wasn't on the moon when it became Infected?"
"Well, you saw that his mom and dad are, well, villains," said Ben, amused at the lack of a better word. "It was his mom's birthday. Apparently the KND has figured out it's just easier to send Chad home for holidays and stuff like that rather than have Mega Mom and Destructo Dad come looking for him."
"Sounds it," agreed Dexter. "He must feel guilty."
"It's killing him."
"I understand," the Boy Genius said softly. His creation of the Null-Void, the only weapon effective against the Fusion invasion, was what had drawn Planet Fusion to earth.
Knowing what was on his boyfriend's mind, Ben reached out and pulled Dexter against his side in a one-armed hug. "Well, since whoever ranks higher than 362 made him the Supreme Leader's bodyguard and since he couldn't get any guidance or new orders, he just went from guarding Rachel to Nigel."
"But of course she knew, Nigel doesn't, and at present he has no way of knowing his date for tomorrow evening is not a traitor to all he holds dear." The redhead took a moment to contemplate the situation, clearly enjoying the potential. "It's not quite ironic, but it's certainly an intriguing situation."
"Yeah, well, Nigel not knowing is running Chad ragged."
"I understand that, too."
"I think it'll work for them if we can get them talking. Chad knows about the issues Nigel has with food and stuff. He's pretty anxious that he hasn't been eating too well lately."
"He's in a position to know?"
"Apparently except when he's called away for stuff like meeting me and convincing the Teen Ninjas he's still one of them, he's never too far from Nigel's location."
"Did Nigel tell him about his eating disorder?"
"No. I honestly think I'm the only one Nigel ever talked to about that. I think Chad just figured it out. Then again, he's known Nigel since he was eight or so. He would have noticed something like that."
"Where is he now?"
"Still around. Nigel's due back tomorrow, so he'll just pick up the trail on their date. Hopefully."
Dexter nodded, then said in a sing-song, dreamy voice, "With luck they'll hit it off beautifully, all will be revealed, all will be forgiven, and the brilliant Supreme Leader and his handsome bodyguard will be inseparable forever more."
"Have you been reading Bubbles' fanfic?"
"God, no. I was talking about us."
Ben laughed and kissed Dexter's ear. "I just have to get hold of Nigel and explain the situation."
"He may want to strangle you."
"Wouldn't be the first time." He shrugged. "Meh. I'll just turn into Humungosaur. Good luck strangling a dinosaur. Can I get a copy of those files?"
"Of course. Can I get another kiss?"
"Of course."
()()()()()()()()()
"You're really going through with this."
There was a distinct harshness in Hoagie's tone that made Ben wrap both hands around his smoothie and hold it close and safe, just in case he needed to protect it from the wrath of Two. He took a sip before saying,
"What, finding Nigel a date? Yeah. I told you I was. Or I told Number Five and she told you. Whatever. I found Nigel a date."
Hoagie Gilligan frowned. His concern was genuine and it was evident he had zero faith in Ben's skill as a matchmaker. If only he knew. "He doesn't have time for this, Ben."
"I had the exact same conversation with Nigel on Monday afternoon. That's the point, Hoagie. He doesn't have time, I'm on leave for a week, I found him a date."
The shorter teen gave him a suspicious look. "Who with?"
With whom, growled Dexter's voice in Ben's head. He mentally shooed his boyfriend aside and pointed smartly at the KND. "Not telling."
Number Two crossed his arms impatiently in a stance he'd learned from his grandmother. "Why not?"
"Because it's Nigel's date, not yours. If you want me to find you one, too, just give me a few day's notice."
"What? I don't - no! I don't want you to find me a date."
"Your loss, dude. Your boss pulled in record crowds, and he scored a seriously hot dish."
"Your choice for Nigel's girlfriend is based on looks?" squawked Number Two incredulously.
"I'm not that shallow, Hoagie," defended Ben. "The good looks are just a bonus."
"When I heard you were planning this I got pretty apprehensive. I don't think this is the smart thing to do."
He smiled. "Tell that to Dexter."
"Ben . . ."
"I told Nigel I would do this and he didn't say no. He just told me who and what he didn't want to date. Seemed like a green light to me."
"What was he supposed to say right after he broke up with Lizzie?"
He felt himself channeling Dexter and he even imitated that Eastern European accent as he glibly replied, "No."
Hoagie's voice dropped low and he leaned in close to whisper, "This isn't the time. Not many people know this, but the Kremlin hacked into the KND network the other day. We're working double and triple shifts to shore up our security and figure out what they were after. We're all stressed to the max. Nigel's exhausted and vulnerable right now."
"I know," Ben replied in kind. "Did you know he's not eating or sleeping, either?" That bit of information had come from his talk with Dickson, and it didn't seem to surprise the listener too much. Given Hoagie's attitude toward this whole business, Ben was infinitely glad he hadn't asked any of the KND for information on 274. This conversation alone was taking a toll on his friendship with Gilligan, but he hoped everything would be set aright, just like Dexter had imagined. "He's had his whole foundation yanked out from underneath him and dumped on his shoulders. I'm trying to get some stability back in his life. What are you doing for him?"
"I'm trying to protect him," stated Number Two, his anger evident.
He thought of Chad and his standing orders to protect the Supreme Leader. Hoagie was right - Nigel was exhausted and vulnerable. With no anger at all, Ben said, "So am I."
()()()()()()()()()()
Friday morning found Ben10 exiled from the laboratory ("You're too distracting! I can't focus!" "I'm just sitting here, Dex." "Exactly!") and for want of occupation, he helped Mrs. Warthog and Nazz with the pizza party plans. Movies and cartoons would be played in the lounge that doubled as DexLabs' auditorium, and Edd was already setting up the sound system in the cafeteria, and every pizza place in town was providing food. As was his usual habit, Professor Utonium had matched the funds accumulated, allowing them to double the amount of food. They all knew perfectly well there wouldn't be a crumb left over.
Since he could access almost the entire building, Ben was given the oh-so-glamorous job of hanging up signs advertising the party. Armed with posters and tape, he hit all the high-traffic areas. Three or four people handed him their applications, and Ben gave them a well-deserved look that let them know they didn't stand a chance. Midway through the day a Dexbot came buzzing up to him and delivered a hand-held holo projector. It was a flat, silvery disk just big enough to fill his palm, about a quarter inch thick, with an indented circle on its surface. They were neat little gizmos, with the capacity to project images large enough to fill a movie screen, with a surprisingly decent sound system, too. He knew without being told that this was the copy of the videos and files he'd asked for.
He was sliding the projector into his pocket when the alarms suddenly sounded. He recognized the claxons immediately - there was a Fusion attack, and it was close enough that the troops at DexLabs Headquarters had to respond.
"Alert! Alert! Fusion forces attacking Reunion Station outpost," called Computress' voice over the comm system. "All KND and ECF forces respond! Transports will launch in fifteen minutes outside Hangar 2."
"Oh, come on!" Ben yelled at the powers that be, as if somehow they cared. "I'm on vacation!"
"This is not a drill," Computress seemed to add purely for Ben Tennyson's benefit.
He waited a moment, but the alarms didn't go away. With a very childish grumble, he put down the posters and tape where he was and stomped away, muttering.
"Are you getting this?"
A comm cube appeared in the air before him and he indulged in a hearty glare at Mandy. It had zero effect on his pointy-haired boss, but it made him feel better.
"Kinda hard to miss!" he snapped.
"Einstein is getting more info. I need you to lead this one until Number One and the rest of his team arrive."
"Yeah, yeah," Ben said, bent on letting her know how completely inconsiderate he felt the Fusions were being right now. He had bigger fish to fry than Fusions, namely figuring out how to tell Nigel his date for tonight was someone he was thoroughly convinced was a traitor to the Kids Next Door. "Do not cancel that pizza party tonight, Mandy. I'll fly ahead and scout it out."
"Keep us posted."
"Don't I always?"
"No."
He ignored her. Since transforming was not allowed inside DexLabs (for the most part - Dexter's laboratory didn't really count), he stepped outside, dialing the Omnitrix as he walked. He could hear shouts as the assembled troops headed off to battle. Briefly he wondered if Chad was joining the throng a moment before he slammed down the dial on the alien device.
"Jetray!"
()()()()()()()()()()
Dexter frowned. This attack was ill-timed for his purposes, but he saw no reason to let it stop him from what he had planned. It hadn't been hard for him to get Ben out of the laboratory. He hadn't exactly lied when he'd claimed he couldn't concentrate with Ben around, but when he was around Dexter could concentrate on nothing else but Ben.
"Computress, locate Chad Dickson if he is present on my property."
The super computer was coordinating the transports, handling all communications, collecting data on the attacking Fusions, running DexLabs and DexCorp, tracking shipping, monitoring production in the plants, running thirty-two different analyses (including one for Mr Green's fudge brownie recipe) and sixty-seven scientific experiments, scouring the internet for useful or stolen information, and securing the safety of her creator among many other things. Tracking down one Teen Ninja was a simple matter of analyzing all available security cameras (including the ones Security didn't know about) until she pinpointed and cross-referenced his image.
"He's in Hangar 1," Computress announced seconds later.
"What is he doing?"
"Checking his weapons. I believe he intends to join the troops heading to the battle."
Dexter nodded, not in the least surprised. Nigel was racing toward the fight as well. He hit a button on his work station and immediately a screen was projected before him. "Sgt. Morton, I need your assistance."
His chief of security looked a bit harried. Immense amounts of preparation went into each battle and inevitably the loose ends were picked up by Morton and his team. An attack this close - Dexter had no idea where Reunion Station was, but he knew it was close if DexLabs was on the alert - meant all the bigger headache for Morton and it seemed he'd gotten a jump on it early.
"What do you need, sir? And do not tell me you need to leave."
Morton was one of three adults that could give Dexter orders that he'd actually obey without question. His last sentence was purely preemptive.
"I'm not going anywhere," promised Dexter. "I need you to arrest someone for me."
That was probably the last thing the blond officer expected at this particular instant, and Chip Morton was a man pretty used to weirdness (and not just from Dexter). All DexLabs Security officers had the power of arrest on corporate property owned by Dexter, though they rarely exercised it. For a moment he was treated to a bland stare, and then Morton blinked and got to business.
"Who and on what charge?"
"Chad Dickson, former KND Operative 274. Let the charge be trespassing. Have someone drive you to Hangar 1 and I'll fill in the details on the way."
If he was confused, Morton didn't show it. "On my way, sir."
()()()()()()()()()()
He was watching intently from his hiding spot, waiting for the right moment to join the troops hurrying to board the SCAMPERS and aeroships being pulled out of the adjacent hangar. He didn't dare get on with too many KND troops. Even with his armor as a disguise, there was a chance he could be recognized. He couldn't risk it. Not now. Not when he was so close. Not when he . . .
Chad Dickson smiled to himself. Not when he had a date tonight, thank you Commander Tennyson. He felt a happy tension run through him that had nothing to do with the pending battle and everything to do with being given a chance to talk to Nigel again. Really talk to him, not just exchange barbs as they had in the past when their paths had crossed. Ben had promised to show Number One the files that had been encrypted, the only proof there was of Chad's loyalty and the only hope he had of having a chance with Nigel.
He heard a vehicle approach, but that was hardly anything new or remarkable, given the excitement of heading to battle and he ignored it as he saw his chance. The aeroship March - an apt name for a troop transport, he thought - was just starting to load. Most of the soldiers piling on were from Earth's Combined Forces. It would be simple to lose himself among them.
Rising from his hiding spot, Chad put on his helmet. A moment later ear-splitting feedback from the helmet's comm unit almost deafened him. Involuntarily, he gave a shout and yanked the helmet off, gasping and wincing and pressing a hand to his ear. He shook his head, trying to clear the intense pain.
"You okay, son?"
He turned, saw blond hair, blue eyes, and gray body armor, and instantly he knew he was neck-deep in trouble. Everyone in the KND knew who this man was and who he had been: Charles Phillip Morton, former Navy SEAL, former executive officer of the submarine SSRN Seaview, former KND Operative Number 126, and now the terror of DexLabs.
"Uh, yeah." Chad tried to edge away, gesturing at the helmet. "Must've gotten some weird signal. I'll just go join my troop."
"Hold on a moment."
It took everything he had not to grimace.
"I'll miss my ship," he tried, desperate to get away and sensing he didn't have a chance.
"That's fine," Morton said with infuriating calm. "I need you to come with me now."
Perhaps a challenge would help, though he doubted it. "Do you have a reason for stopping me, Sergeant?"
Morton folded his arms, smiling faintly. "I have 274 reasons."