Master Control

Chapter 1

Azmuth of Galvin Prime, greatest mind of multiple galaxies, had entrusted his greatest creation in the hands of a teenage boy. The omnitrix, a device capable of great feats that no other had ever before seen. It was designed to allow the user to walk in the footsteps of over a million different sentient species. Though many didn't see it that way, it was seen as a weapon, a way to win a battle or war with the many abilities stored within each alien.

He didn't create the omnitrix to provoke war, but to prevent it. Not many knew the hidden purpose of his device, it was more than a peace keeping option, it was the final option to preserve life.

The highbreed, a race of ancient aliens who believed themselves superior just for denying evolution and change to their species. In their pride they waged war across the stars, seeking to stomp out all life that wasn't their own. They had invaded his home planet, one of the most fortified places in this sector of the universe.

Now, they had invaded Earth, the very planet that held the omnitrix on the wrist of a young man. Ben Tennyson, who when first found the omnitrix was arrogant, selfish, and stupid compared to many members of the human race. Before Azmuth could plan on taking the omnitrix away from the boy he proved time and time again that it could be used to not just promote peace, but protect it. So, against his better judgement he let the young hairless ape run around with it.

He had to step in when the largest threat to the universe's survival was coming for him. Azmuth told Ben about the role the omnitrix was built for, to be a Noah's ark for all life if the highbreed posed too large of a threat to everyone else. Ben, being the confident teenager he was, refused to give up the omnitrix, arguing it was the best thing they had to stop the invasion.

With no way to see himself winning an argument against someone so stupid but brave he granted him total control of all functions of the omnitrix to aid in his endeavors. Yet, when the battle came, he exhausted the battery quickly, passed out, used brute force against another problem, got them captured, and didn't think to use the omnitrix's features that could have prevented many of these things.

Now, he followed Ben to the very council of the highbreed. The boy's efforts were admirable, truly worthy of possessing the omnitrix as he thought only to save instead of destroy.

But it wasn't enough in Azmuth's eyes. Ben seemed to have lost the creativity he had in his younger days, using either words or fists to solve his problems. Against all odds he ended up bringing his creation on the homeworld of the invading race, this had gone on long enough.

"Ben Tennyson." Azmuth called out to the boy who was transformed into a Vaxasaurian.

"Not now Azmuth, we're almost there and I don't need a reminder about-"

"Would you just listen for once instead of punching your way through everything!" The older Galvin snapped at him. Ben stopped, transforming back into his human form in a flash of green light. His cousin Gwen, and friend Kevin stopped next to him.

"What is it Azmuth?" The smarter cousin, Gwen asked, noticing the change in Azmuth's tone.

He didn't sound panicked, scared, or worried, he sounded absolute in his words with no room for argument.

Azmuth looked amongst them, truly they would be fine allies in this last hour. "I hoped you would have proved me wrong many times today about letting you keep the omnitrix, but so far you have shown nothing of the sort."

Ben grew visibly concerned taking a few steps back to Azmuth. "What are you saying?"

Kevin answered before the Galvin could. "It means he's giving up and taking our best weapon with him."

Ben was silent with shock, before turning back to Azmuth. "Is that true?"

Gwen came to Ben's side distraught. "You can't turn your back on us now! We're so close to stopping this!"

Azmuth narrowed his eyes at the three. "Then this is your last chance to prove those words, what is your plan to stopping the invasion that already reached your world?"

Kevin stomped on the floor, trying to intimidate the smaller being. "We go up to their leader, take him hostage, and get them to call off the invasion!"

Azmuth was not amused by that response, merely keeping his eyes locked on Ben. Gwen to the side placed a hand on her cousin's shoulder as he stood there with his head hung low.

"Well Ben Tennyson? Is that really your plan?"

Gwen tried to say some words to encourage the boy. "Come on Ben, tell us you have a plan to stop them."

He faced her, turmoil dancing in his eyes. Ben had no idea what he was planning to do, he just expected to know when he showed up. That's what always worked, either something new came to light for them to win or someone else stepped in. He wasn't a soldier, or a tactician, he was a hero.

But he never really knew what kind of hero he wanted to be did he?

Kevin grabbed Ben's shoulder with a literal iron grip, enraged at what's happening. "You seriously thinking about giving him the omnitrix! We can still win! We can still fight!"

Ben looked between Kevin, Gwen, and Azmuth, he didn't know what to do, someone else always had an answer when he didn't, if only Grandpa were here.

"If you're going to make a choice make it fast, clock's ticking." A newcomer said dressed in a lab coat and goggles carrying a pocket watch in hand. Azmuth took that as his answer, there was only one reason he was here and he already spoke to the time walker about if the worst should come.

Ben walked past everyone and focused on the only source of hope, the man who could literally know what to do by seeing what would happen. "Professor Paradox, please tell me you came with good news."

The man just sighed in disappointment. "I'm afraid not Ben, I'm only here to make sure the omnitrix is sent somewhere safe."

That was it, that was his answer, and it crushed Ben. Gwen herself realized how bad things had gotten and grabbed onto Kevin not knowing how long they had. Kevin put an arm around Gwen and scowled at the two adults. "You're really going to call it quits Tennyson?"

Ben's voice cracked as he gripped the omnitrix, his lifeline, the thing that kept him and so many others safe. "Do I have any other choice?"

Azmuth answered simply. "No. Omnitrix, decouple."

The watch on Ben's wrist retracted the band and detached from his arm. The boy now held what was supposed to be the solution to saving everyone, to saving his friends, grandpa, mom and Dad.

Julie.

Professor Paradox put a comforting hand on Ben's shoulder and held his other hand out. Kevin tried to approach and swipe the device himself but Gwen held him back. "For what it's worth Ben, the omnitrix is never what made you a hero. It was your willingness to 'go beyond' what others thought possible to save people."

The time traveler finished with a gentle smile, making Ben feel only slightly better but still devastated. He lifted his arm, the weight of the omnitrix increasing every inch he moved his hand away from himself. Unintentionally his grip tightened as it hovered over Paradox's own, shaking from the effort to not letting it go.

He gave one last look to Kevin and Gwen, the two best friends he could have asked for that stuck by his side. Ben's personal world felt like it was crashing down on itself, the adventures, the sacrifices, all the fun they had along the way. It was over now, and at that thought he let his grip loose for the omnitrix to fall into the Professor's hand. His fingers dragged across the faceplate as he backed away.

In a desire to receive some sort of comfort he stood next to Kevin and Gwen, all of them watching the Professor spare one last glance to Azmuth.

"Are you sure you don't want to come with me?"

Azmuth shook his head. "I'm afraid I would intervene too much in the affairs of the omnitrix if I were to go with it. I will stay here and accept my fate with the rest of the universe."

Professor Paradox nodded, then returned his gaze to Ben. "You should count yourself lucky Ben, for you have made more allies than you realize who would do anything to help." He finished with a wink, making Ben pause at the random comment.

Before he could question the meaning behind those words Professor Paradox had vanished, leaving them to deliver the omnitrix to somewhere farther away than they could imagine.

*sniff*

A small boy wiped away the wetness coming from his nose staining his hand red. He was covered in burns, bruises, and a black eye. His green eyes were puffy, the whites a shade of light red as tears threatened to spill out again. The messy forest on his head was dirty, a portion of it singed and going the opposite direction making him look worse.

His name was Izuku Midoriya, and it was this day he gave up being a hero. Too many times has he tried to help, only for him to be shunned away. His only friend, Bakugo, always called him out when he expressed his desire to follow his dreams or talk about heroes. Today was a bad day in particular, Bakugo and two kids that followed him around were hurting another kid with a quirk that let them draw in the air.

Izuku hoped that they were just playing rough, but when the kid cried out for anyone to help Izuku found his legs moving on their own to the chaos. He stood between the two parties, willing to defend the kid on the ground. That was until he heard what the drawing kid said.

"I'd rather die than you try to help me."

It didn't matter if he tried to do something a hero would, he always made it worse. While those words were making Izuku freeze, Bakugo and his followers started to hurt Izuku, "practicing" their quirks on him. They even invited the other kid to join, who looked way too happy at the chance.

Now Izuku had to find out how to hide his injuries from his Mom. He didn't want Kacchan to get in trouble, he was going to be the best hero ever after all. Anyone who tried to ruin the reputation of a hero was always a villain. The boy kicked his legs over the dirt cliff, looking down below to see the leaves blown gently by the wind and the sharp rocks down below. All the kids were warned to never play in this part of the large woodland park, but this is where he could escape for the purpose of being alone.

If he were to accidentally fall down, how long would it take for someone to find him? How long would it take for someone to care to look for him. After all, no one, not even his own mother, expected anything to come of someone who's quirkless.

"My you certainly don't look very good. Did your classmates play a little too rough?"

Izuku spun his head around and stared at the stranger. He didn't sound or look Japanese, but he was dressed kind of like a doctor. Rubbing his eyes he confirmed that the man was not a figment of his imagination.

Professor Paradox pulled one of his hands from his pocket and gave the boy a little wave. "Hello Izuku, or do you normally go by your last name to strangers here? Always hard to adjust your manners when everyone has a different idea on what is polite and impolite. Especially across the multiverse."

"Umm.." Izuku wasn't sure how he should feel that a foreign stranger knew his name.

"Or is it Deku? You seem to always have that name floating around you." Professor Paradox noted aloud.

Izuku sunk his head to look back to the ground again. "You can call me Deku, all my friends call me that."

Paradox hummed, thoughts about how to approach the subject running through his mind. Well he had infinite attempts at hand. "And why do they call you that?"

"It means useless….because I'm quirkless."

"Calling someone useless just because they have something you don't? They don't really sound like friends to me but bullies." The man said with a concerning frown. Izuku though, was getting more and more curious about the man who appeared knowing his name.

"Have we met?"

"Yes, well, I have met you before but this is your first time meeting me. I'm Professor Paradox, but you can just think of me as a man who just wants to help."

Izuku's eyes lit up a little more at those last words. "You mean, you're a hero?"

The professor chuckled. "Not in the way you're thinking."

"Oh." THe disappointment in the man not being a pro hero was clear in Izuku's tone.

"Am I less of a person for not being a professional hero?" Paradox asked genuinely. Izuku shook his head, stopping when he felt a headache coming.

"S-sorry, I didn't mean it like that! You're the only person who wants to talk to me after learning I'm quirkless."

"Yes the world can be quite cruel to the young and ambitious." The man let out a sigh and sat next to the poor boy. They sat in silence watching the wind shake the trees in a calming rhythm.

"How old are you?" He asked randomly.

"I'm ten."

"Ah, a fitting time for the power of the most powerful device in the universe." Paradox chuckled, feeling the device in his pocket.

"Tell me Midoriya, if you were given strength, powers that made everyone jealous, what would you do?"

The young boy got slightly excited, a twinkling in his eye. "I'd be a hero..but..I don't think I can do that."

"Well what do heroes do that you want to do?"

Midoriya paused, looking up at the strange man. No one ever asked that question, even in interviews he watched online. Who didn't want to be a hero, they were the coolest. But none were more cool than All Might to the boy, someone who could save people with a smile of confidence that said "Everything is all right."

Paradox smiled, hearing the words that the boy said as he muttered to himself. "So, you want to help people and give them assurance that things will be ok. Is that right?"

Midoriya stopped, blushing at his own inability to keep his mouth shut. Paradox ruffled his hand in an uninjured spot on the boy's head.

"It's a very fine dream. You don't even have to be a professional hero to achieve it. From our meeting I'm sure you can achieve that desire."

Izuku's eyes locked onto the man's. He was serious, this man believed in him. His words were strange though, how could he be a hero and not be a hero?

All of a sudden the man pulled out a strange looking device. It was green, round, and had a silver ring with a glowing hourglass symbol in the center. Before he could ask, Paradox spoke. "I'd like you to have this Midoriya, it's a very special tool I was asked to look after."

"What's so special about it?"

The man smirked. "Would you believe me if I told you aliens were real?"

Izuku looked back down. He couldn't really say he thought about it before much. While there hasn't been clear evidence of them to his knowledge there hasn't been anything to disprove them either. Some people think that's how quirks came to be in the first place. Maybe they could have met them if they were able to focus their efforts on exploring space instead of putting laws on quirks that sparked tons of conflict. So, while he didn't really believe in aliens he didn't not believe in aliens.

"Good answer."

Midoriya felt he really should learn how to think more quietly. The professor then turned the dial on it a few times, a hologram projecting over a hundred different looking people. Midoriya thought they were mutation quirks, but they all looked way too different than the ones he's seen. They really did look strange.

"Where I just came from, a universe was being taken over by a race that believed themselves to be better than everyone else because of their birth. A clever person, made this device, the omnitrix, to preserve the DNA of over a million different sentient species. It's a databank of all sorts of people, some strong, others smarter, others more simple, but each were equally important to be remembered." The professor then deactivated the hologram, all the figures zipping back to the hourglass symbol. He then outstretched it over to Izuku.

"Even if you don't believe me now, I-"

"I believe you!" Izuku said with as much energy as a ten year old could muster.

Paradox certainly didn't expect that. "While I appreciate the trust, why do you believe a stranger so easily?"

"Because you must be an alien! Or at least a different world, you talk funny about weird things and you don't act like people here. So you must be from somewhere really far." Izuku finished.

He really was liking this boy. "Then will you keep it safe? Use it to help people?"

Midoriya nodded his head with enthusiasm, making the Professor lose any sense of doubt in the boy. "It's yours then, and yours alone. And if anyone says that you're useless, just remember that out of everyone on earth I picked you."

He then held out the device, Izuku looking at it in awe for a few seconds before reaching his hand out. The omnitrix hovered a few inches in the air then landed on the boy's wrist, a green and black band encircling it to keep it in place.

"New user Izuku Midoriya accepted. Omnitrix functions locked to user's genetic code."

A voice spoke from it. Professor Paradox was reminded by the voice of the previous holder. That version of Ben had a lot of work to do to help his universe. It would be significantly harder without the omnitrix, but he believed in the teen.

Professor Paradox got up from his spot, pulling out his pocket watch to double check his next destination.

"Where are you going?" Midoriya asked getting up himself to follow the man.

"The more accurate question to ask is, when, but in some irony I have little time left until my next task. Keeping the multiverse in check is certainly a busy job. But, word of advice, if anyone calls you 'Deku' again, think of me saying right here right now-"

Izuku's eyes sparkled as he watched the man grin at him, the wind blowing his hair ever so slightly and the sun gleaming off his goggles.

"You can do it, for that is the truth behind your name." He then vanished before the boy's eyes.

Izuku was left in admiration for the unknown man. He looked back at his wrist, the new device glowing softly with the energy of millions of species within it. Out of everyone, he was picked to keep it safe, to preserve worlds of civilizations. Even if Izuku didn't focus on being a pro hero anymore, he felt he was given a new task.

Find a way for him to help people, his way.

….Now he just had to get home.

Paradox watched the timestream of this particular Izuku Midoriya, smiling fondly at how he would grow and progress and help so many. His life certainly wouldn't get easier, but he would gain wonderful allies and find new ways to use the omnitrix than many other Bens had. Hopefully Azmuth wouldn't find out he left the master control on.

"I'm home." Izuku announced beaming with happiness. He glanced back down at the omnitrix, excited to find out all the different ways he could help people. His mother's footsteps echoed from around the corner as she greeted him.

"Welcome home Izuk- OH MY GOSH! MY BABY WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU?!"

Oh, he forgot, he was still beaten to a bloody pulp today. Without warning his mother picked him up and threw/gently placed him in the car. He had to remind her to close the front door to their house, Inko Midoriya simply going into mother mode and rushing him to the hospital. Izuku felt uncomfortable as she kept asking over and over how he had gotten hurt. So many times he had gone to teachers, or the teachers saw Bakugo do it, but told him he was just like that.

Kacchan was going ot be a hero, so how could he make him seem like a-

"They don't really sound like friends to me but bullies."

The words of the man rang through his head. Was Bakugo a bully? He was his friend though, but the alien man said that he wasn't his friend. Looking at his watch, he recalled how the man trusted him with so much. He should put the same trust in him as well.

"-you don't get burns from tripping Izuku. And don't say their rug burns because no rug-"

Was she talking this whole time he was thinking? Hey! He was thinking without his mouth this time!

"Mom?" By his tone Inko stopped talking, looking in the rear view mirror to see her son.

"...I think I'm being bullied."

It was a mother's fear, to discover that their child had been hurting while they were blind or unable to do anything to help. Inko failed her son once when he asked if he could be a hero, but not again, she was going to help her son.

"Who was it?" She said with restrained anger. Izuku could feel the shift of her mood and didn't want to say anymore hoping the anger would go away.

"Izuku, I need to know. If someone's being a bully to you they need to be told to stop, otherwise they'll keep doing it even when they grow up."

Even when they grow up? Izuku didn't want Kacchan to be like this forever! "It...it was Kacchan."

Inko feared that the boy was a little too rough, but to hear him being a bully? She had to talk to Mitsuki about this. Before she could ask anymore Izuku continued.

"B-but! Everyone else does it too! He just hurts me more than the other kids in class, and the teachers..."

Inko's breathing could be heard through her nose. Her fingers clutching the steering wheel as if it was the throats of those incompitent adults. Izuku felt like he said too much, but for Inko it was enough. She was going to sue that school so hard the building would be forced to close from no one wanting to work there again.

Finally after nearly running off five cars from her path they made it to the local children's hospital.

"-And at night be sure to put more creme on and replace the bandages." The doctor finished, putting away her tools.

"Thank you so much for helping my son." Inko gave a small bow. "But, could I get a list of his injuries?"

"I can do that." The doctor said clicking at his computer. He then glanced over to the boy who was patched with all sorts of hero themed bandages. He was listing each hero, their quirk, their agency stats, and all sorts of things. Then the doctor noticed the peculiar watch the boy wore.

"Say -"

"I'm not married." Inko said quickly.

"Um, right, well I was just curious where you got your son that watch. Is it themed after a certain hero? My husband collects them and I've never seen one like that before."

"Watch?" Inko asked before looking at her son. Sure enough the boy was wearing a new watch, but she didn't know where it came from. "Izuku sweety?"

"Yes Mom?" He asked with a smile.

Inko was touched at the joy of her son, somehow he was just so happy today. Happier than he had been in a long time. "Where did you get that watch? I don't think you got that from one of your birthdays."

Izuku was put on the spot, fidgeting at realizing he didn't really know how to explain it. But he trusted his Mom, and the doctor was really nice even if she knew he was quirkless.

"Someone found me after I got hurt, and gave it to me." While not the complete truth, it felt good enough. He didn't want to try and convince adults aliens were real.

"Did you know them?" Inko asked with some discipline in her tone.

Izuku shuddered, rarely hearing that voice. "N-no."

After a few moments of eyeing her boy she sighed. It was probably a stranger trying to make her son feel better after seeing him injured.

"May I see it?" Inko asked holding out her hand. Izuku held his arm out allowing the woman to touch it. His mother eyed it from all angles, getting more and more confused.

"It doesn't even tell the time. How does it come off?"

Izuku didn't know, but he didn't want to find out. He was supposed to protect it after all! The doctor got curious enough and wheeled herself over on her cushioned stool.

"May I?" The woman asked, Inko moved out of the way and the doctor held the object. Once she did she her eyes glowed a strange color. The same way they did when she looked at his injuries. After a few seconds the doctor gasped, startling the two of them.

"What, what is it?" Inko asked worried.

"I...I think this watch was the result from someone's quirk." She said, grabbing a notepad and writing a few things down.

"Wait, what kind of quirk? Is it deadly? Is he dying?!"

"No no! Nothing like that.." The doctor assured her, now with more curiosity she grabbed a special eyeglass tool and looked at the watch through it.

"Then, what is it?" Inko asked again, rubbing her hand against Izuku's back to comfort him.

"Well, whatever it is, don't try taking it off. It looks like it's a case of PQE."

"...and what is that?"

"Permanent quirk effect. It's rare but sometimes when people get hit by a quirk it does something to permanently change their lives. Like turning someone blue, or giving them an extra eye. One case I dealt with was someone was now growing hair from all their pores."

"Oh, should we be worried?" Inko asked again, The doctor scooted back and rubbed her head.

"I don't think so, but you can never be too sure. While it is a part of him now like another arm it has technical components to it so it might do something we're not aware of. I'll put it on his record so he can be looked up in case security gives him trouble and a card he can keep on his person." She rolled to her computer and typed a couple of things in. Once finished she spun around and looked at the two.

'Your papers you can get at the front desk next to where you checked in. They'll discuss how and when he'll get an id card for his PQE."

"Thank you again for your help." Inko bowed and grabbed her son's hand. The two walked out of the room and down the hall. As they moved a troubled man with dark hair walked with a similar looking boy without hair in a wheelchair in front of him. They looked related, but the boy seemed very pale, hardly any muscle on him. Izuku didn't like seeing anyone like that, hoping to cheer him up he pulled his mother in their direction.

Inko tried to steer Izuku away, worried what he might say to a boy with cancer. "Izuku, let's not bother them."

Izuku stopped and looked back to her mother. "But, he looks sad."

Inko's heart felt a little heavy. How was someone supposed to randomly try and cheer up someone who was so sick. Judging the look on the man, he looked without hope. It was too soon to teach her son the full situation. "I know, but sometimes, you can't help."

"You can do it, for that is the truth behind your name."

Izuku's mind circled around those words. He can help, he can do it. Ignoring his mother he let go of her hand and approached the two. Putting on his best All Might smile he waved to the boy.

"Hi! My name is-"

"Genetic damage detected." The omnitrix spoke. That didn't sound good, Izuku wanted to fix the damage. Everyone stopped to look at the source of the noise.

Inko herself was slightly worried about what the words meant. "Wha-"

*SKREEE* THe omnitrix glew brightly, a massive flash of light blinding everyone. When the others recovered their eyesight, Inko dashed over to grab her son.

"I'm so sorry about that! He was just-"

"I have hair again." The boy in the wheelchair said, touching the black locks on his head. His father had his jaw hung open, looking at his son. His skin had color, his limbs weren't skinny twigs anymore, he looked like he was never sick.

"How do you feel?" He asked, the boy looked at his legs and hopped of the wheelchair with ease. His mouth turned into a massive pointy toothed grin as he turned to face his dad.

"I feel super awesome!" He spun to face the other kid his age.

"You cured me! That was super manly!"

Izuku was unsure of how to handle the praise, so he instead shyly looked down at his shoes. He was suddenly enveloped in a back breaking hug.

"Thank you! Thank you so much for saving my son!" The man bawled to the boy, stretching out his other arm to pull in his son and squeeze the new life out of him. Izuku looked at the boy with awe.

The omnitrix didn't just store DNA, it could fix it! He looked to his mother beaming with happiness.

"Look Mom! I helped him! I can help people without a quirk!"

This was a story idea that was sitting on the back of my mind. Animeguy1101 reached out to me about it and we threw ideas back and forth between each other. A big chunk of credit goes to the guy for helping me with this. I still am invested in the other stories I'm writing like "My Iron GIant" and "Dark Desires" so continue to expect updates for them. The first part of this story takes place during the season 1 finale of Ben 10 alien force.

Let me know what you think about it and if you want to see more!