A few days after meeting Paradox; Moka, Kurumu and Julie were having some girl-time at Julie's house. Despite the monsters' obvious feelings towards her boyfriend, Julie figured that could somehow still get along... though that side of Moka still bugged her. She actually requested Moka to take off the Rosario, but Moka's response was: "I can't" in her normal innocent/shy demeanor. When asked why, her next response was "I don't know, but only Ben can remove it".
That sounded very odd. Only Ben can take it off? Then how did it get on her in the first place... and why DID she have it at all? Julie was told by Ben once it was to seal her monster nature but if that was the case, why could Kurumu easily cover her's up? Maybe it was due to all that power Moka had? She was an S-Class monster according to their worlds system, so maybe all S-Class monsters' needed an magic item to help contain all that excess energy?
Julie wasn't gonna pretend she understood... cause she couldn't. So she dropped the subject entirely.
KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!
The monster duo jumped at the sound of knocking at the back door, not expecting it, which made Julie giggle. Even though they were monsters', they didn't act like the ones from legends or stories. They just seemed like any other girls that loved clothes, shopping, talking about boys, etc. But getting back to the door, with the monster girls following behind her, she looked down towards the guest. Once she saw who it was, granted this was a common occurrence after Ben and Julie's first date (and one she'll never forget), she smiled.
The other two had a similar reaction.
Moka and Kurumu: AWWWWWW!
The Guest: Ship! Ship!
(AN: Theme song.)
Chapter 5: Grounded + Vampire
Now, Moka and Kurumu just assumed this was Ben as a smaller version of Upgrade, or an Alien-Combo he once mentioned that happened before on accident. The reason they thought this was not only because Upgrade was smaller, but appeared dog-like... complete with a tail! Luckily for Julie, her parents were out working, so this was the perfect time to spend with the mini Mechomorph. She went out as "Upgrade" followed her and hopped around her... but continued to say 'Ship', much to the monsters' confusion.
It was cute, but still confusing.
"Where have you been? I missed you!" Julie said to 'Upgrade'.
"How? You just had a Burger Shack date 3 hours ago... again..." said Kurumu, a little down about it. She understood this was Ben's girlfriend of course, but that didn't mean it still didn't hurt.
"And why the hell does he keep saying Ship?" Asked Inner Moka.
"Ben? How did you get smaller like that?" Asked Moka.
"Ship?" 'Upgrade' cocked his head in confusion, making Julie giggle again.
"Its not Ben. This is Ship, my pet" said Julie, explaining this wasn't Ben.
"Pet?" Asked Kurumu and Moka at the same time, both monsters' (Inner Moka included) even more confused.
"Since when do humans sell aliens at PetSmart?" Asked Inner Moka.
"I've been looking after him after Ben and I met him at the pier on our date. It was... quite the night" said Julie, reminiscing her first date with Ben. "Ok, Ship. Got any new tricks?" Julie asked Ship, her attention back on her pet.
Ship jumped up into the air and with a flash of green energy, fell back to the ground as a toaster. It then flung 2 toasted bread slices out of the top, only they had the green circuitry akin to Mechomorphs for some reason. Julie and Moka managed to dodge the first slice, but Kurumu was hit in the forehead by the second. It didn't hurt or anything, in fact all 3 girls found it rather funny. Inner Moka gave no opinion however.
"That's actually pretty cool. What else can he do?" Said Moka.
"Go ahead and tell him something" said Julie.
"Um... a dishwasher?" Asked Moka, for the heck of it. Sure enough, Ship obeyed and jumped up, becoming said machine. It whirled and made beeping noises, then some water and soap suds leaked out of the large door. A dinging sound later; it opened to reveal plates, cups, etc. (also having the Mechomorph circuitry) before changing back to its normal dog-like form.
"Good boy, good Ship" said Julie, petting the dog-like alien on the head.
"Ooh, how's about a boat?!" Said Kurumu, excitedly.
Ship jumped. The girls' looked up... and they're mouths dropped...
CRASH!
Ship had transformed into a military-tier submarine, blowing its horn and everything. "... close enough. Change back" said Julie. The good news is, Ship obeyed her command... the bad news is, there was a large trench-like gap in her backyard, which also edged into both neighboring yards. Thankfully, they were out too.
"G-Good Ship" Julie said, petting Ship yet again, which he enjoyed. Moka and Kurumu also took turns, it was hard to resist touching a cute alien dog and hearing its electronic sounds of happiness. Julie was thinking how she was gonna explain this to people should they start asking questions, but it didn't last long because all 3 girls' heard the horn of Kevin's car. They smiled, knowing why he was here.
"Oh, we gotta go. See ya later, ok Ship?" Julie said, heading back inside to get her purse.
"Aw, we can't take him?" Whined Moka, having gotten to like the little dog-like Upgrade.
"Unless you want Kevin to start ranting about no pets in the car?" Asked Julie, already predicting something Kevin would say.
"He can't just hitch a ride on the car?" Asked Kurumu, knowing enough about a Mechomorphs' powers to know they could attach to machines. She's seen Ben do that allot with his transformation of one.
"You know how Kevin is. Besides, Ship'll be fine" said Julie, as Ship would come and go as he pleased like a cat.
"Maybe we could convince him..." Kurumu suggested with a sly smirk, implying the use of her powers.
"Like how you failed to convince my boyfriend?" Asked Julie jokingly, which shut Kurumu up immediately. Julie didn't hold it against Kurumu... ok, she did when Ben told her the story of how they met, but understood once he also told her succubi were basically on the endangered species list. That didn't mean Julie wouldn't set Kurumu straight if she DID try anything funny to her man in the future. They went back through the house with Ship attempting to follow, but the door was closed before he could step in.
Once all 3 friends' went back through the house and into Kevin's car, he was driving with Gwen in the left backseat. Moka got in the middle with Julie taking the back right, and Kurumu got in the front.
"You ready to shop?" Asked Gwen excitedly.
"Gift cards" said Julie.
"Coupons" added Moka.
"And sales flyers" finished Kurumu, then all the girls shrieked with glee. Kevin cringed the second that high pitched sound entered his ears, the only one that shared his pain was Inner Moka.
"What did I say about shrieking in the car?" Said Kevin.
"Sometimes people shriek. Its a natural thing" said Gwen.
"Kinda how you and Ben when you watch football" jabbed Julie.
"THAT'S NOT SHRIEKING, THAT'S...!" Kevin defended himself, but realized he just shrieked himself. " *ahem*... competitive yelling" he finished, which both Moka and Julie giggled at.
"Uh-huh" both Gwen and Kurumu said. As Kevin drove off, none realized that Ship managed to catch up and fuse himself with the rear lights of the car.
-TIME BREAK-
Julie mentioned she invited Ben, but he already had a movie night planned with his parents... which wasn't a total lie, he DID have a movie planned... just no parents. But in any case, some Forever Knights attacked the shopping trip group, but they were after Ship who stowed away on the car. Gwen, Kurumu and Kevin were left to fight them off; though Julie did attempt to release Moka, which obviously didn't work and caused the poor vampire some pain in her neck as the tennis player pulled.
Ben was watching his movie called: Brain-Stealers From Outer Space, a movie he found he ironically enjoyed. At commercial break and when Ben ran out of popcorn, "This movie's trash" commented a voice in his head.
"Aw, what are ya talking talking about?" Ben asked the voice out loud as he heated up some popcorn in the microwave. Since no one was home, he was free to talk to his other self without looking like he was talking to an imaginary friend.
"Just LOOK at it! Recorded on a toaster, bland overused storyline, cheesy 'special effects'... ya might as well be watching Mars Needs Moms" Vampire Ben said. Ben was gonna retort, but then got a call from Gwen as soon as he began pouring his popcorn into the bowl. She gave directions, then said "Now!", which Ben wasted no time choosing a Hero to get there quick. He chose Jetray and flew out of his house window.
By the time he arrived, the attack had already finished, and Ship was dognapped!
-TIME BREAK-
Now the group was back at Ben's house in front of the garage, waiting for the tow truck Kevin called to get his car that was damaged during the fight... again. "And I just got it factory new..." grumbled Kevin, annoyed his new car was now wrecked not even a week after getting it.
"Is that all you think about?" Asked Gwen.
"Nah-uh!... Sometimes I think about ships" said Kevin, indirectly making a pun.
"Speaking of Ships, how long has he been dropping by?" Ben asked Julie.
"For a while now. He comes and goes, shows me a new trick," Julie explained.
"What kind of trick?" Asked Ben.
"Ya know, changing into stuff" said Julie.
"Yeah, I didn't know Upgrades' could do that. It was kinda cool" said Kurumu.
"Even when it turned into a submarine and destroyed Julie's backyard" Moka added.
"Cools one word for it. Makes sense why the Forever Knights would want it, it can turn into any weapon or piece of tech it touches" Kevin said, putting his two cents in.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Ben asked Julie.
"Because you said after we got home that night, you wanted nothing to do with Ship" said Julie, folding her arms over her chest.
"I-I never said that!" Ben denied.
"Yes you did" said Gwen and Vampire Ben in unison.
"How would you know?" Asked Ben, looking at the Omnitrix. "I was there" said Vampire Ben, sounding a bit annoyed he had to explain that part.
"You were?" Ben questioned. "Where else would I be?! Up your ass?!" Snapped Vampire Ben.
"Whose side are you-?" Ben stopped because he realized he was talking out loud that time, and looked with his eyes to see that everyone was staring at him. All his friends looked at him with concern, though only 2 of them knew what was really going on with him. "Uh..." Ben began, but was saved by the sound of the tow truck coming up to the driveway with Kevin's car in tow.
To make a long story short, the team ended up tracking down Ship at an estate and Julie tagged along... whether they liked it or not. If it was one thing she had in common with Inner Moka, is once she set her mind on something... end of discussion. No changing it. Period.
Once they go to the hideout of the Forever Knights (ironically, the place was called Lancelot Estates), they had to fight a few Knights. Only this time Inner Moka was released, and the Knights weren't used to her wrath. This allowed Julie to join in by picking up one of the discarded Forever Knight weapons, and using it against some grunts, bragging it was allot like tennis.
They met a scientist calling himself Dr. Joseph Chadwick, who had a large scar over his right eye, had taken control of Ship. The dog-like Mechomorph had also taken control of a large ship that Kevin called "A Flying Arsenal", at that couldn't be further from the truth. Missile launchers, laser cannons, a deadly targeting system... the team was lucky none of them were injured, but they came close to being killed. If that wasn't bad enough, they had to deal with even more Forever Knights.
In the end, it was Julie herself who saved the day, being able to reach Ship through the sound of her voice. It was also because Ben (as Swampfire) let it slip he was watching Brain-Stealers From Outer Space by himself, which got Julie a little upset that he lied to her (and Vampire Ben laughing at him for getting caught), but she used the movies ending to save Ship.
The little alien used the very weapon the Forever Knights wanted to mass produce against them, destroying the base and flying off with the group safe in its hull... which Julie bragged to Inner Moka with: "Not bad for a human, huh?"
Yup, just another day in the office for our favorite American hero.
-TIME BREAK-
But 2 days after that, those days just might be over...
"Ben and those girls are such good kids" complimented Ben's mom, Sandra. She was driving her and her husband Carl back home from a night out.
"They're not good kids, they're great kids" Carl agreed.
BOOM!
Sandra had to hit the brakes to stop them from crashing into a fire on the road caused by an explosion. Once they got out of the car, they saw and ran from a giant alien (a Highbreed). They didn't notice Gwen and Kevin fighting it since the adults ran AWAY from the danger; but DID notice Ben, Moka and Kurumu running TOWARDS the danger. They called out to them, but they must not have heard them... then the parents saw him tear off Moka's rosary, making a blinding flash!
When it settled: all the Tennyson parents saw was that Moka had disappeared (have used her newly unsealed vampire speed); and Kurumu gained wings, a tail, and VERY long nails; flying off towards the Highbreed. If that wasn't enough, Ben had somehow just transformed in a green flash... into plant-like being they blasted fire out of his palms! All the parents could do was stare in shock with wide eyes. They saw the entire battle take place, mostly seeing what Ben and his Japanese friends were doing since that was all the adults could see from their hiding spot.
They even saw Ben get severely injured by the Highbreed when it whacked him away with a streetlamp and sending him crashing into a building. This of course caused Kurumu to go into a slashing frenzy, which the Highbreed avoided, and a silver blur that knocked the Highbreed into another building. The Highbreed fled shortly after, saying it had wasted enough time with the likes of them.
-TIME BREAK-
When Ben and the girls arrived back home, Sandra and Carl were waiting for them the second they walked in the door, with Sandra asking where they were. Ben said they were coming home from the movies, and Ben got a black eye from JT and Cash.
The gig was up when Carl asked: "Was that before... or AFTER the giant alien creature?" Ben, Moka and Kurumu had no idea what to say to that. Looks like they were busted.
"I can't believe it. You looked us straight in the face, even after we opened our home to your friends, and you lied to us! Over and over again!... How many times has this happened?" Said Sandra, wanting answers.
"We saw everything. The alien, you turning into a humanoid Venus Flytrap, and Kurumu flying around like a bat" said Carl, revealed what they knew.
Moka and Kurumu were still speechless, but were also a little surprised as well. They were told in Yokai Academy that humans would fear them for being monsters or at the very least, try to kill them. But like Ben, his parents responded differently. They appeared to be more concerned than anything, not to mention hurt as they just found out the truth.
"Er, no. You just THINK you saw..." Ben attempted to reason, but Carl grabbed his arm and allowed the Omnitrix to be revealed, pointing to the item in question... Ben's secret was out.
"... which allows me to access genetic codes of extraterrestrial forms and use them for 10 minutes at a time to fight the DNAliens' from taking over the earth" Ben explained to his parents what he did and how he did it. The Omnitrix, the aliens within (minus the one monster), and the reason they saw him battling an alien in the first place. He and the monster girls were sitting on the couch as Ben's parents stood over them with folded arms, feeling small underneath their gaze.
"And Moka and Kurumu?" Asked Sandra, reminding Ben of the OTHER thing they saw.
"Oh yeah. Their monsters... not like the ones in the movies, their from a parallel world connected to our own, where they learn how to interact with humans as they hide in plain sight. They're good people" Ben said, explaining Moka's and Kurumu's status.
"We're sorry we lied to you, but you never would have believed us" said Moka, bowing.
"We won't do it again, we swear" said Kurumu, also bowing.
Neither Tennyson parent could deny Moka and Kurumu were good individuals, but that didn't mean they weren't excluded from being reprimanded. "And saving the earth became your jobs, WHEN?" Carl asked.
"It was when you met them, wasn't it?" Sandra said, jumping to conclusions. Sure, she loved those girls like daughters she never had... but her son was her top priority, he's still only human.
"Don't blame them mom, I didn't know them back then. It all happened 5 years ago during the summer with grandpa..." Ben started, but his dad jumped in.
"DAD?!... Of course, I should've known! That's so typical! Me and your uncle Frank knew he was more than a regular Plumber, and he lied to us for years!" Carl said, getting rightfully annoyed.
"It's our own fault, we were too permissive, and our only son is out there risking his life needlessly!" Said Sandra.
"Wait, you got it all wrong. Ben's not needlessly doing it, he NEEDS to do it!" Said Moka.
"If he doesn't, the whole universe along with yours and our world will be destroyed!" Said Kurumu.
"Besides even if I wanted to, the Omnitrix is attached to me... it doesn't come off" Ben explained. Ben's father took it the wrong way, taking it as a challenge.
"Oh don't worry; it WILL come off."
-TIME BREAK-
BUZZZZZZZZZ-SNAP!
Sawblade #22... denied.
After 2 hours of brute strength, pliers, saws, knifes and even a scissor... Carl was now convinced Ben wasn't being a rebellious teen, but rather telling the truth. "Ok... it's not coming off" he said, defeated.
"Told ya so. Even our Security Committee of High-Class monsters' couldn't confiscate it" said Kurumu. She and Moka were called in after Carl's failed brute force method, him asking to try and get it off themselves; but even their monster strength wasn't enough. Good thing his mom and dad didn't realize Inner Moka was a separate persona, she would NEVER take an order from a human, even if her softer side was living with them.
Speaking of Inner Moka, she has been listening to Ben allot though, whether its because she agreed with him at the time or set aside her pride for him wasn't very clear. Or maybe because since he was the only one who could free her, her honorable side felt like she owed him. She was a puzzle, unsolvable most of the time.
"Alright then; for now on, your forbidden from using the Omnitrix; understand?" Said Carl, starting to walk out of the workshop.
"Wait, Mister Tennyson!" Called Moka.
"The universe is counting on me and I..." Ben said, but a cold glare from his father stopped him.
"Understand?" He repeated, more sternly this time, then slammed the door and went back inside.
"That went well" said Ben's vampiric mind and Moka's Rosario.
-TIME BREAK-
Laying on his bed, Ben was just chilling with his eyes closed. Kurumu and Moka were with him, since they shared the room (NOT the same bed, Ben's mom enforced this rule with an iron fist). Moka had an ice pack on Ben's black eye, though Kurumu had other ideas. Right as Moka took off the ice pack to give Ben's eye a break, the succubus flew over and...
SMOOSH!
"ACK! What the h-!" Said Ben, backing into his headboard. He went slightly buggy-eyed, as Kurumu was wearing her yellow bikini with ice in the cups... and with something poking them wasn't helping either... it wasn't the ice.
"Why settle for that old-school thing, when you can get one that's nice and soft?" She asked huskily.
"Kurumu, get off Ben! He's injured and I'm trying to take care of him" said Moka, trying to keep her voice down. Sandra told them no loud noises, she didn't want Ben in anymore trouble than he was now.
"Well, I am too" the succubus continued, she then crawled over to Ben VERY seductively. "There's nothing that a nice, cold ice pack to make the pain go away... right, Ben?" She said, now on top of him. Her face was a deep color of red, so was Ben's.
"Go ahead... pick one..." she said, dangling her 'ice packs' in front of his face.
RING! RING! RING!
"E-e-e-excuse me!" Said Ben; pushing Kurumu off by her stomach, reaching for his cell phone and walking up to his bedroom window. Hearts danced in Kurumu's eyes.
'He touched me, he REALLY touched me!' She thought, her belly was close enough for her it seemed... as well as for the fuming vampire, who had smoke come out of her ears.
"Hello?" Ben said, not noticing his the girls' starting to slap-fight.
"Yeah, hate to bother your and your mistress' beauty sleep, but we got a problem" came the voice of Kevin.
"You got a problem? My mom and dad found out about the watch. They saw us battling today, they won't let me use the Omnitrix" Ben said, still not noticing the 2 girls' now hair-pulling each other.
"Parental problems, eh? Rough dude... almost as rough as getting our asses handed to us BY THE DNALIENS!" Shouted Kevin's voice.
"Ok, ok; we're on the way" Ban said, hanging up and turning around... and sighed. "Can you guys knock it off?" The 2 monsters' stopped what they were doing, which was hitting each other with Ben's pillows, and blushed in embarrassment.
Eh, they can clean up the feathers when they get back.
-TIME BREAK-
Walking downstairs, Ben told his mom and dad that he was going to 'study' with Gwen. Moka and Kurumu even threw in the magic word 'physics', for extra incentive to allow them out. When the friends were a few houses away, Ben used the 'forbidden watch' to change into: "ECHO-ECHO!"
He felt bad about lying to his mom and dad AGAIN, but was there any other way? He was about to take off, when he noticed Kurumu and Moka trying to tell him something using gestures rather than words.
"What? Speak up guys, I can't..." that's all he managed to stay when a bright light appeared from behind him. 'Don't turn around, don't turn around' thought the white stereo.
"Benjamin. Kirby. Tennyson" said a stern, and very pissed female voice. Recognizing the voice and having no choice in the matter now... he slowly turned... to face his father holding a flashlight and his mother with her hands on her hips.
"Aw, man!" Whined Echo-Echo.
Needless to say, his mama and papa sent him back to his room, along with the 2 monsters'. Yes, she used the word monsters', the tone of her voice hit our favorite heroines hearts dead center. While back inside, the humans' parents started the talk... no, not THAT talk, the one about a bad crowd.
"What? No, mom" Ben answered.
"Are they telling you its 'cool' to turn into alien lifeforms behind your parents back?" Asked Carl.
"I want to know who this bad influence is, right now. Their parents need to know what's going on!" Said Sandra, giving Ben what he called: The Mom Look. Ben held his ground though, not wanting to share due to a 'sacred bond of trust'.
Ben's vampire self laughed loudly in his head as this was going on. "HAHAHAHA! This is hilarious! Do these idiots actually HEAR themselves, like this is some normal everyday thing?"
-TIME BREAK-
The next day...
"YOU RATTED ME OUT?!" Came the voice of Gwen over the house phone Ben had in his room when she called. Kurumu and Moka heard her too... and she wasn't on speaker phone either.
"I can explain!" Ben said.
"What's to explain? My parents gave me the riot act last night! *starts imitating her fathers voice* Duh, how dare you help Ben deceive your aunt and uncle, young lady?" Said Gwen, since she's now grounded like Ben was.
Kurumu took the phone from Ben. "Your parents know your part alien though" said Kurumu, mentioning the story Ben told them when his grandmother came to visit them, who was an Anodite like Gwen.
"THAT'S NOT THE POINT!" Gwen yelled, making Kurumu cringe and move the phone away from her ear due to the volume of Gwen's voice. Ben gently took the phone back.
"I'm sorry. I had no choice" said Ben.
"No choice? Ben, you stared Vilgax down without blinking, and beat Animo without breaking a sweat" said Gwen.
"Because they didn't give me The Mom Look, I'm sorry Gwen" Ben apologized.
"He did try his best though, his mom can be scarier than other me" said Moka.
Gwen just sighed. "I know, but now I'm grounded and can't leave the house. I'm stuck here, instead of out there figuring out what the Highbreed want with that freighter. At least my parents are letting me use the computer."
Ben then picked up a comic book. "Don't worry, Kevin's on it" he said, making the girls with him look up, Gwen to if she was there.
"You sent Kevin?" Asked Kurumu, dryly.
"Yeah" answered Ben.
"Alone?" Asked Gwen.
"Carl? You know where the house phone is?" Asked Sandra's voice from downstairs.
"Yeeeeeeah, I gotta go" said Ben, hanging up as he wasn't allowed a phone while he was grounded.
-TIME BREAK-
Later that night at the dinner table, the residents of the Tennyson household were eating... well dinner. Moka got up to get the house phone cause it was ringing. "Hello? Tennyson residence" asked Moka sweetly, then her eyes widened upon hearing who it was and when they asked for Ben. "Uh, Ben... it's for you."
Looking at his mom and dad first, they both nodded. "Make it quick" said Carl, in a stern tone. Ben got up and took the phone from Moka, he touched her hand in the process, but he was oblivious to it... the vampire blushed, and it wasn't unnoticed by the succubus.
"Hello?" Ben responded to the caller.
"Yeah, it's me" said...
"Kevin... this ISN'T a good time!" Ben whispered. "Your telling me, I'm up to my nose in goop inside a boat and DNAliens' are coming!" Said Kevin.
Ben thought quickly, he needed an excuse to stay on the line. "Oh sorry, Kev. I'm not a computer right now, I'll conference Gwen in."
RING! RING!
"Hello?" Gwen asked.
"Yeah so, I'm stuck in a tank full of Stinkfly's snot and can't get out" said Kevin.
"Kevin? Is that you?" Asked Gwen. "No, it's Pinocchio" Kevin answered.
"Just absorb something and bust outta there" Ben said.
"What? Stink?" Asked Kevin.
"Your phone, you idiot!" Said Ben.
"Why? It's made out of titanium and... oooooooh" Kevin realized.
"Carl, get him off the phone" Sandra told her husband. He was about too but as he was getting up, he caught the eyes of Kurumu and felt... strange. Attempting to buy Ben some time, Kurumu Charmed Carl using her powers... she felt bad about it, but Ben's tone told her this was serious, so she felt as she had no choice.
"Carl?... Carl!" Asked Sandra, seeing that her husband didn't make any more moves, then started waving a hand and snapping her fingers in his face; but he appeared to be in a trace of some sort.
"Hey guys, I think I figured out what Kevin might be swimming in. On Wikipedia, it says that station only exports... bat guano" said Gwen.
BANG!
Hearing that, Kevin burst out of the hull of the ship with a punch after absorbing matter from his phone. He felt disgusted hearing what Gwen said, it sounded like something from his childhood, but he couldn't put his finger on it.
"A) What is guano? And B) Why does that sound familiar from a 1995 movie?" He asked.
"Its poop. There was some nuke testing there years ago, and the berries the bats eat..." Gwen started.
"Nevermind, I don't wanna know... and I'm gonna need a chemical bath" Kevin cut her off, not wanting to hear the rest of the explanation. He then heard screeching from DNAliens. "Uh... I'm gonna need some help out here..." Kevin asked, but then heard the sound of the line being cut. "Guys?" Kevin asked.
"I'm still here" said Gwen.
"What about Ben?" Kevin asked again.
In the Tennyson house, Ben felt the phone slip out if his grasp, being grabbed by his mother. Behind him, Carl was holding his head a bit as if feeling woozy (though Ben could guess what and who could've caused that), and his mom directly behind him.
"No phone, means no phone. Go to your room!" Said Sandra, then she turned to Kurumu. "And you, young lady! I don't know what you did to my husband or how, but I won't have it in my house!"
The blue-haired monster and the green-clothed human left the kitchen, following Mrs. Tennyson's command. When they were gone, Sandra spoke to Moka. "And Moka, help us clean up" she ordered, as Carl began to slowly recover.
"Maybe your right, she can be scary" Inner Moka commented to Outer Moka.
-TIME BREAK-
In Ben's room, Kevin managed to video call Ben on his bedroom computer. He wasn't allowed to use his computer, but seeing as Moka was helping his mom and dad clean up and Kurumu was with him, maybe they could get away with this.
"Oh, you found a wireless network" said Ben, with Kurumu leaning from his right shoulder to see Kevin on the screen.
"Yeah... and their not happy about it" said Kevin, turning the phone so Ben and Kurumu could see several DNAliens chasing Kevin. Both Ben and Kurumu started giving Kevin commands, almost like a special campaign mission on Call of Duty or leading survivors to objectives in Alien: Blackout.
Kurumu: Ladder! Climb that ladder!
Kevin: Kay, now what?
Ben: Take that hatch to your left and close it, let them pass.
Its silent for a few seconds, aside from DNAliens shrieking. "What's going on, you guys playing a game?" Asked Moka, who just walked in the room, but Kurumu sharply turned her head and gave Moka a 'shhhh!' gesture. Looking from Ben's left shoulder, she then understood why.
Kevin: ... Not bad. Your like a regular navigation device.
Moka: Kevin! More are coming!
Kevin: I see them!
Ben: Use that crane, kick the green button and jump for it!
Kevin: WHOOOOOOOA!... Not gonna lie, that was pretty c-...
Kevin was suddenly grabbed by something, causing him to drop his phone in the process. Ben, Moka and Kurumu all saw a Highbreed had caught Kevin; the same one they fought the other night. "How nice of you to join us, vermin" said the Highbreed.
"Uh, Ben... girls... a little help here..." said Kevin, looking down at the phone.
*Buzzzzt!*
Until the plug was pulled... literally. The cord was being held by Carl, who was also joined by his wife. "Dad, NO!" Exclaimed Ben.
"Don't you no me, Ben Tennyson. You have defied us for the last time... and I don't appreciate being manipulated by your friend either" said Carl.
"Look, you've GOT to listen to me! This isn't just a game or a fanfic written by someone, my friend is in danger... REAL danger!" Said Ben, starting to get a little irritated by his parents' actions. He got they were trying to protect him, but he was trying to protect someone else and his only link to him was just cut off.
"Mister and Misses Tennyson, I get you want to protect Ben. But he needs to protect everyone else" said Moka.
"This is a matter of life and death for everyone!" Said Kurumu.
"The ONLY lives we're concerned about are yours" said Carl.
"I don't care if you can turn into alien creatures, or if you both are monsters'. While your in this house, you'll abide by our rules. So until we say otherwise; your not calling, texting, Tok-Tiking, My-Facing or Insta-Snapping anyone!" Said Sandra.
All 3 teens just looked at each other in confusion in Sandra's choice of words.
"Tok-Tiking?" Asked Ben, looking at Moka and Kurumu.
"My-Facing?" Asked Moka, looking at Kurumu and Ben.
"Intsa-Snapping?" Asked Kurumu, looking at Ben and Moka. It took each of the a few seconds to realize Sandra was mentioning various social media outlets... just getting the names wrong.
"Who the FUCK uses FACEBOOK anymore?! Let alone MySpace! It's all about them Instagram Models, Snap-Thots and Tiktok E-Boys!" Vampire Ben commented.
Ben just looked outside his window for a quick second, before making a decision that would most likely backfire... but it was the right thing to do.
"... You wanna protect me and my friends, I get it. That's your job as parents" said Ben in a soft tone, also getting Ben's parents' eyes to soften as well. "Your both awesome parents, and you wanna do what's best for me... but this isn't something normal. You raised me by example, by you always putting others before yourselves" he continued, which caused Kurumu and Moka to react the same way as Ben's parents. It made sense, considering everything Ben had done not only for the monster world, but perhaps countless other lives as well.
"But in order to do just that... I have to disobey you now, even though you and Grandpa Max have taught me about responsibility and caring for others..." Ben began to bring up his watch. Sandra gave The Mom Look again.
"Benjamin, put that thing dow-" she didn't get to finish due to Ben continuing.
"I didn't ask for this power... it was given to me, and I can't turn away knowing someone's in danger" Ben ignored the scowl from his mother and turned on the Omnitrix, scrolling through it.
"Ben. If you don't turn off that watch right now...!" Carl started, but once again Ben just continued.
"Punish me however you want, but right now... my friend... and the world needs me! Because I'm the ONLY one who can save it!" And with that final line of dialog...
FLASH!
"XLR8!"
SHATTER!
After transforming, Ben/XLR8 jumped out his bedroom window. "... Uh... I'll fix that when I get back" said the blue speedster, realizing what he did and taking off down the street.
"BEN! Wait for us!" Called Kurumu, releasing her wings and tail, flying after the alien raptor.
"Sorry, but we have to go" said Moka, bowing after exiting the hole XLR8 made, and running after her friends.
"... I can't believe it, he just walked out on us. I'm calling the police" said Sandra.
"And tell them what? That our son transformed into an alien to go out for a run?" Carl 'asked' his wife.
"Then what are gonna do?" Sandra asked, not knowing what else to do.
"I think its best... if we listen to our son" said Carl, defeated. Like it or not, their son was right. They raised him a certain way, and they were going back on their teachings just to try and keep him safe... when countless others were depending on him.
He really was growing up...
-TIME BREAK-
Kurumu had to carry Moka all the way to the docks, since XLR8 wasn't gonna stop for them and the monsters' have a feeling that's where he was going. Their suspicions were proven true when he showed up... but ran past them and across the water. "BEN!" They both called to him.
Surprisingly, he must have heard them because he came back in a blur, then dropped his visor. "Oh right, forgot" XLR8 said, sounding irritated. This was understandable as he had to disobey his parents to help someone, and it clearly had an effect on his mood. His hands reached for...
FLASH!
And pulling off Moka's Rosario. "Now lets go!" He said, rushing off across the water again. Having no choice, Kurumu had to carry Inner Moka and follow XLR8 again.
Out in the ocean, the freighter Ben's team was after was sailing along the calm, cool night waters... well, they were calm until XLR8 disturbed them and jumped onto the deck. The DNAliens on board tried to contain this breaching Dino, but he just sped around them, also knocking them down with his speed and/or his tail. Reinforcements arrived armed with laser guns, but Kurumu and Inner Moka stopped the attempted assault by 'dropping in'. Kurumu let go of Inner Moka so she sailed straight for a DNAlien and knocked it down with a kick, and Kurumu got to kick one in the head...
That's all they were able to do since XLR8 finished the job, not giving them a chance to fight at all.
"You guys picked the wrong dinosaur to gang up on, I'm having a VERY bad night" said the blue/black raptor, his statement directed towards the fallen DNAliens. Changing himself into Humungousaur using his Omnitrix symbol, he began stomping off. Both Kurumu and Inner Moka were shocked, he's definitely not a happy camper right now... he didn't even say his alien forms name this time!
"Why'd you change into this big lug? How's about you select me and..." the Omnitrix-stored vampire asked. "Shut... Up." Humungousaur growled at his emblem, not in the mood for his shenanigans.
Inside the ship, Kevin was dangling from the ceiling by red vine-like cable while imprisoned in green stuffing, which was the bat guano... gross. "This stinks" he said.
"Your not the first to taste defeat at my hand, nor the last" said the Highbreed.
"I meant the bat poop... I can't believe you eat this stuff" Kevin joked.
"We do NOT. Eat it" said the Highbreed, putting his hands on his hips.
"Why else would ya collect so much? Besides, it can be made into homemade bowls... make a whole set!" Kevin continued.
"Tennyson has trained you well... but your foolish attempt to learn our true plan has lead to your disposal..." said the Highbreed, pulling Kevin towards him with his right hand, and raised his left one to strike him...
WHAM!
"GAH!" He was then hit by a DNAlien flying at his chest, falling off the catwalk he was also standing on.
"Sorry I'm late. I was taking a refreshing swim" said Humungousaur.
"I thought you got sent to your room without supper" said Kevin, surprised but thankful that Ben was here.
"He did, but he's probably getting grounded for the rest of his life, now hold still" said Kurumu, flying up to Kevin.
"Does it LOOK like I'm going anywhere?" Asked Kevin, but the succubus ignored him and sliced him free.
"So what exactly are they doing with all the shit?" Asked Inner Moka. To think these are the everyday 'enemies' her American friend battled back in the day.
"What their doing, is removing the impurities, so their left with a volatile isotope as a power source" said Humungousaur, stunning the others.
"Wow, you figured that out by yourself?" Asked Kevin.
"Gwen actually, but the real question is: a power source... for what?" Said Humungousaur.
"It's a surprise, for the entire human race! DESTROY THEM!" Commanded the Highbreed, recovering from the impact earlier. Every DNAlien aboard surrounded the group, trying to carry out the order of their leader. With Inner Moka's strength, Kurumu's flying skills and Kevin's metal absorption combined with Humungousaur's power; the DNAliens were no match.
The Highbreed tried to knock out the brown dinosaur using one of his soldiers that fell off the railing, but it missed.
Jumping over the metal bars, Humungousaur chased after his attacker. This Highbreed didn't like to play fair, and sucker-punched our prehistoric hero in the chest with surprising power, breaking some steel pipes as he rolled on the cold metal floor.
"You may wanna put some size on" said Kevin, he and the girls managed to fight off the rest of the minions.
"Ugh, unless you want me to sink the ship... not enough room" said the pained dinosaur. The Highbreed began to approach the trapped giant. The others tried to get to him, but more DNAliens arrived and held them back.
"UGH! They're like... cockroaches" snapped Inner Moka.
"Seriously, where do they get all these guys?" Asked Kurumu, though it was a rhetorical question.
"Have you checked under any rocks lately?" Answered Kevin.
"See? THIS is why you should have picked me. Now I gotta save your sorry ass again" said Ben's vampire. Then, Humungousaur's Omnitrix symbol glowed with dark green light. Now aware of what is happening unlike back on Turrawuste, he actually FELT the power pour into him. He lunged at the Highbreed, ignoring the flood of guano from behind them, and pinned it down to the ground with little effort. The Highbreed was clever, and used his legs to kick the powered-up Vaxsaurian into a steel door.
Then it opened...
PEW!
A blast of energy with enough power to fling the Highbreed backward and into the air, crashing behind a central until that had multiple tanks of liquid guano.
?: Good shot, honey!
?: Like dad always said, right tool for the right job.
"Mom? Dad?" Asked Humungousaur. He turned his head to see the 2 people he didn't expect to see until he got home. It was Sandra and Carl, who was holding something that looked like a modified sniper rifle; it looked really badass too.
"Ben! Are you ok?" Asked Sandra, kneeling down to her son's head. Humungousaur sat up.
"I-I'm fine, not the first time I've been knocked around" he said, smiling.
?: Uh, excuse us?
The Tennyson family looked up to the catwalks own hearing that voice
?: Hate to break up your family reunion, but we need some help.
?: We? More like you clowns.
Those were the voices of Kevin, Kurumu and Inner Moka in that order. They were dogpiled in 3 separate groups by leftover DNAliens, the latter vampire simply freed herself via her vampiric strength... it was too quick to see how she managed to do it though. She landed in front of the recovering alien dinosaur gracefully.
"Moka? You look... different" said Sandra, clearly taking notice of Moka's appearance... and completely different behavior. "And aren't you his ruffian friend?" She continued, not referring to Kurumu.
"I got it covered, dear" said Carl, aiming his weapon. The DNAliens scurried off like frightened mice the second they noticed they were in the weapons line of fire.
"Thank you, love you guys!" Said Kurumu.
"Nice piece by the way, Mister Tennyson" said Kevin.
"Yeah dad, where'd ya get that from?" Asked the Tennyson son.
"What, this old thing? Been sitting in the attic for years... never liked it" said Carl.
"We were so worried Ben" said Sandra, hugging her son the best she could.
"Yeah... I'm sorry I blew you guys off like that" said Humungousaur.
"I'm not, it was cool how you showed up when ya did. I'd probably be guano juice by now" said Kevin.
"Yes... it was very cool. You did what you had to do, we're proud of you. Your friend was in trouble and you had to help him" said Sandra, kissing her son on the chin, since that was the only part of his face that she could reach.
"His friend? Honey, he just saved hundreds, if not THOUSANDS of lives. Ben, Kurumu and Moka saved the entire world!" Said Carl.
"Hey, I helped too" said Kevin.
"The point is son, we've seen you and your friends in action; you clearly know what your doing" Carl continued.
"We're sure you would've found a way to win, even if your father didn't come with the space bazooka" sais Sandra.
"How touching..." came the voice of the Highbreed, coming over for around round.
"You've already lost... now learn your PLACE!" Said Inner Moka, kicking the alien with all her might. Surprisingly, he just slid across the floor and into the wall below the tank of green goo. He did appear to be in pain from the kick, but he got up relatively quickly.
"The only one who will learn there place, is you!" Said the Highbreed, running toward the group. Carl ran up with his, as his wife called it, space bazooka, and aimed at the Highbreed again. Bracing for impact, the Highbreed shielded itself as the barrel of the gun lit up...
...
...
TICK!
Crap, outta juice. Now seeing it was safe to attack, the Highbreed lunged at the group. Humungousaur grabbed ahold of Carl's weapon and said: "Here comes the pitch..."
BANG!
SHATTER!
And the Highbreed went sailing through the air as Humungousaur hit him with the 'space bazooka' like a makeshift baseball bat. He hit the tank, spilling all the hard earned shit all over the floor. Both father and son put they're left hands over their heads, Inner Moka just pouted.
Humungousaur: Outta the park.
Carl: Nice.
Inner Moka: ... I could've done that.
-TIME BREAK-
Kurumu was flying and carrying Kevin back to the docks where everyone was waiting for them to return from the ship. Once they landed, "Ok... B-3" said Kurumu, pointing to the ship with a nail. No sooner did she say that...
KA-BOOOOOOOOOOM!
The freighter blew up from an explosion from the dead center of the ship, tearing it in half and sinking it. "Sunk it" answered Kevin. The reason they stayed behind was to get rid of the large boat.
"Uh.. where's the Highbreed? You were supposed to drag him off the ship while the rest of us looked for any leftover DNAliens" Ben asked the duo.
"He was gone before we got back in" said Kurumu.
They then looked back at the unconscious humans that were in a large group, Ben having used his Omnitrix to get rid of the DNAlien reprogramming on them. "A least we got the town and some people saved" said Ben.
"I suppose I should get back in the seal and let the other Moka take her place in the world" said Inner Moka.
"Other Moka?" Questioned by Tennyson parents as Inner Moka brought the Rosario to her choker.
Inner Moka just smirked at them. "I'm sure Ben would be GLAD to tell you everything. I'll see ya later" and with that, Inner Moka placed her Rosario back around her neck, and Outer Moka returned in all her pink-haired glory while falling back into Ben, apparently exhausted. If Sandra and Carl weren't surprised and confused before, they sure were now.
"Eh... long story" said Ben.
-TIME BREAK-
Now back home safe and sound, and with trust fully restored, the family sat in the living room watching Carl remove a giant dreamcatcher... for the space bazooka.
"I thought you said you hated that thing" said Ben.
"I did. I hated all that Plumber stuff... reminded me of the secret double life your grandfather hid from us. Now; I get he was only protecting us... just like you three were" said Carl.
"We're sorry we overacted. It's just like Ben, we've come to love you as you were one of our own" said Sandra.
"That's very sweet of you, Misses Tennyson. And we're sorry we never told you the whole truth either" said Moka.
"Don't worry about it, my mom's worse. She's not the honest type, especially when it comes to enslaving men. I never got to know who my real farther was" said Kurumu, making Ben's parents go wide-eyed. "Uh... not that I'd ever do that to your husband or Ben. Besides, Ben is my Mate of Fate, so there's no need!" She said, not wanting Ben's parents to get the wrong idea.
"Mate of Fate?" Asked Carl, as he was never home when Kurumu would rant about her destiny to be with Ben.
"I'll tell you later, dear" Sandra mouthed to her husband.
Then, Ben's phone rang, which was in Sandra's purse due to taking it away from Ben. She got it out and looked at the Caller ID. "It's your cousin" she said, handing the phone to Ben.
"Gwen? Whats up?... Uh, I've have to call you back" said Ben, hanging up and looking at his parents. "Soooooo, there's been an alien sighting in the desert out of town and..." Ben was saying.
"Then what are you all standing around here for?" Asked Carl, cutting Ben off and looking at the teens with a smile.
"Go get'em, heroes!" Said Sandra, also smiling at them. Returning with a smile of his own, Ben and his 2 monster friends ran out the door.
With confident smiles: Kurumu grew her claws, wings and tail; taking flight, and Ben pulled Moka's Rosario, releasing Inner Moka. Ben himself...
"It's HERO TIME!"
FLASH!
This was very fun to write. You might have noticed I removed Vampire Ben taking control of Ben from the original fic. While it was a unique take on the scene, I feel it was kinda unnecessary looking back, but added plenty of extra content to make up for it. Hope you enjoyed, and see you in the next chapter! :D