A/N: We're getting closer to our fated episode Back With A Vengeance and the season 2 finale, btw I did say i was gonna remake some of my old books, and continue the ones I already started don't worry I don't break promises after the finale for this book I'mma update Fairy x10 first, maybe Pirate Adventure, delete Alien Ninja (and possibly remake it), I'mma remake my first book which was a Ben 10 x DC comics book (The Outsiders) I will be switching it up tho and making that one different from how i usually do my Ben 10 universes. Hero Rises, hm I'mma wait and see before updating it tbh. I'll probably delete the spider/cat book i made, sorry i did have intentions of completing it, but not really feelin it or how i did it.

To answer ur question Yraj; I know George wasn't in the og series, Driscoll (who'll still appear in the Negative Ten chapter) and Enoch are pawns to a bigger game at play and we'll be seeing how expendable they are throughout the book.

And yes Conan; I am setting it up, i already have my bigger villain aside from Hydra and the Forever Knights. I already have my team set up, can't wait for you guys to see who the last two members of the team are.

Chapter 18: They Lurk Below


The Tennyson Family were on there way to an underwater resort, when a large jet flies above them. Ben watches in excitement as Gwen surfs her laptop and Hope laughs at Ben's enthusiasm.

"How do you know this guy, grandpa?" Gwen gazes to her grandfather who's pulling into the resort.

"Me and Donovan are old friends, he opened this resort years ago, but never had the chance to visit. And since the new school year's around the corner why not go say hello." Max replied as Ben sighed in annoyance.

"How could I forget school is starting soon." Ben retorted, "Is it too much to hope that our school will be struck by a meteor?"

Hope giggled, "Cheer up, Ben. I recently turned 18 so I'll be going to school with you."

Ben perked up on this new information, "Senior year?"

"Mhm." She nodded.

"Remind me, why she's going to your school?" Gwen retorted.

"Well, I don't have the money for a private school like you, Gwen." She chuckled, 'Plus it'll give me more time to spend with Ben.'

Gwen rolled her eyes, "Uh huh." The trio soon gaze out the window to find themselves coming into Donovan Grand Smith's Underwater Resort.

"We're here!" Max yells happily setting his RV in park.

The quartet of heroes climb out the RV to come into a large, but surprisingly empty parking lot. When a metallic cylinder opens at the very end of the resort. Revealing an older and young teenager about Ben and Gwen's age.

The older man had grey hair slicked backwards, with paled Caucasian wrinkled skin, blue oceanic eyes, wore a burgundy long sleeved turtleneck, with the collar being abit faded. He had on pair of tanned slacks with black pointed shoes.

The teenager standing next to him, stood abit more arrogantly. His hair was black, but slicked back, Caucasian tanned skin, and brown hazel-nut eyes. He wore a burgundy high collared turtleneck, just like his grandfather, he wore white slacks and red pointed shoes.

The duo soon stepped out from the elevator, the older man wore a smile while the younger boy gaze fell from the older Tennyson to the three accompanying him. He looked over Gwen first, then Ben before seeing a gleaming device attached to his left wrist. He raised an eyebrow, but thought nothing of it. Then his gaze fell on Hope, he looked her up and down finding her to be his picture perfect woman. He knew he had to have her.

"Max!" He heard his grandfather yell in excitement.

"Donovan!" The man named Max exclaimed in the same tone. The young teenager watched his grandpa hug the other old man, "It's been far too long since we've last seen each other."

"Indeed, old friend. I've spent the last twenty years building place from scratch. We're a week off from our grand opening." Donovan replied earnestly.

"That's amazing, so proud of you old friend." Max smiled before seeing the young man behind him, "And this must be your grandson, Edwin?" The boy known as Edwin smirked smugly before nodding.

"Indeed, the boy can be quite the handful some times." Donovan retorted before seeing the three figures standing behind him, "These must be your grandkids, huh, Max?"

Max nodded, "Indeed they are. This is Gwen and Ben. And a friend of ours, Hope."

Donovan looked at Gwen first, "You look so much like your grandmother."

Gwen raised an eyebrow, "You knew our grandmother?"

"Of course, I was at there wedding afterall." He chuckled before he eyed the alien hero, "Benjamin, gotta say I was expecting you to be shorter."

Ben rolled his eyes, "I get that alot."

"Must say you've grown into a strikingly handsome young man, tell me, is there a special lady in your life?" Donovan wagged his eyebrows in amusement. Ben froze in shock before his cheeks flushed red. He tried to be discrete, but his emerald eyes shifted to the silver haired sorceress standing beside him.

"U-uh n-no, there Is-isnt." Ben stuttered, but Donovan wasn't a fool, he caught the boy glance to the silver haired woman, but decided to play it off.

"No worries, my boy, I'm sure you'll find someone soon." He patted the boy's shoulder, "And you, I haven't had the pleasure of meeting, Donovan Grand Smith, at your service." He stuck his hand out.

"Hope." She replied before shaking it which he grabbed and planted a soft kiss on her hand.

"Beautiful name, but I must ask how do you know the Tennyson family?" Donovan asked curiously.

"Circumstances. We crossed paths early in the summer and I've been traveling with them ever since." She smiled, but the Tennyson family knew, she was a good liar.

"That's good, one thing; I can tell you of Max's family is that there stubborn, but they make up for it by being a great family." Donovan smiled at the trio as Hope glanced at them.

"Yeah, they are." Hope smiled.

"Edwin, give Max's family the tour, me and Max have some business to take care of. When your done meet us in hangar two." Donovan ordered.

"Of course, grandpa." Edwin replied.

"You three behave. Especially you, Ben." Max ordered.

"Hey, I didn't do anything to warrant that warning." Ben huffed.

"Coming from the guy, who literally found a device that can transform him into aliens." Gwen retorted.

"Says the guy who blew up an alien space craft." Max also replied.

"Says the guy who fought and defeated a Mayan Death God." Hope adds which makes Ben fume.

"Okay, okay, points taken. I'll play nice." Ben huffed as he crossed his arms over his chest.

Max laughed before patting his grandson on the shoulder, "Have fun you three." He said before leaving with Donovan. Edwin glanced at the three teenagers before him.

Gwen noticed how awkward it was when there grandfathers left, so decided to speak first, "Hello Edwin, I'm Gwen Tennyson. This is my cousin, Ben Tennyson and Hope."

Edwin rolled his eyes before ignoring her and walking over to Hope, "Edwin Grand Smith, at your service." He offered her his hand, "But my friends call me, Eddie."

"Nice to meet you." Hope replied curtly as she shook his hand and just like his grandfather he kissed the back of her hand.

"What are we chopped liver?" Ben whispers to his cousin.

"No idea." She replies.

"Come, I'll show you the finest spots within our resort." Eddie replies pulling Hope forward, she glances back to Ben and Gwen for something, but the two shrug and follow after them.

They piled into the elevator, Ben and Gwen stood behind Hope and Eddie. The latter kept watching as Edwin attempted to gain Hope's favor, which was inticing the alien heros rage. Gwen grabbed her cousins hand before he could do anything and whispered softly into his ear, "Calm down." Ben took a deep breath before relaxing as Eddie started going on and on about how rich he was.

"My grandfather is a billionaire and he'll soon be leaving everything to me." Eddie bragged as Hope rolled her eyes.

"Ya'know it's not cool to brag." Ben muttered which didn't go unheard of by the boy.

He turned around slightly, "It's not bragging, I'm just stating the facts. Money can get me out of any situation."

"Hey genius, there's a word for that, it's called bragging." Gwen retorted which caused Hope to giggle as Edwin glared at her.

As they stood awkwardly in the elevator, they could see the underwater marine life. The fish, the plants, hell even the sharks. It was all so beautiful.

"I've never been this close to such a beautiful scene before." Hope replies gazing incredulously at the scene unfolding before her eyes. Ben and Gwen gazed at the sea life in awe, they'd been to aquarium's as children, but this was otherworldly.

"Glorious isn't it." Eddie mumbled towards the sorceress, "My grandfather built this place right in the middle of the Bermuda Triangle." This caught the trios attention.

"I'm sorry, he built this where now?" Ben asked abit in shock and fear.

"The Bermuda Triangle, try to open your ears." He sneered before gazing back to Hope. Ben tightened his fists again, the way he was staring at Hope was pissing him off. The elevator was getting closer and closer towards a large domed shaped resort, "Behold our underwater resort. If you have some time Hope, maybe I can show you all the best spots, alone."

Hope raised an eyebrow at how direct he was, "I thought you were supposed to be showing all of us this resort?"

"I am, but that doesn't mean we can't find a spot or two and get closer." He winked, Ben decided he had enough of his flirting.

"Sorry, buddy, but she's not interested." Ben stepped infront of the sorceress.

"Not now. Not ever." Gwen added stepping beside her cousin. Eddie glared at the both of them before the elevator stopped infront of a hanger. Where Max and Donovan were talking. There were platforms everywhere and opens into the ocean.

"Seems our grandkids are right on time." Donovan chuckled when he caught sights of the four teenagers stepping out from the elevator.

"Seems so, what do you three think?" Max asks.

"It's beautiful." Gwen says.

"It's a magnificent sight." Hope adds.

"Only downside is that it's built within the territory of the Bermuda Triangle." Ben answers crossing his arms over his chest.

"You built a resort inside the Bermuda Triangle?!" Max yells fearfully.

Donovan sighs, "You always were the worrisome one growing up. There's so much to see down here, Max. So many mysteries, that haven't been explored."

"How much did all of this cost?" Gwen asked suspiciously.

"I spent two billion dollars making sure this base is airtight, and the only times we get wet, is if we dive into the subs or whenever I give the order." Donovan laughed.

Suddenly the lights started flickering unexpectedly, gaining the groups attention. The sudden surge outside causes the fans to reverse and recycle out the water. Max gazes over to Donovan worry on his face, "Is this suppose to be happening?"

Before Donovan could answer an employee inside a diving, who was working outside the resort knocked frantically on the window, the group turned towards the employee before watching as he was sucked towards the reversing fan. When suddenly the diver noticed two great white sharks heading towards him. He screamed 'help' fearfully.

Donovan pulled out his walkie, "Attention, subbasement hanger two, shut down underwater fan!" He shouted before he was met with static, "Hello! Can anyone read me?!"

While the group was distracted, Ben slowly crept away and soon bolted into a hiding spot of two submarines, "Alright, give me, BrainStorm!" He soon activated the Omnitrix before landing on the Cerebrocrustacean's hologram. He slammed his hand onto the faceplate before becoming engulfed in an emerald light.

The bright light soon gained Edwin's attention, "Did anyone see that?"

Hope and Gwen exchanged looks, "See what?" Gwen asked avoiding the topic.

"Could have sworn, I saw a flash of green coming from over there." He replied suspiciously. Then soon noticed someone was missing, "Hey, where'd the guy go?" Hope and Gwen quickly shrugged.

Once the bright light died down, inside Ben's hiding place was a crimson, white, and black manta ray alien. With a badge in the form of a hourglass on his chest. The Aerophibian gazed at himself, "Awe man, wanted BrainStorm. Not JetRay. Stupid Watch." JetRay's horns moved over his mouth as he launched into the air and soon splashed into the ocean. The group turned around quickly to find nothing there.

"What was that noise?!" Donovan asked suspiciously.

"Hopefully something that'll save that diver." Max replies as he noticed Ben was gone.

"We have a spell for breathing underwater?" Gwen whispered towards her silver haired companion.

"A spell to manipulate the water, but breathing not so much." Hope answers sadly.

"Ben's on his own down there then." Gwen mumbles.

"Afraid so." Hope adds.

JetRay swam through the oceans current and smirked incredulously, 'Note to self: even underwater JetRay can't be stopped!' He soon swam at blinding speeds when he caught sight of the two sharks swimming around the distraught diver who was being sucked into fans, "Time to turn you overgrown sharks into sushi!" JetRay soon bolted to the fray garnering everyone's attention.

JetRay fired a neuroshock blast at one of the sharks who shrieks in pain. The other shark tackles the distracted Aerophibian from the side. Which causes the other shark to charge straight into his chest. The Aerophibian grinned beneath his horned mask, 'You guys must like it rough then!' He watched as they circled him, JetRay kept both his eyes peeled as they swam around him.

The two sharks soon charged him from both sides, JetRay smirked before flying up and watching as they collide with each other. He fired off a neuroshock blast colliding with the sharks as they sunk to the floor. JetRay turned around and swam off to grab the diver, he sunk his clawed talons into his shoulders before speeding back to the indoor pool that leads back into the resort, 'Almost there!' He thought before he heard a blaring noise, 'NO!' He yelled before jetting back to the resort as fast as he could, his passenger shrieked in worry about how fast they were moving.

The Aerophibian grinned, 'Gonna make it!' He thought before shooting through the air with the diver when he reverted back to normal. The diver landed on the platform as Donovan, Max, Gwen, Hope, and Edwin surrounded him in concern. Hope and Gwen started looking around.

"Where'd that giant manta ray thing go?" The diver asked, "I wanna thank it for saving my life."

"I'm sure, he's around here somewhere." Max replied.

"Speaking of somewhere, where's Ben?" Gwen asked curiously.

"Up here." A voice replied before the group looked into the hangar's ceiling where a submarine was hanging from to see Ben gripping the machinery for dear life, "Would you guys mind getting me down?"

Max, Hope, and Gwen sighed in relief that the boy was okay, but Donovan and Eddie where extremely curious as to how he got up there.


After helping Ben down from the submarine, the group was heading to the command center when Donovan turned to the four teenagers, "Eddie, why don't you take the Tennyson family and show them around. Me and Max got more to catch up on."

Eddie smirked using this as an opportunity to ditch Ben and Gwen, while trying to get Hope alone, "Of course, grandpa."

Gwen and Ben shared a look, before the duo sighed. Hope looked at them before placing her hand on her hip, "What's up?"

"I honestly don't wanna go anywhere with him." Ben answered and Gwen nodded in agreement.

"Oh, I see. You're jealous." Hope grinned mischievously which made Ben's eyes widen in shock.

"Jea-jealous? Who? Me?" Ben stuttered which Gwen grinned at his flustered face.

"Yes, you. You're jealous because he's been openly flirting with me. And it makes you angry." Hope smirked as Ben whipped his head away feeling his cheeks flush.

"Ben, I didn't know you were jealous of Eddie." Gwen added.

"I'M NOT!" Ben screamed which drew the attention of Max, Donovan, and Eddie. He flushed in embarrassment as Hope and Gwen laughed even harder at him, "Not cool guys."

"We're just joking, Ben." Hope remarked.

Ben sighed as Edwin walked back over to them, "Shall I show you my various spots, Hope?" He grinned smugly at her.

"You know we're here too, right?" Gwen replied, but Eddie chose to ignore her.

"Sorry Eddie, but if Gwen and Ben aren't going then I'm not going anywhere with you." She said firmly which angered Edwin, but he kept his composure.

"Of course they can come." He said through a forced smile. He walked on ahead as the trio shared a look before watching as there grandpa's walked into the command center. Eddie turned around and scoffed, "Are you coming?" He asked rudely.

The three teenagers followed after the departing rich boy when Ben spoke up, "I swear if he say's something else, I'm setting him on fire. Or freezing him solid."

"You and me both, everything he says, makes me wanna torture him." Gwen adds.

"And his attempts at flirting and trying to impress me is getting rather annoying. Please don't leave me alone with him." Hope replied.

"Wouldn't dream of it." Ben answers without hesitation which makes Hope's face flush. Gwen smiled at the way there relationship was progressing, but knew she couldn't play match maker, she'd let them figure it out themselves.

Edwin had taken them to an indoor beach, "This is my beach, where I work out with my own personal trainer and swim coach." He soon winked at Hope who rolled her eyes at him, "I'm also a professional swimmer." He retorted throwing the insult at the other male in the room.

"More like professional asshole." Ben mumbled which didn't go unheard of by Gwen and Hope who had to stifle their laughter.

"Don't worry, Ben, one day you'll have a body like mine after you stop eating junk food." Eddie mocked him, which sent the rich boy laughing condescendingly. He turned around still laughing unbeknownst to him, Hope and Gwen were holding Ben back from activating the Omnitrix.

After mocking Ben somemore and not seeing as the brunette in question trying to attack him, Edwin led them into another part of the resort where a large submarine is stationed. He stops infront of it before gesturing towards it, "This is my grandpa's submarine he named the Undersea Manta Ray."

Ben raised an eyebrow at the name, "That's stu-" Gwen slugged him in the arm before he could finish his sentence, "Ow! What was that for?!"

"You know what you were about to say." Gwen glares as the alien hero rolls his eyes innocently.

Hope giggles before looking at the submarine, "Can we take a ride in it?"

Hoping to impress the silver haired beauty, "Of course!" He replies before climbing on top of the submarine and opening the hatch, "Follow me."

Gwen and Ben glare at Hope, "What?" She soon climbs into the hatch followed by Gwen.

Ben sighs, "What could go wrong?" He replies sarcastically. He soon climbs up the submarine and slides through the hatch closing it behind him.


Max and Donovan continue there own private tour away from the reeling eyes of the teenagers. The duo enter the large command center before gazing into the depths of the Bermuda Triangle. Max watches the marine life swim with no worries before he hears his friend clear his throat, "Something wrong Donovan?"

"It's about the reverse power surge." Donovan answers.

"What about it?" Max asks cautiously.

"It was a whirlpool effect, which was fixed, and how all the power is taken from volcanic vents like a big steam generator." Donovan explains. Max is abit puzzled by the sudden explanation when Donovan presses a button revealing the resorts control panel.

"What is this?" Max asks suspiciously.

"The future, Max." Donovan simply says, "Wait till you see this. It's something I've been working with called geothermic vents as a power source." He signals to all his employees to turn the lights on.

Max has to shield his eyes as he hears Donovan's voice, "The lights are so powerful, you can see it from the outside and five hundred feet above sea level."

"That's some pretty impressive rig, you've built Donovan." Max comments as the lights are brought back to normal.

"That's nothing, wait till you see my prized possession." Donovan smirked as he led Max to hangar four. After placing his hand onto the control panel the door opened with Donovan grinning, "Feast your eyes on the Undersea Manta Way! My submarine!"

Max raised an eyebrow, "Awesome, you've installed some kind of invisibility tech to it!"

Donovan narrowed his eyes at his answer, "What? No I didn't."

"Then where is it?" Max asked.

"What do you mean? It's right here-" Donovan went wide eyed in fear when he saw his most prized possession gone, "My submarine?" He mumbled weakly, "It's gone."

"It couldn't have gotten far. Do you know who'd taken it?" Max asked his old friend.

"Edwin." Donovan mumbled, "My grandson must have taken it with your grandkids inside." Max paled when he heard that answer.

"Oh no. We have to find them!"

"Let's head back to the command center. We should be able to track them from there." Donovan and Max were soon racing back to the command center.


Deep within the Bermuda, was a large submarine racing through the trenches of the sea. Edwin sat in the captain's seat, driving the submarine. On his right was Ben, gazing through the large window. On his left was Hope, and Gwen sat behind her. The two sorceress were bewildered on such an inticing sight. Gwen was abit skeptical to come along, but she has to admit this view is gorgeous.

Ben was so entranced by the sights he was seeing he didn't seem to notice the Omnitrix's faceplate flashing yellow once again. The four teenagers watched through fascination as they journeyed deeper into the Bermuda Triangle.

"I have to say, I was abit skeptical coming along, but I have to admit this is awesome." Ben remarks, he still doesn't like Eddie, but has to give him some credit for this.

"I agree, thanks for showing us such a beautiful sight." Hope replies which makes Eddie grin smugly.

"Anything for you, Hope." He replies as the trio roll there eyes in annoyance.

As they journeyed deeper they soon realized something was different because there were tons of downed boats and planes with moss on them. Gwen looks over to Ben who shrugs.

"Eddie, is this one of those graveyards for sunken objects?" Gwen asks cautiously.

"Huh, appears so. What's your point?" Eddie replies.

"We shouldn't be messing around here. Let's turn back before something happens." Gwen warns him, but he scoffs.

"Relax, Tennyson, nothing's gonna happen." Eddie laughs as the trio exchange looks once again abit worried on passing through this graveyard.

As the Undersea Manta Ray passes a nearby abyss, the bottom of it glows a bright blue color. Gwen and Hope have worried looks on there faces as they see the flash of light, "Is that abyss supposed to be glowing?" Hope asks suspiciously.

Ben and Edwin's eyes widen in shock, "The abyss is doing what now?" Ben asks fearfully. Hope points into the abyss as Ben gets up from his seat to see the abyss is glowing and soon multiple objects shoot up from the abyss.

The four teenagers gasped in horror when metallic like squid's surrounded there ship. Ben squinted his eyes as he got a good look at them.

They are mechanical squid-like creatures. They possess six mechanical tentacles with flexible ribbed joints; two of the tentacles have mechanical claws on the ends. On the bottom of their bodies are mechanical parrot-like beaks. They have glassy, glowing cyan heads with white lines that represent circuitry. Below the head is what appears to be a purple eye.

The cyber squids soon started swarming the sub and attacking various positions on it. Ben loses his footing before falling over as Edwin tried to regain control of the sub. When one of the cyber squids plants itself onto the window and starts smashing into it, cracking it in the process.

Edwin was freaking out and didn't know what to do. Ben on the other hand, knew what he had to do. He gazed over to Hope and Gwen who nodded. Before he could leave Hope shot out of her seat before grabbing his hand.

"Be careful, Ben. We don't what there capable of." Hope replied scared for the brunette's safety.

"Don't worry, I'll be fine. I won't let those metallic tentacles hurt you or Gwen, or Mr. Self absorbed." He smiled before planting a soft kiss onto her cheek, "I'll be back." He rushed out the sub's control room leaving behind a blushing Hope who returned to her seat.

Ben opened a compartment of the sub and found it was the airlock, just what he was looking for. He closed the door behind himself before rolling his left sleeve upwards, "Alright, don't have alot of underwater choices. Okay, give me; BrainStorm. You give me SpiderMonkey and you're dead meat." He tried to activate the Omnitrix when said device made a warbling noise. He gritted his teeth before punching it. He threw his fist forward a few times, trying to get it to work. When the dial launched upwards with an unknown hologram floating above it. Ben didn't waste another second before slamming his hand onto the dial becoming engulfed in an emerald light.

Ben's skin started growing grey scales all across his body. His hands turned into webbed clawed fingers. On his neck three zig zagged lines opened revealing themselves to be gills. He grew a phosphorescent light from his forehead. His jaw extended outwards as dozens upon dozens of fangs parted from his lips. His chest was covered with armor plates, with fins extending from his armpits to the sides of his chest. On his elbows with fins growing from them were black braces appearing along his forearms. On his waist were two black lines perpendicular to each other. On his thighs were two black bands wrapped tightly. On the back of his legs were two small fins and he had two webbed toes. He grew a really large tail with larger fins at the end. Two more fins ran down his back. On his head was a larger fin. His emerald eyes broke into six white eyes. Attached to his gills around his neck was a water intake filter. He wore a black brace on his left shoulder with the Omnitrix badge on it.

The emerald light soon died down to reveal the large hybrid seacreature, "Whoa, new alien." He gazed down at his webbed claws and grinned, "Just what the doctor ordered." He replies in a deep grumbled voice. He opened the airlock before diving into the sea.

The aquatic hybrid grinned mischievously before inhaling the ocean into his gills. He looked at the army of metallic squids attacking the sub, "Alright, you metallic bastards, time to send you back to hell!" Ben immediately swam towards one of them before slashing it with his claws. The squid exploded into shrapnel and oil, he immediately got to work tearing the squids apart.

He used his massive jaws to tear through the steel machines and grinned, "Who needs claws when you've got jaws that can rip through steel!" Ben remarked before a name for his newest alien popped into his head, "RIPJAWS! Oh yeah! I remember seeing Kevin running around with this alien, if I remember correctly this was a Piscciss Volann, but say hello to RipJaws."

The newly dubbed RipJaws went back to smashing and tearing through the mecha squids. He swam infront of the sub where Edwin, Hope, and Gwen went wide eyed in fear when the Piscciss Volann appeared and started tearing through the squids like it was paper. Gwen and Hope gazed at it before seeing the green and black hourglass badge on his left shoulder.

"Ben?" They mumbled softly so Edwin wouldn't hear them. They watched in awe as RipJaws shredded the squids to bits, but was soon outnumbered as they wrapped there metallic tentacles around his body.

Edwin had no idea what to do when Gwen spoke up, "Don't worry, looks like it doesn't want anything to do with us." Which made the rich boy sigh in relief, he was abit concerned with the water leaking through the cracked window. He looked over to see Hope and Gwen okay, he turned to his left to see Ben's chair empty.

"Hey, where'd Ben go?" Edwin asked suddenly.

"He went to the bathroom." Gwen lied which made Edwin nod when something sprung into his head.

"Wait, the undersea manta ray doesn't have a bathroom!" Edwin yelled angrily.

"Shut up and drive us back to the resort!" Hope yelled, taken back by her outburst immediately turned the sub around to head back to the resort.

RipJaws shredded there metallic tentacles, before slashing through them like a knife to butter. He gazed behind him to see the submarine heading back to the resort, he followed after them with multiple squids chasing after their retreating forms. The Piscciss Volann turns around instantly before slashing his claws through another mecha squid.

Back inside the manta ray, Edwin reaches for the radio, "Mayday! Mayday! Grandpa, can you read me?"

"Edwin, I'm disappointed that you absconded off with my prized possession." He hears his grandpa's voice echo out on the radio.

"Forget about that grandpa! This is an emergency!" He yelled into the small radio.

"What's happening, Eddie?!" Donovan's voice was franatic.

"We're being attacked by an army of metallic squids!" Eddie replies in panic when Max's voice appeared on the radio.

"Eddie, listen closely, are my grandkids with you?" Max asked sternly.

Eddie gazed over to Hope and Gwen, but didn't know where Ben had disappeared off too, "Yeah, both Gwen and Hope are here, but I have no idea where Ben disappeared off too." At first the radio was silent before Max's voice appeared again.

"Can you put Gwen on?" He asked, but his tone demanded he speak to his granddaughter.

Eddie gazed over to Gwen, "Gwen, he wants to talk to you." Gwen nodded before getting out of her seat as RipJaws swam past the window tearing and biting through the robotic squid army.

"Grandpa?" Gwen whispered.

"Gwen, are you and Hope okay?" Max asked concerned for there safety.

"Yeah, we're fine, it's Ben, we need to worry about." Gwen answered.

"What happened to him?"

"He unlocked another new alien, this one being able to breathe underwater. He's been under there for almost fifteen minutes, keeping the squids off of us, but we don't know how long he has before he reverts back to normal." Gwen explained quickly, but Max was able to understand the situation immediately.

"Keep an eye on him, don't let him out of your sight. We're currently being attacked by the squids, stay safe, alright?" Max replied.

"We will grandpa, but you need to stay safe as well." Gwen remarked as Max laughed softly.

"I may be old, but I won't go down without a fight."

"I know grandpa, we'll see you soon."

"Alright." He soon hung up the radio.

Below the submarine, RipJaws was launched into the airlock's valve, denting it in the process. He glared at the squid before punching straight through its blue glowing head. RipJaws gazes around the to see a few escaping, but decides to stick close to the submarine incase any try to attack it again.

Back at the resort, the squids hammer away at the micro-titanium thread reinforced glass windows of the resort and break through with ease. Max gazes over to Donovan, "You need to order an evacuation, immediately!"

RipJaws paddled through the sea as he kept his gaze for any intruders when his badge started flashing red. The Piscciss Volann's six eyes widened in fear before he swims down to the bottom of the sub towards the airlock chamber and twisting the valve, but he notices it's misshapened, the ringing on his badge gets louder, which makes RipJaws panic.

Max and Donovan were helping everyone evacuate which the rich older man points to a boat, "Quickly Max, we need to get going!"

"I'm not leaving without my family." Max demands as Donovan sighs.

"Always was the stubborn one. Alright do you have a plan to reach them?" Donovan asks.

Max looks around the hangar before seeing another sub hanging above them, "I always have a plan."

RipJaws badge started ringing louder and louder, drawing closer to it's time out sequence, 'I guess this is it.' RipJaws thought grimly before a red flash engulfed the sea and Ben was left holding onto the valve. He immediately started losing oxygen when the valve opened up and two pairs of arms grabbed the teenager and pulled him inside before the water pressure killed him or before he drowned to death.

Gwen and Hope dropped Ben onto the manta ray's floor as the boy started coughing up sea water. He gazed at the two sorceress's who were panting heavily and soon hugged him tightly.

"YOU RECKLESS IDIOT!" Hope screamed.

"NEVER DO SOMETHING SO STUPID AGAIN!" Gwen yelled.

Ben coughed out more seawater before grinning, "Don't plan on it." He remarked. As the two girls cried into his shoulder, "Come on, I'm fine, aside from almost drowning. Let's get back to the control room and help Eddie."

The two didn't say anything before nodding. They got off the boy before helping onto his feet, Ben gazed at himself to see his clothes drenched, "Great, add drowning to the list of complaints and now I gotta deal with wet clothes." He grumbled annoyed at his situation.

Gwen and Hope smiled before they followed him back to the control room where they were heading back to the resort, "We're almost there!" Edwin replies happily, when they see dozens of the squids invading the resort.

"There's more of them!" Gwen yells.

"There has to be a hundred atleast." Hope replies.

"I definitely can't take that many down in the span of ten maybe twenty minutes." Ben mumbles which Hope overhears and grabs his hand tightly. The boy doesn't say anything, but intertwines there fingers.

The manta ray is heading towards the docking bay where Max and Donovan are planning on sealing it when the sub breaks through the surface and Max signals to Donovan to seal the docking bay. The four teenagers get out the submarine where Max and Donovan are waiting.

Max hugged the three teenagers when Edwin glared at Donovan, "This is all your fault! We almost died because of you!" He screamed, but Donovan just waves him off.

"It's nothing to concern yourself with boy." Donovan glares at his grandson.

"You never listen to me." Edwin mumbles, but the argument is cut short when the group see metallic squids attached to the manta ray and soon spring on them.

The group runs out of the docking bay, Gwen and Hope throw pink and purple mana disc, destroying the squids approaching them. But before they could reach them the door soon closes sealing them inside. The group soon race towards the elevator when more squids appear through the shattered dome and the rising water. They climb into the elevator where Max glares at Donovan.

"What's happening?!" He demanded as Donovan sighs in anguish.

"My geothermic idea was a failure. The resort had no future until he found the ruins of a strange voyage craft way down below containing an otherworldly power source and he used that to save the resort and power it to this very day." He answers sending the Tennyson family eye wide at the revelation.

"The power source and the craft belonged to the Cyber Squids, which are actually alien creatures that want it back, destroying the resort as a mere smash-and-grab commando raid for it." Gwen says.

"The cyber squids are the ones responsible the mysterious disappearances of boats and planes in the infamous Bermuda Triangle." Ben replies abit shocked on the strange occurrence.

Donovan and Edwin don't say anything as they watch there resort flood. The group head to the surface to get away from this underwater nightmare. Donovan sighs in annoyance, "I'm ruined."

Edwin pats his grandpa's shoulder, "We still have fifteen other resorts worldwide. Don't worry grandpa. The loss isn't too bad here."

"Yeah, I guess you're right." Donovan replies, but while heading towards the surface a cyber squid makes it's presence known and attacks the platform in half. Ben, Edwin, and Hope fall back down the shaft. Gwen, Max, and Donovan's eyes widen in fear as they go falling backwards. The platform there standing on resumes it approach to the surface.

Edwin's gaze was fixed on the flooded resort at the bottom, Hope looked over at Ben who already had the Omnitrix activated and immediately slammed his hand onto the faceplate. Edwin saw a brief flash of emerald light.

Ben's skin turned a violet, dark blue, and black color. He grew an additional third emerald eye above his nose. His hands turned into claws and his feet into talons with only three toes; two in the front and one in the back. His entire body was wrapped in an old raggedy dark blue cloak and hood with light blue spot patterns scattered around which then unfurrow and become his wings and antenna. His shoulders, chest, and thighs grew armor plating on them. The Omnitrix badge appeared in the middle of his chest, "BIG CHILL!" His eerily ghostly voice erupted. His cloak soon opened revealing a pair of moth wings and antenna.

He dived after Edwin before grabbing the teenager by his waist and grabbing Hope by her waist and launching upwards when multiple metallic tentacles wrapped around his foot. Edwin's eyes widened in fear when he saw Big Chill, but noticed Hope wasn't freaking out. Big Chill with Hope and Edwin turns intangible and phases out of its grip. When the pipe above shatters revealing more cyber squids.

"Ben." Hope warns him.

Big Chill gazes upwards and below and has to choose and choose now. He sighs before turning intangible again and flying downwards back towards the resort. He phased through the various cyber squids freezing them in an instant. Back inside the flooded resort, Big Chill hovered over the rising water.

"What now?!" Edwin demands.

"Even if this place floods, there after the energy orb that powers the resort, right?" Big Chill begins before the two nod, "We just need to destory it quickly."

"We'll never make it, it's on the other side of the resort." Hope replies, "And I doubt you'd be able to make it, Ben."

"Yeah, I don't plan on drowning again." Big Chill remarks. When Edwin points upwards to the ventilation shaft.

"We can use those to make it to the other side of the resort." Edwin adds.

"Sounds like a plan." Big Chill gazes down at the water already up to there waists. He flies up abit when Edwin pulls the vent open and climbs inside, Hope soon climbs in after him, with Big Chill pulling up the rear. He soon freezes there exit before following after Edwin and Hope.


Above sea level, Max, Gwen, and Donovan make it outside where a storm is pouring down on top of them. Donovan is pacing around frantically dialing up the military or the teenagers. He finally gets put through to the Navy, but it's closest sub is an hour and a half away.

"It's hopeless, there doomed." Donovan sags in despair.

"I wouldn't be too sure, Donovan." Max replies calmly.

"It is. They have no way out."

"Your grandson has Ben and Hope with him. They'll be able to think of a way out." Max replies, "Have faith in them."

"How are they gonna get out, it's flood and crawling with those squids." Donovan replies.

"Ben and Hope never give up and neither are we." Gwen answered firmly.


Edwin, Hope, and the Necrofriggian were crawling through the vents, they had no idea what part of the resort they were in when Hope spoke up.

"Is there any shortcuts to this power sphere?" She huffs not wanting to be in this vent any longer.

"Depends where we are inside the resort." Edwin answers when the vents start shaking violently and suddenly the ventilation pipes burst causing the trio to fall towards the flooded resort.

Big Chill's wings soon opened and he caught both Hope and Edwin before they went splat into the sea, "Where are we?" Big Chill asks.

"I don't know, but it seems our lucks turning up." Edwin remarks before pointing to a couple of jet skiis nearby, but it's soon short lived when multiple tentacles shoot out and wrap around Big Chill's body. The Necrofriggian's grip on the sorceress and the rich boy loosened. The trio soon descended back into the flooded room.

"BEN!" Hope screamed, but she suddenly saw a flash of red light and Ben saw upwards breathing in the oxygen, "Ben, are you okay?"

"Yeah, let's get out of here." Ben remarks when Edwin climbs onto one of the jet skiis. Hope hops onto another one, but Ben hops onto hers and they take off into the resort yet again.


"I hope Edwin's okay." Donovan replied worriedly.

"He's fine, if he's with Ben and Hope, you'll definitely be seeing him soon." Max answers.

"Why do you believe in them so much?" Donovan asked.

"Ben may seem like a nobody, but he's a great hero. He'll never leave anyone behind. He'll save anyone and everyone, sure he might fail, but he'll get back up and go at it twice as hard." Max answers truthfully which causes Gwen to smile.

"Ben is a hero through and through, that's why we'll never stop believing in him. Even if he's the world's biggest doofus. He's still got the biggest heart out of anyone I know." Gwen smiled brightly thinking of her hero complexed cousin.

Donovan was at a loss of words on highly they talk of Benjamin. If they think they'll come back then he shouldn't show weakness either. He needs to believe in them too.


The three teenagers soon arrive inside the engine room and reach the engine room. Beset by the magnificent-brightly-lit pink power sphere. They gaze at each other, "Now what do we do?" Hope asks.

"I should be able to reverse the polarity of the connection to turn the power sphere's outward power inward and make the whole resort implode, taking the Cyber Squids with it." He replies which make both Hope and Ben agree with the idea, "But we'll need a way to escape so we don't get taken out with it."

"Don't worry, I'm all over it. Get to work." Ben replies as Edwin nods before opening the panel and starts reversing the polarity.

"Ben, how are we gonna escape, you have aliens that can breathe underwater and take the pressure, but me and Edwin could die. Jetray won't be able to get us out fast enough before we drown." Hope replied fearfully.

"Oh he will, but what you'll do is put yourself and Edwin in a mana sphere and I'll swim at my fastest to outrace the blast." Ben explained as Hope's eyes widened.

"Ben, are you sure? If you don't make it you could die!" Hope whispered yelled to avoid Edwin hearing them.

Ben smiled, "But in the end, you two will be safe and that's enough for me to give my life for. Come on, he's almost done."

Edwin races over to them, "Come on, we don't have much time before the big bang. How are we escaping?"

"Hope, no matter what keep the shield up. I'll be right behind you." Ben warned her as she nodded sadly, Hope grabbed hold of Edwin before lifting her hand up and soon a purple mana sphere covered the both of them.

Ben wasted no time before pushing the sphere into the sea and diving in behind them. He immediately activated the Omnitrix and scrolled till he found JetRay's hologram and slamming his hand onto the dial becoming engulfed in an emerald light.

Ben started transforming into a manta ray, his head, upper chest, arms, and backside were a dark shade of crimson red. His chest and patagia were white with three gills on both sides of his ribs, with his feet being black while having three toes; two in the front and one in the back. On his hands were also three fingers while also being black. He had lightning bolts on his back side race over his shoulders towards the center of his chest where the crimson red and white clashed. On the sides of his face grew out two yellow large horns, while on his head were two large yellow horns protuding outwards. His eyes were emerald green, while his lips were outlined yellow like his horns. The Omnitrix badge appeared in the middle of his chest where the lightning bolts met, "JETRAY!" The Aerophibian exclaimed. His horns pushed infront of his face before pushing the sphere upwards at blinding speeds.

He noticed a swarm of squids approaching before he took off. As the squids prepare to take their power sphere back, the whole machine violently shorts out and unleashes violently energy waves as its overload is hitting the breaking point. After that, the machine violently explodes, and the Cyber Squids are vanquished for good as the rest of the resort explodes. JetRay flies even faster so there not caught within the blasts radius.

Even with how fast he was pushing himself, he could feel the ocean's heat rising and knew he had to get outta here immediately.

On the surface, Max, Donovan, and Gwen waiting earnestly for the others to return when something shot out the water at blinding speeds. The three watched as the mana sphere lowered itself to the ground with a familia manta ray alien landing beside them.

The horns around his face deextend before knocking on it, "You can drop the shield, Charmcaster." Hope soon lowers the mana shield to reveal herself and a panting Edwin.

Donovan raced over and hugged his grandson tightly. Max and Gwen hugged both JetRay and Hope, "You were right, Max, but where's you're grandson?"

Before anyone could say anything the badge on JetRay's chest started flashing red. And was soon engulfed in an red light and in his place was Ben Tennyson, "I'm right here." He grinned.

Donovan was shocked, "How'd you do that?" He asked.

"Secret." Ben winked.

Edwin walked over to Ben, "Ben, Gwen, I'm sorry for how I acted and it was thanks to you, I survived. Thank you." He held out his hand before seeing Ben smiled.

"No problem, Eddie." He shook his hand firmly.

"It's what we do, Eddie." Gwen smiled brightly.

"All in a days work, done." Hope remarks.

"Hope, I hope you can forgive me for constantly hitting on you." Edwin says sincerely.

"Water under the bridge." She smiles happily.

"You were right, your grandson is special." Donovan replies watching Edwin interact with the trio.

"He gets it from his grandmother." He laughs.

"You gonna tell them the other truth?" Donovan asks.

Max is silent for a moment, "No, they don't need to hear it right now. Let them enjoy how close they are. If they find out the truth it'll tear them apart."

"I hope you know what you're doing old friend." Donovan replies solemnly.

"Me too, Donovan, me too." Max answers.


To Be Continued...

A/N: Few things. One: If you think Ben is gonna die think again. The Omnitrix has a failsafe that'll keep him from dying. Even if he was gonna drown, he would have morphed into another alien to survive. Two: he was definitely fast enough to outrace the blast. Three: originally planned on skipping this episode, but one comment asked if i made this and introduce RipJaws, tbh i quite enjoyed making this chapter. Four: And secrets, Max always has secrets, but could this secret tear apart the Team Tennyson. Find out more next time. Comment, like, and follow me for more. I won't disappoint, till next time.