Author's Note: I would like to thank CrystalQuirt. This story was partially inspired by their fanfic "Ben 10 AF Gone Too Far." The reason for Gwen and Kevin leaving a sick Ben was 'borrowed' from that story. Sorry but I couldn't think of a better reason for them to be away.

Thanks also to Eternal-Night-Ride and benlie-gwevin-fan1, both of whom were great inspirations to me.

Lightning bird & A BEN FAN benlie fan

Ben squinted. "Azmuth?"

The tiny Galvan nodded. Not wasting time with pleasantries he said "There is an urgent matter we must discuss."

"Mr. Azmuth, no offence but Ben's really sick" said Julie. "He needs to see a doctor."

"I am aware of Ben's condition" he replied. "And primitive human medical science has no way to help him. That is why I am here"

"What do you mean?" Ben asked. He gritted his teeth as his headache flared up again.

"This is no normal illness" said Azmuth. "You've been infected with a genetically engineered retrovirus."

Ben's eyes widened. That didn't sound good. He started to say something but another coughing fit overcame him. Julie rubbed his back gently and whispered soothing words into his ear. When it subsided Azmuth resumed speaking.

"The problem is far more serious than you suspect. The virus has contaminated the Codon Stream."

"But… how?" Ben asked.

"From what I've determined, when you used the Ultimatrix the DNA you used to transform became infected. The virus then spread to the Codon Stream when the DNA was returned."

A look of understanding came to Ben's eyes. "That's why when I tried to go Fourarms he was all scrawny and weak."

"Precisely" said Azmuth. "Even now the virus is re-writing and corrupting the DNA of every species within the Codon Stream. I calculate that within five hours the genetic damage will become irreparable."

"But then the Ultimatrix won't work anymore!"

"Not only that Ben" he said grimly. "Your own DNA is also being corrupted. By that time you will be dead."

Ben's jaw dropped and Julie covered her mouth in horror.

"Can you help him?" Julie asked with a pleading look in her brown eyes.

"I can treat the symptoms" he replied. "But I need a pure sample to create an antidote."

"What do you mean a pure sample?" Ben asked.

"The virus bonds to the genetic material of whatever host organism it infects" he explained. "I need a sample of pure viral RNA without any host organism DNA present."

"RNA?" Ben repeated in confusion.

"Ribonucleic acid" said Julie helpfully. "It's similar to DNA but with just a single strand rather than two and you know, ribose instead of deoxyribose."

"That is correct" said Azmuth, looking mildly impressed. "But anyway as I said, I need a pure sample. Do either of you have any idea how Ben was first infected?"

"I think I know" said Ben. "My smoothy last night tasted weird. And I started sneezing almost right after I drank it."

"That seems to be the most likely source of infection" replied Azmuth. "However it still leaves the problem of how to acquire a sample."

"Wait, Ben dropped his smoothy cup" said Julie. "I'll go to Mr. Smoothy and see if I can find it."

"I'll go with you" said Ben. He tried to sit up but fell back down as a wave of nausea passed over him accompanied by a feeling of a metal band tightening around his head.

"Ben you're sick" she said gently. "You need to rest."

"She's correct Ben" Azmuth agreed. "Any kind of exertion will cause your condition to further deteriorate."

"Don't worry Ben, I'll be careful" she promised. She gave him a light kiss on the forehead and stood up. "Please do what you can for him Mr. Azmuth."

"I will" he replied.

Outside the sun was just starting to set as Julie got on her motor scooter and started the engine. As she drove to Mr. Smoothy Azmuth's words kept repeating in her head;

"By that time you will be dead."

She wasn't stupid. She was well aware of the risks Ben took in fighting evil and of the consequences should he fail. But hearing it spoken aloud like that had rattled her. As she drove he started to imagine the worst possible scenarios.

What if she couldn't find the dropped cup? What if it didn't have any smoothy, and therefore virus, left? What if Azmuth couldn't develop a cure? What if…?

She pushed the thoughts away. Stop it she thought angrily to herself. This is not what Ben needs right now. I need to stay calm and concentrate on helping him.

Her mind cleared and her focus renewed she focused on driving her scooter as fast as she could. Fortunately there wasn't much traffic at this hour and she soon arrived at her destination.

Julie parked her scooter and looked around. Mr. Smoothy was closed and there was no one there besides her. Good, that would make her search easier. The robot that had attacked them was gone although the parking lot was still littered with a few odd pieces of metal lying scattered around.

"Okay" she said aloud as she walked across the parking lot. "Ben and I were standing here when the robot attacked. Ben dropped his smoothy cup to transform so it probably rolled this way."

Thankfully it was still light enough that she could see clearly as she carefully looked around for the dropped cup. After only a few moments she caught sight of something.

"Yes!" she exclaimed in delight and relief as she saw a cup lying in a shallow depression in the asphalt. Furthermore she could see it still had some smoothy left in it and from the colour it was the one Ben had ordered.

But as she started to reach for it an arm suddenly closed around her neck from behind her while a hand seized her wrist.

"What do we have here?" Sardu snarled.