Chapter 12: Kevin 11: Part 2

I Don't Own Ben 10 or Any of the Respective Characters, The Rights Belong to Man of Action Studios and Cartoon Network

Author's Note:

* Hello and welcome to Chapter Twelve of the reboot!

* The only thing I'll say is that this chapter is the first chapter not to have a Director's Commentary segment at the end. There just weren't enough noteworthy changes to warrant having one here.

* I don't really have anything else to say in regards to this chapter, so let's get right into it!

Earth-Prime

A Few Days Ago – Sunday, May 27th, 2018

Grandpa Max's House

Ben

"What the hell is this thing?" I said, pointing at the alien watch on my wrist.

"That's the Omnitrix." Grandpa Max replied.

"Yes, that's what Vilgax called it. But what is it?"

"It's a device that was rumored to transform the user into multiple different alien forms. I thought it was a myth until now. How did you happen to get it?"

"I found it when I went out for a walk in the woods. It was in some kind of crashed pod when happened upon it."

"I'm surprised that the Plumbers didn't beat you there."

"Why? Should they have beaten me there?"

"It's their job to investigate any alien affairs, so yes, I would think so. Once again, I'm surprised they weren't there."

"Could they have closed down the water park after Vilgax attacked?"

"Probably."

"Okay, I have another question."

"What's that?"

"When did Vilgax become known?"

Present Day – Thursday, May 31st, 2018

The Tennyson House

Gwen and I were sitting on the couch the following morning, watching the news, when we saw something about a bank being robbed in the city.

"Alien Guy could be there." She said.

I just looked at her.

"You want to go take any pictures you can, don't you?"

She looked back at me.

"Can I?"

"I mean, technically we're supposed to be spending these three weeks together, but if you want to leave the house for a while, then I guess that's okay."

"What about you? Do you want to go with me?"

"Um, no thanks. You go on ahead and I'll catch up with you later."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah, go ahead."

"Okay." Gwen replied as got up from the couch to walk to her room.

She came back out a minute or so later, with her shoes on, as well as a camera slung around her neck.

That's interesting, I thought. When she took my picture at after the apartment building burnt down, I recall her using her phone. Where'd she get that camera?

"See you later."

Once I was sure she was gone, I stood up to collect my keys and then walked out the door, locking it once I was outside. I looked around to make sure no one was looking and then I changed the alien watch out of its camouflage mode. I dialed up the alien watch and rotated the ring until I found XLR8's form.

That's when I noticed that something was wrong. I couldn't put my finger on which one, but I think one of my alien forms was missing. I decided to think nothing of it for the time being. The bank situation demanded my attention and I needed to get down there. I transformed into XLR8 and was on my way.

Ten Minutes Later

Downtown Bellwood

I arrived on the rooftop of a building, across the street from the bank.

"Don't see anything." I muttered as I surveyed the crime scene.

I continued looking over the crime scene from the rooftop, but after not seeing anything of interest, I sped down the wall of the building and into the bank. I looked around and didn't see anything either. That was when I was charged by something with a significant amount of mass. I was rammed into the wall of the bank and didn't get back up for a second.

Once I had gotten back up, I turned to face my attacker and was shocked to see who it was. I was staring at Fourarms, one of my own alien forms! My eyes widened as I came to this realization.

"You are so predictable." He said. "I should have known you would come if I tried to rob a bank."

"Well, of course I was going to show up! You can't rob a bank without going unnoticed, pal!" I exclaimed as I sped towards him in an effort to attack.

I don't know how, but somehow he managed to kick me away, even while I was speeding towards him. I slammed back into the wall and fell down once more.

"What do you want from me?" I asked as I slowly recovered. "What did I ever do to you, pal?"

"What do I want?" he asked. "Well that's simple! You refused to let me in on the action, Ben!"

I was shocked. I had no idea who this guy was, but he knew who I was!

"How do you know me?!"

"Oh come on, Benji! You really can't tell when your best friend is right in front of you?"

Then, he let out several pained groans as I watched his face morph from Fourarms' face, to Ripjaws' face, to Diamondhead's face and finally to his human face. I was looking at my best friend, Kevin Levin.

"Kevin!" I exclaimed in shock.

I don't know why I was surprised. I really shouldn't have been. After all of the things that he had said in the last minute, I should have realized that Kevin was the prime suspect. But I didn't.

"Bingo! Yahtzee! Will someone get this guy a prize?!"

"But how did you do it? How could you possibly transform into my alien forms?"

"Um, because I'm an energy sponge?"

"An energy sponge? What's that?"

"Uh, I absorb energy? So, when I shook hands with you, I absorbed whatever energy allows you to transform. I didn't expect it to work, but here we are!"

That's when I noticed it again, he had green eyes still. So that confirmed it. He had absorbed the watch's energy. And if he had green eyes, he might have absorbed more than that.

"And it just so happens that I know some of your secrets."

"Yeah? Like what?"

"Your desire to protect the ones you love most."

"Um, that's exactly a secret of mine, per say. That's a priority of every super hero, dude."

"Okay, I suppose you need a refresher. Do you remember how worried Gwen was while you were missing for hours on end following being mugged a few days ago?"

My eyes widened.

How could he possibly know that?! I don't recall ever telling him about that!

"Kevin, you have to listen to me."

"I'm all ears, buddy."

"You shouldn't have absorbed the energy! You have no idea what the alien watch can do!"

"Oh, I know what it does and what I can do with it! I can take care of you in retaliation for you not agreeing to give me a piece of the action and once that's done, I'll use these powers to do everything that I've ever wanted!"

Kevin's face disappeared as he groaned in pain, morphing into Diamondhead.

Those grunts of pain that he keeps making... If the alien watch regulates my transformations and keeps me from being in alien form for too long, could it be possible that Kevin has nothing to regulate his transformations? And are said transformations cause strain on his body if he uses them too often?

Before I could do anything with those thoughts, he walked up to me and picked me up by my neck. Then, he made his arm into a giant crystalline talon and put the tip of said talon against my chin. I thought I was done for, but then he stopped.

"Actually, before I decide to break your legs, why don't we play a game?"

"This is all that life is to you now? Just a game?"

He nodded.

"And it just so happens that you're playing my game right now. And you have to play by the rules."

"Okay. What are the rules?"

"There are only two rules. Rule one: do what I say. And rule two: do not fail or there will be consequences. Harsh consequences."

"Fine. Just tell me what you want me to do."

"Go home."

"Go home?"

Kevin nodded, before turning around.

"Remember Ben, if you don't play by my rules and play carefully, people could die today."

And with that, he ran outside without any bags of money in his hands.

So, he wasn't actually interested in robbing the bank. He just needed me to show up. So, he could tell me what I need to do. Or rather, what he wants me to do.

"I have to get home and make sure Gwen made it back okay." I said as I sped out through the hole in the bank's wall.

Ten Minutes Later

The Tennyson House

Immediately after I arrived back home, the alien watch timed out. I ran up to the door to unlock it and that's when I noticed the note that was attached to the door. I tore it off and began to read it.

Benji,

Ready to play? I hope you remember the rules I told you about. All four of those people that were in your house yesterday have been taken by yours truly. But here's the question: Can you save all four of them before time runs out? Your two best friends are at the abandoned water park, fastened to the top of a water slide with that annoying little sting wing's goop. The goop dissolves in thirty minutes.

And if that happens, your friends will, well, let's just say the best case scenarios for the both of them are broken legs. As for Gwen and her brother, they are with me, at the top of the tallest building in Downtown Bellwood. Gwen and her brother have one hour before they'll be nothing but a bloody stain on the pavement. Prove to me that you can save them at least three of them and you're off the hook.

Best Regards,

Kevin

I crumbled up the note as I began thinking to myself.

Why would he sign the note with his name? Didn't he take into account the possibility of someone else finding and reading this note? I have to save everyone or at least try to. If anything happens to any of them, I might actually hurt Kevin. I need to get going before I waste any more time. The question is: Can I save all four of them?

Author's Note:

* And that's it for this chapter, I hope you all enjoyed!

* What did you guys think of this one when compared to the original version of Chapter Twelve? Give me any comments or questions that you may have in either a review or a private message, please. I am very curious on what you all thought of this version of Chapter Twelve.

* Anyway, that's going to do it for me. I'm going to go, so have a great day and bye.

Next Chapter: Ben works to save his friends and family.