Ben 10 Alien+Vampire

Chapter 9: Time Alone with the Stars; Pier Pressure pt.1

The Human World

Earth's Orbit

The orbit of Earth lay quiet in its tranquil state of daytime in the atmosphere. It's as almost nothing could disturb it, and then suddenly, as if God himself was parting the Red Sea with his hands, a portal-like rift tore itself open between the space of Mars and of Earth. Out of the rift came a ship shaped like a trident's spearhead, and following it, was another ship shaped almost like a dumbbell but with the end where the rocket engines are a little bigger than the front. They were both firing at each other heading almost straight to Earth.

The second ship pushed closer in pursuit of the first ship, each dodging the others firepower and passing a nearby moon. Completely unaware of the fact that both were moving closer to the Earth' atmosphere, they continued their dogfight.

The second ship fired its secondary engines and moves aside to get right next to it. As the first ship vessel got close into range, three hydraulic cannons pop out of the second's main hull and fired at point blank range of the First's side, hitting the hull. The ship was tossed around violently like salad due to the impact of the cannon fire, and the control room was going haywire, sirens go off indicating of the danger.

The first ship's cannons locked on to the second ship, warming up for one final shot. The cannons were building up to critical mass, any longer and they might have overloaded and blown up. The cannons roar out with two beams of pure yellow energy blasting towards the enemy ship. The first beam struck at the right wing of the ship, shattering it off the warship completely clean off. The final power blast smashed through the enemy's shields and impact thunderously against the warships' main drive.

The two ships, both rocking with internal explosions, veer helplessly away from each other as they begin to flamingly enter the outer atmosphere of the mysterious planet below. Their meteoric trails streak downward in streaming arcs...

Countryside of Tokyo, Japan

Nighttime

The two ships streaked downward in flaming arcs and vanish behind the horizons. The enemy ship vanished in the ocean somewhere off the coast of the Tokyo harbor. A distant flash and a slow pillar of smoke appear in the place to where the enemy ship was heading. The ship that had been pursued streaked down towards where the forests of Tokyo, which was only about five miles away from the gateway to Youkai Academy was located. The damaged ship, now crushingly wedged in the thick forest, suspended near a waterfall that flowed from there to a lake nearly eighty yards below.

The ship would obviously never fly again, not for a long time. But as those who would see it that nothing would survive from the crash. Until from a crack, a small black and green circuitry patterened blob oozed out of it. It suddenly then formed into a one foot creature with two little stubby arms and a stubby tail of sorts, giving a sort of three-legged look. It had a thick stock for a head, with a green circular green circuitry pattern to act as an eye. In truth, it appeared to be a Galvan Mechamorph, but it seemed smaller, less evolved, much more like a puppy of sorts.

It looked around, slowly wandering around the area, looking for something. until finally, it hopped or scurried on over to a located path, leading out of the forest. After a while of wandering around, it spotted a road going in both directions, and completely dead to the world. Until it spotted a downed truck, with its driver out of the car fixing the engine.

The little fellah scurried over to the truck's rear bumper. It looked at the humongous vehicle, almost scanning it carefully. It looked underneath the truck to see that the truck driver hadn't moved an inch. It looked over to the exhaust muffler… and finally slimed right into it, leaving not a trace of it. Suddnely, in the driver's seat, it all started to become black with green circuitry pattern, merging with the entire truck.

The driver continued to work on the engine, until it started to change from silver to black and green. He jumped back, just as the truck, which was now all black and green, drove off all on its own. The driver chased it for only a few feet, until he shouted, "HEY! COME BACK HERE WITH MY….!"

But the truck stopped suddenly, screeching on its tires. The driver sighed in relief, knowing that someone listened, but paled in fright and went all bug eyed. At that moment, the truck turned around and started heading towards him, with the wheels popping out and scurrying like a centipede, and opened its grailed mouth with a loud roar, muffling the driver's scream in the night.

At that Time

Dorm Roofs

The starry night that blanketed the academy for monsters was a sight to behold, even with the barrier hiding the school. Most of the students were too busy watching TV, surfing online, or even oogling adult websites to enjoy the wondrous sight above them. However, one teen was laying out on the dorm roof, lying on a blanket, like he was on a picnic, gazing up at the stars. Ben had taken advantage of the only night the skies were clear enough to see the stars. It was on times like this he looked up at the stars, and remembered who wondrous and vast the universe was. As well as how many adventures came from it, not to mention one great adventure in which he learned of the Omnitrix's true design and purpose. And how Azmuth said that if anyone could bring the beings of the Universe to understand one another, it was him as he used the watch in that way.

He was so deep in thought that he didn't notice anyone behind him until a pair of slender arms wrapped around his neck, "Hey…How are you holding up?"

He sighed leaning back into her, seeing Moka kneel behind him. She leaned in smiling, feeling her face next to his. For some odd reason, he felt better with her next to him, she helped to remind him that he still had a friend who could see his world. He smirked to her, "I'm doing okay."

"Good," Moka then jumped over, and laid down next to him, gazing up at the stars.

"Hey!" Ben, only half protested being deprived of his alone time, but then conceded, as she scooted over to him.

She slowly reached her hand up, almost tempting to grasp the stars above them. Ben nearly blushed at the sight, as the star's light nearly shined on her. To him, she really looked beautiful in the light… suddenly; he shook his head of such thoughts. His brain returned to reality, as he realized what he was thinking. He looked away, a bit depressed, as he realized what he was thinking, and knew it to be impossible. After all, she only saw him as a friend…

"I'm really envious of you, Ben," Moka spoke up, catching his attention as he turned to look to her. "I mean, you've been to a place most people have dreamt about in movies, books, or in their dreams themselves. Even astronauts have only gotten a glimpse and wonder, going only as far as the moon." She turned to look at him, and smiled, though looking rather nervous, as the question came up, "Say, um… Ben?"

"Yeah, what's up," Ben suddenly gulped.

She nervously looked away, looking back up to the stars, "If, um… well, if you ever go on one of your adventures again. And that it involves you going into space…" She then turned to him, and pleaded with a sincere smile on her face, "… do you think I could come along with you?"

That question made the Tennyson boy shoot up in a seated position, as he looked to her confused, "Moka?"

She sat up too, waving it off as she blushed like crazy, seemingly embarrassed about the question, "Um, well, it's just…" She shook her head, as she smiled, looking back up at the stars, "Well, I guess I'm just curious about what's up there? All those alien worlds, and alien beings. It must be amazing to just know you can visit and be a part of all that." She sighed longingly, "I guess… I just want to see what it's like up there myself one day."

After hearing that, Ben just had to smirk as he looked up at the stars, and finally answered, "Why not?" he didn't turn to look at her face, but he could tell that she was deeply surprised, as he finished, "It's not every day you get the chance to go space exploring a new galaxy, much less an unknown universe."

Moka smiled at that, and turned her attention back to the stars… just as two 'shooting stars' fell from the heavens above to earth.

The Next Day

Newspaper Club

Miss Nekonome sighed in desperation, as she looked to her desk and her papers. She mewed sadly, her cat ears drooping down, and her tail not even showing to the others at all. This alerted everyone who was currently in the club room of their advisor and home room teacher's blight, whatever it was. And so, deciding against his better judgement, knowing full well that a scratch to the face was evident, Ben walked over to his homeroom teacher, hoping to help out in any way. Just hoping that he didn't get scratched in the face.

"Um, Miss Nekonome?" Ben asked, getting the teacher's attention, "You okay, mam? You seem kind of depressed."

She perked up to her student, and sighed sadly, "Well, it's like this. I registered with one of those contests in the Human World. One that involved the main prize being a pair of tickets to this carnival, not too far from the academy."

Ben cocked an eyebrow as he mumbled, "That's a pretty big coincidence."

"Yeah, tell me about it," Miss Nekonome groaned, as she produced the said tickets. "I don't have any free time, and I hardly have anyone to go out with. It's a sad lonely life for a teacher, you know." She then gulped, as her ears and tail shivered, with the hairs on her tail stood on end, "Not to mention what the other teachers would do to me if they found out. They'd tear me apart just to get an excuse to go out to the Human world. "But then, her ears perked up, as did her tail, as she looked to Ben, "MEOWSER! I've got an idea!"

Ben slightly moved back, nearly jumping from the outburst from his homeroom teacher, as he nervously asked, "Um, what is?"

"Ben Tennyson! How would you like these tickets," Miss Nekonome asked, "It'd be a waste for me to just toss them, and I'd figure a handsome young man, who's obviously good with the ladies, could use these." She then noticed the clueless look on the boy's face, as the young teacher teased, "Oh, come on, Mr. Tennyson. Don't play coy; I've seen the way Miss Akashiya, Miss Kuruno, or Miss Sendo have been going for your affection." She waved the tickets, as she winked, even if she didn't open her eyes, "Who knows, this might help you make up your mind in search for a girlfriend."

Ben kind of looked confused by that last comment. But then felt a shiver go down his spine, as he felt a huge dark aura behind him. Even Miss Nekonome was freaking out, and she had a front row seat to see what was behind Ben. It also caused him to slowly turn around, sweating with fear as to what was coming at him. Until… he nearly fainted, at seeing the three girls, covered in a dark aura, with red glowing eyes, closing in on him.

The girls smiled almost evilly, as they spoke out in unison, "Oh, Beeeen…." And then returned to normal as they all pounced at him, shouting, "TAKE ME WITH YOU!"

"DAAAH! SLOW DOWN, I CAN ONLY TAKE ONE OF YOU!" Ben ran around the room, with the three girls chasing after him, as he cried out, "SINCE WHEN DID THIS BECOME NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD GIRLS?!"

Out in The Human World

The incident with the possessed truck had caused a stir around the place. An ambulance and police escort had arrvived after an hour, when someone had received the driver's cellphone call. And as such, police and an ambulance arrived on the scene, though things weren't as bad as it seemed. The driver was unharmed but looked after, only suffering from a concussion. So what he had said to the cops didn't make a whole lot of sense. Considering the man had said that his truck drove by itself.

One of the cops was talking on his radio, as he scoffed, "I know, the driver said that the truck was driving by itself."

As he was making the initial report, he wasn't aware that a black and red circuitry blob was slushing towards the other patrol car. And without anyone noticing, and just like before, the blob blorped into the police car, merging with it. Like the black and green blob, this one did the same thing. Only this time, it seemed to bend in shape, making it look more futuristic, more modified as it looked to go faster than its current form before the merging. And then it silently roared to life.

"Look, I'm telling you," the cop roared out, "Vehicles don't just come ot life and drive on their own!" but then the roaring of an engine caught his attention. He turned and saw the second car suddenly speed out on the road, with no driver in the driver's seat, and sped off with no resistance or chase. The cop gulped and paled, not sure of what he saw was true, and simply mumbled, "Well… most of the time."

The Next Day

Bus Stop

The bus stop was becoming quite a regular spot for Ben to hang around as of late. He stood there, in his usual casual attire of khaki brown jeans, the black and green shirt, as well as black and white sneakers. Although this time, he was carrying a green jacket with two white stripes on the right bicep sleeve, as well as a black circle with a white ten on the left peck side. So far it was only 2 o'clock at the moment, but he was waiting patiently for the certain someone to come along. Apparently, it was going to be the lucky girl to join with him to this carnival in Tokyo.

He sighed as he groaned, "They said they were going to decide for me fair and square. The least they could have done was let me see the winner."

Yesterday

The girls were gathered together, as Yukari held up three white straws in her hand. "Okay, here's the deal: we draw straws on who gets the date with Ben. The one who has the red tipped straw is the winner." She looked to the girls and smirked, "Don't worry, I didn't use any magic. We're playing this game fair and square. Alright?"

"Sounds fair to me," Kurumu smirked, anticipating the win she would soon take.

"Um, Yukari?" Moka gulped, looking to everyone. All over her, she was covered in religious talismans, Catholic, Christian, hindu, Arabic, Egyptian, and so on. She whined out loud, "Why exactly am I wearing all these religious signs?"

Yukari looked upward, almost like she was awaiting for the heavens to part for her, as she tearfully answered, "Because, Moka… if I can't win, I want you to win as well. That's why I want God on your side, no matter what."

Kurumu and Moka both sweatdropped at this, as Kurumu mumbled, "Yukari… you're really disturbing at this moment."

Present

Ben turned and smiled at the tale that Moka had told him earlier. But she hadn't told him who had one the little battle game, so he wasn't exactly prepared for the worst to come. If it had been Kurumu, it would be marshmallow hell, that and she'd have an excuse to ask for a hotel for this weekend, considering this carnival was only open for the weekend. Even if they'd miss the bus, it didn't mean they had to be back until Monday. He grimaced at the thought Kurumu having him all alone like this.

But then his fear disappeared, as he thought to himself aloud, looking at the tunnel. "Well, come to think of it, I haven't really been anywhere with a girl since… well never."

He then heard footsteps coming his way, as he turned to hear Moka's cheerful voice, "I'm ready!"

Ben was a bit surprised that he heard Moka's voice; it could mean that she had won the contest. Though, the latter would be . He said, "Well, let me get my backpack and…" He stopped talking as he saw her coming down the stairs and stop as she reached the floor.

She was wearing a silk-like red, long sleeved shirt, and had over it a black dress with the skirt that reached her knees and had spaghetti straps holding it up. She was wearing light blue sandals that had a strap that held to her ankle. Her hair was pulled back into a pony tail, but a few strands of hair as well as her bangs coming down her face. And lastly she had a silk white wrap around her arms, hanging behind her. Ben was a little speechless as he saw her; in fact, his jaw nearly dropped to the floor and bounced back.

Moka smiled and said, "I'm sorry I took so long, Ben. I wanted to be sure I looked presentable." She then twirled around and stopped for a moment, winking her left eye, "So how do I look?"

Ben tried to say something or at least give out a compliment, but the words never came out. Instead, he just spoke out a little nonsense as he tried to say something; to put it bluntly; his brain was on a temporary vacation.

Moka had to smile at that reaction, as she walked over to him, until he regained his train of thought, "Wait a minute! You won the bet?"

Moka chuckled nervously, as she reached out ot him, lightly grabbing his hand, "Well… I wouldn't say that I won the bet…. But rather…" and then placed his hand on her chest, which made him blush all kinds of crimson… and made him snatch off the Rosario.

Suddenly, in a flash of red light, Moka's Inner self was standing in place of the Outer Moka's. and boy did she seem confused at first when she awoke. She looked around, checking everywhere, even at a confused Ben, and saw no sign of whatever she was looking for. Then, she finally glared at Ben, her eyebrow twitching in anger, until she finally shouted, "What the hell? Why did you wake me? This isn't a life or death battle!"

"Hey, don't look at me," Ben shrunk back, holding the Rosario in place, "The Outer you made me do it, so I..." but then stopped himself, as he looked at the Rosario carefully, "What the…?" He noticed a piece of paper taped on to the back of it, and pulled it off, "A note?" He opened it up, and looked at it, and then handed it to Moka-sama, as he replied, "It's for you… from you."

"What?" she asked as she rudely took the letter, and read it, for her and Ben to find out what was going on.

Dear Moka-sama,

If you're reading this letter, it means that I made Ben pull the Rosario off, and you'll be the one to go to the carnival with Ben. I know it seems a bit strange for you to go about without having to go into battle, but I think you could use the break. So after I won the contest to see who would get the second ticket, I thought you would deserve it more. You've stayed stuck with the Rosario locked on all this time, and the only time you're ever allowed out is in battle. You deserve a chance to get out, stretch your legs; to have a normal time when you're released. Plus, I think you and Ben should have some quality time together. Just so you guys can get to know each other a little more than just as sparring partners and fighting alongside one another. Get this chance to know each other, okay? And be nice to him, it's the least you can do while you're out.

Love,

Outer Moka

Moka-sama shook the letter, and sported a vein on her forehead, almost as if she was on the verge of a nervous breakdown. Ben slightly backed away, as he could tell her mosnterous aura was flaring up. All around her, the area seemed to be seething blood red with her energy. He gulped at this as he knew what was gonna happen, even as the bus started coming in, 'Oh boy… she's loosing it.'

Just as the bus parked, Moka-sama finally shot upward, her face contorted even madder than usual, as she shouted, "YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!"

As Moka-sama was fuming angry, Ben sweat dropped at this, as he grumbled, "I can tell this is gonna be a swell evening."

Out in The Human World

Tokyo Carnival

The Youkai bus stopped right in front of the gate to the carnival park near one of the bays connecting to the river that connected to the ocean. Once it stopped, the door opened, as Ben and Moka-sama stepped out, with the vampire girl wasn't too thrilled to be there. As they exited the bus, the driver smirked at Ben, "Just remember, I'll be at the usual stop by eight tomorrow morning. I suggest you two make plans to stay somewhere for the night."

"Ah, no problem," Ben replied, though secretly still felt nervous around the guy. He turned slightly to where Moka-sama was standing at, as she crossed her arms, and huffed, once she caught him looking at her.

The driver chuckled a bit, as he closed the door, "Have fun, you two." And then drove off to wherever he usually went.

The two just stood at the open gate that would lead to the lively and bright dock carnival before them. Ben looked over to Moka-sama, who didn't seem too thrilled at all about this. He figured that since she was a vampire, they were more aristocratic, fancying much more fancier stuff than carnivals at all. But despite the fact that this place wasn't all too fancy, it was still the best time to get to know her better. And so, despite warnings in his head telling him that if he lay a finger on her, she'd kill him with a single vampire-powered kick, he decided to go with Moka's advice.

"So, Moka.." Ben started, as he walked towards her to start a conversation. Unfortunately, he made the wrong decision to reach out to her shoulder with his hand, "What do you wanna…?"

"Let's get something straight, Tennyson," Moka-sama said sternly, not in the mood to be friendly at the moment, as she glared at him, "This may be an unofficial outing for the two of us, in a failed attempt for my Outer half ot try and make us friends, but know this: a high borne vampire like myself wouldn't be caught dead with a worm like you."

Not taking that kind of attitude, Ben's anger got the better of him, "Oh yeah? Well… I wouldn't be caught dead in the same room with you, Dracu-skank!"

Moka-sama looked silently pissed off, and then shot it further, "Well, a reckless and arrogant American such as yourself is hardly desirable company."

"Your arrogance is hardly what I call attractive," Ben shot out.

"Your taste in clothing's appalling," Moka-sama shot back. She flipped her hair as she arrogantly smirked, "But despite as such, I wouldn't low my standards to even date such a lowly human who's only redeeming strengths lie in the ultimate alien weapon."

"Oh, yeah?" Ben snapped, but finally shot forward with one insult that actually would work, "Well, let me tell you this: I highly doubt any self-respecting bloodsucker would go out with a girl who's hidden most of her life in a rosary, who's only redeemable feature is that she just a formidable fighter." He then turned away, walking towards elsewhere in the carnival.

Moka-sama looked shocked, not by the insult, but by him leaving, as she tried to stop him, "Hey, where do you think you're going? I thought you would watch out…"

"I watch out for the Outer you," Ben shot back, giving her a distasteful glare of anger, "I'm pretty sure the Real you's more capable of handling yourself out here in the real world." He then walked off, as he waved, "See you at the bus stop."

Finally, allowing her pride to get the better of her, as well as her anger, she shouted, "FINE! Go ahead and run away! I don't need you!" And then stormed off in the other direction.

However, neither one of them even witnessed the little black and green blob looking at them both. The mechamorph's eye stock stuck out from a crash can, scanning the two. It had followed a silent signal, indicating that the target it was seeking was close by. And then it turned its direction towards Ben… as well as to the Omnitrix. The little fellahs slurped out of the dumpster, and looked around, locating a target. The Bumper cars.

It slurped on in there, just as Ben past it, as he huffed, "She didn't have to get all defensive like that. I know I don't have a chance iwht her at all. I mean, I know she's got standards about boyfriend materials. One thing, she's probably looking for a nice vampire guy. Probably just as stuck up and arrogant as she is." He then stopped in his tracks, looking rather depressed, as he stuck his hands in his pockets. He looked up at the night skies, and up at the stars, groaning, "I guess… taking her up to the stars one day… might just be a pipe dream."

Suddenly, a loud beeping caught his attention, as he looked to where it was coming from. It was then he noticed, it was coming from the Omnitrix, as the lens flashed green with the loud beep. He looked at it, and tried to fiddle with the dial to turn it off, "C'mon, now. Don't you start hating me. What's with the beeping?"

Suddenly, he heard a loud roar come from behind him, as well as people running away, mostly workers for the carnival. There, running around, was a Mechamorph infused bumper car, with the electrical stock whipping around like a whip. It stopped for a moment, and looked at the startled Ben Tennyson, as a gnaw opened up and roared, charging right at him.

Ben sighed, as he started to run, and shouted, "I knew it! The universe hates me tonight!"

Next Chapter: Time Alone with the Stars; Pier Pressure pt.2