With a lot of persuading and a month long battle of wits, Dexter finally stood on the battlefield, holding the newest prototype of a gun he had to try out. It was his first time actually out on the field, in the front line, because Mandy wouldn't let him go anywhere else but the HQ. She had claimed it was too dangerous to let the genius out of their protection, but Dexter thought otherwise. He WANTED to fight.
Ben put a hand on his shoulder. "You ready?"
"Always," Dexter replied, strong and sanguine. He bumped fists with Ben before Ben had to run off and give a pep talk to a few operatives who had just lost two best friends in the last battle. Dexter smiled up at the sky and looked to his right when an operative shouted to get ready. He lifted coat and pulled the gun from its holster. A few operatives scurried to get to their spots before the enemy came into view.
When it did, Dexter was ready.
"CHARGE!!!" Ben screamed. Everyone surged forward like a mighty wave of the ocean. "Squad Twelve take the right flank! Squad Two, circle around! Corral them!" He transformed into Four Arms and tossed a monster in the air, high above Dexter. With excellent aim, Dexter hit it, and it exploded. Four Arms gave him four thumbs up and followed his friends into battle. Dexter ran forward, too, shooting any monster that came his way into oblivion.
"No operatives were lost that day, thanks to the insane boy genius," the reporter said happily. "This, according to Ben 10, was his first battle, and-"
Mandy muted the TV and turned to face Dexter, who was beaming with pride. There was a cut on his left cheek and his coat was torn, but on his face was a blinding smile. Mandy shook her head. "You are never going out there again," she told him, watching him jump out of the way of a monster's attack at just the right moment for the attack to hit another. Both fell. Dexter stood and laughed before ducking -missing another attack- and high-fiving Ben, who had transformed back. "Never," Mandy repeated.
"I understand," Dexter chimed before standing. "I have some work to do, now, so please excuse me."
He practically leapt out of the room on scorched boots.