The following day found Ben, Gwen and Kevin facing off against Ssserpent. The snake-like humanoid had again escaped imprisonment and was attacking a park when the three of them showed up to confront him.

Ben wasn't particularly worried even though he had been sneezing and sniffling all day leaving his nose red and sore. He also had a sore throat and a mild headache. Despite all that he was certain he could handle this, no problem. Gwen had advised him to stay at home and rest, pointing out how being sick tended to affect his alien forms, but Ben had insisted on coming too.

After all I'm the saviour of the universe he thought. Even if I'm sick I can handle a loser like this guy.

"Okay it's ACHOO! It's hero time!"

He dialled the Ultimatrix and transformed. "Fourarms!"

But the voice that spoke wasn't Fourarms' usual voice. It was high-pitched and shrill. That wasn't the only thing different about him however.

Gwen and Kevin stared in shock at the form that had emerged from Ben's transformation. It looked like some twisted parody of Fourarms. The Tetramand's muscular physique was gone, replaced by a withered, emaciated frame with his skin stretched tightly across his bones. His arms were stunted and misshapen while his teeth were black and crooked.

Fourarms looked down at his hands in disbelief. "What's going on?"

Their enemy took the opportunity to spit a stream of venom at him. Fourarms managed to dodge it but in doing so he toppled over. He tried to get up but his limbs felt weak and unresponsive.

Ssserpent uttered a low hissing laugh. "Pity. You don't look like much of a snack now."

He extended his arm snakes to bite Fourarms, but Gwen blocked them with an energy shield. Kevin meanwhile, had picked up and absorbed a pair of large stones, turning his arms into rock. He seized Ssserpent's arms and yanked hard.

With an alarmed cry he was pulled forwards and Kevin landed a solid haymaker to his jaw. Kevin threw a rapid series of alternating lefts and rights which his opponent did his best to dodge. Ssserpent tried to spit venom into his face, but Kevin had learned from their last fight and ducked under it. Finally Gwen used a pair of energy beams to pin Ssserpent in place long enough for Kevin to land a final knockout blow.

Satisfied that his opponent was out cold Kevin reverted to normal and wiped his brow before turning back to Fourarms and Gwen. He winced as he saw again just how bad Fourarms looked.

"Okay Tennyson, that just looks… Uh."

"Thanks a bunch Kevin" he replied in the same shrill voice.

"Are you okay Ben?" asked Gwen, her eyes full of concern.

Ben de-transformed and shakily stood up. "I'm ACHOO! I'm not sure. I mean I know getting sick makes my powers go kind of weird but it's never been anything like that." He shivered and pressed a hand to his forehead. "Ah! Now my headache is way worse."

Gwen frowned. "Come on let's get you home."

Ben's illness had come at a very bad time. His parents were out of town for the week leaving him home alone, and Gwen and Kevin were leaving Bellwood that afternoon to help Grandpa Max give the "Plumbers Helpers" some field training and experience. Since Ben was in no shape to come along as well it was decided to leave him at home.

As soon as they had handed Ssserpent over to the Plumbers and gotten Ben home Gwen called Julie.

"Hello?"

"Hi Julie, it's Gwen."

"Hi Gwen, what's up?"

"Well Ben's gotten sick and his parents are out of town. Kevin and I have to leave town for a couple of days too, so I wondered if you could come over and watch over him."

"Sure I'd be glad to. I'll have to ask my parents but I'm sure they'll be okay with it."

"Thanks Julie."

Julie made sure to arrive well before Gwen and Kevin left so that Gwen could tell her where to find everything. That way she wouldn't need to spend time calling Gwen to find out.

"Thanks again Julie" said Gwen as she got into Kevin's car. "I'll bet just having you here will make Ben feel a lot better."

"Yeah" Kevin agreed. He smirked. "Hey maybe if you put on a nurse's outfit Ben would… UNF!"

He was cut off by Gwen elbowing him in the ribs, hard. "Sorry" Gwen said to her friend.

"It's okay" Julie said with a smile. "And don't worry, I'll look after Ben."

Once they had left she went to check on Ben. His room was as usual a complete mess, with clothes, comic books and Sumo Slammers action figures lying scattered everywhere. Ben lay in bed with his eyes shut but she saw right away that he wasn't sleeping. Hearing her enter he opened his eyes.

"Hi Julie" he said faintly.

"Hi Ben" she replied with a gentle smile.

She sat down on the edge of the bed and pressed her palm to his forehead. His skin was alarmingly hot.

"Ben you're burning up. Hold on I'll get a thermometer."

Julie left and returned a moment later. She put a bowl and cloth on the nightstand and then carefully placed the thermometer under his tongue, waited for a few moments and then checked the reading. It showed a temperature of 103 degrees Fahrenheit.

Poor Ben she thought as she dipped the cloth into the bowl of water and lightly dabbed it across his face. Ben smiled, enjoying her ministrations.

"Does it hurt anywhere?" she asked.

"My head, my stomach, my throat…"

"Okay, where doesn't it hurt?"

"Nowhere" he replied with a miserable groan. "My whole body feels like a pulled muscle."

"Why don't I make you some soup?" she offered.

"Yes please." He coughed a few times and lay back on the bed. "Normally I'd ask for chilli fries, but right now I think they'd finish me off."

"Wow, you really are sick" she said, trying to cheer him up.

He managed a weak chuckle. She softly kissed his forehead and then stood up. "I'll just be downstairs. Call if you need anything."

"Okay."

A short time later Julie was back with a steaming bowl of soup. She hoped it would sooth his sore throat while being light on his stomach.

She walked in and put the bowl of soup down. Before she could ask if he wanted any Ben broke into a sudden coughing fit so intense he doubled over.

"Ben!"

Finally the coughing ceased but he immediately began to shake. Alarmed, Julie took his temperature again as soon as the shaking subsided and found that it had gone up to 104 degrees.

"Ben I'm really worried now. I think you should see a doctor."

He looked as if he was about to protest but then he winced as a bolt of pain shot through his skull. "Maybe you're right."

Just then there was a sudden burst of light that forced them to shield their eyes. Ben was reaching for the Ultimatrix when the light vanished leaving a familiar figure in its place.