The next stop on their trip was Florida. As Max was talking about Gatorfest, Gwen and Eddie noticed Ben prying at the Omnitrix with a screwdriver.
"Ben," Gwen warns. "You're going to break it."
Eddie backs her up. "And given that it's bonded to your DNA, that could be really bad news for you."
Max agreed and made Ben promise to leave the watch alone. Eddie, doubting that Ben's promise would last long, came up with an idea.
"You know the real pirates of the Caribbean were in this area." He gave Ben a sly look. "I brought my fencing gear. How'd you like to learn some sword fighting?"
Ben hesitated, looking suspiciously at his new friend; but Gwen saw it in his eyes. She knew he had Bens' interest. 'Score one for Eddie.' She thought to herself.
Soon the boys were in the safety gear that Eddie had brought, and Ben seemed actually interested in the swordsmanship lessons. Eddie taught him the basics of defense; how to block and parry.
Eventually Eddie could see that Ben was losing patience with the lesson and made it more playful, quoting movie lines.
"Tell Prince John to stay out of Sherwood Forest."
Ben had a different movie in mind. "Give in to your hatred. Only your anger can destroy me."
Ben made a very theatrical strike that would have looked great with a lightsaber; but gave Eddie an easy opportunity to score a hit on him.
"That's great for stage combat Ben. But don't try that in a real, life or death fight."
"There is no death, only the force," Ben declared.
Eddie shook his head. "You have much to learn young Tennyson." With that the two were mock fighting again.
Sitting on the steps of the rustbucket, Gwen smiled as she watched her boys having fun together.
Eventually the lesson/playtime, was over and the two boys went to take off their gear.
Gwen stopped Eddie. "Nice work, and not just the sword work; keeping Ben's mind off playing with the watch."
He smiled. "Glad to help, and it was fun." He looked at her. "Tell you what. I'll make you a deal. I'll teach you swordsmanship too, in trade for some karate lessons."
She held out her hand. "Deal!"
Soon they found themselves in New York, at Niagara Falls. As Max, Gwen and Eddie marveled at the falls, Ben messed with the Omnitrix again.
"I don't think sword lessons are going to help this time," Gwen said.
Max chided, "Ben can you pay attention to something other than that watch?"
"Just trying to learn more about it," Ben told him.
They realized that they really couldn't stop him and turned their attention back to the falls. At least until another tourist looked over to see Wildmutt.
As a tourist fell into the water, they all heard a raspy voice say, "Ripjaws is in the house."
"Did he just go straight from Wildmutt to Ripjaws?" Gwen asked.
"I think so," Eddie replied.
"Looks like he unlocked some new features," Max commented.
In a frustrated tone, Gwen said, "And now we'll never get him to stop messing with the watch."
The rest of the day was filled with Ben's pranks.
"I just hope he'll settle down after he has some fun with it," Eddie said as they all sat down for some ice cream.
Just then a glob of green goop splattered into Gwen's bowl. "BEN!" She yelled, turning to see Stinkfly in the air above her. She then turned to Eddie, "You were saying?"
Eddie reached for an extra spoon, handing it to Gwen. "You can share mine."
The smile on Gwen face disappeared when another blob of goop landed in the other bowl.
"Starting to regret coming with us?" Gwen asked.
He sighed, giving her a half smile. "No. But I hope he calms down eventually."
"He will." Max assured them. "When the novelty wears off. Although that may take a while."
Ben went back to human long enough for them all to get on the gondola for a bird's eye view of the falls. Gwen and Eddie stood side by side admiring the grandeur of the scenery around them. Max smiled watching them enjoy the view in companionable silence.
Ben, however, was a different matter. It didn't take long for him to begin his "research" into which alien could "hock the best loogie;" Only to be seen by passengers in another gondola.
"I don't know him," Gwen pled to them. At which point the top was peeled back from the gondola, revealing Kevin and Vilgax.
"But we do!" Kevin exclaimed.
As Ben fought his enemies, Max, Gwen and Eddie were in a damaged gondola. It soon became clear that the car was coming off of the cable.
"Gwen, your magic," Eddie said. "Can you keep us from falling. Or at least slow us down?"
"I...I don't know."
"Focus and think 'lift." He suggested. He held her hand and said it with her..."Lift..lift." Max watched as Gwen's eyes and hands started to glow...And, was that just reflection, or was the same happening to Eddie?
The gondola did fall, but Max could swear that it was just a little slower than it should be. Ben of course caught the three of them, Max and Eddie in his arms, and Gwen holding on to his neck. It was a lot of weight for him, and the landing was a little hard, but everyone was okay.
Ben kept up the fight, but he wasn't going to last long against both Kevin and Vilgax. Fortunately, Max had a plan. "Follow me," he told the kids.
"The null void projector?" Gwen questioned. "I thought you left that at Mount Rushmore."
"I decided it might come in handy someday."
"Good thinking," Eddie said.
Max waited till just the right time and opened the portal. Unfortunately, Ben got caught in the pull with them.
"What is that thing and what just happened?"
Gwen explained it to Eddie.
"We've got to get him out of there," Eddie exclaimed.
"I will." Max told him as he stepped out in plumber gear.
Gwen objected. "You're the only one who knows how to work that thing. One of us has to go get Ben."
Max thought for a moment. "Good point."
"I'll go," both kids said in unison.
They turned to each other. "Flip a coin?" Gwen suggested.
"No need," Max told them. I have two suits for you and Ben, but Eddie is a little too tall to fit in them." He turned to Eddie, "You'll stay with me and learn how this gear works."
Gwen suited up while Max set up the projector.
By the time Gwen stepped out of the rustbucket, the projector was ready. Max handed her a weapon. Somewhat nervously Gwen asked, "what's this for?"
"Anything that's not Ben."
Grimly she nodded. "How much time to I have?"
"Around ten minutes," Max told her.
Max activated the portal. Eddie looked at Gwen. "Be careful in there. Don't make me come in after you."
She smiled. "I won't." With that she walked in; apparently falling at first. "It looks like it goes on forever."
"It does." Max told her.
As Max talked Gwen through her mission, Eddie monitored the indicators on the projector as he'd been instructed.
In-between advising Gwen, Max instructed Eddie on how the null void projector worked. Eddie was fascinated.
Soon the projector started having trouble.
"What's wrong with it, Mr. Tennyson?"
"I don't know, but I might be able to fix it... Eddie I need you to keep this working while I get some tools."
"I don't know how."
Just operate it manually. All you need to do is keep the trigger down."
"Yes, sir, Mr. Tennyson."
The old plumber smiled. "I told you, it's Max to you." With that he went inside the rustbucket.
In a moment Max was back with some tools. "This is a power backup," he explained. "Part of the problem is that it doesn't have the power to keep operating this long. But I also want to make some adjustments to stabilize the portal. Just keep your finger on the trigger unless I say otherwise."
Max took a panel off and took out some small tools. "No time to tell you what I'm doing. I'll explain later," he promised. "Gwen, you need to get back as soon as you can."
"On the way now. And they're right behind us."
"Eddie," Max said. "As soon as they're both back cut the portal off."
"Got it."
In a moment Ben and Gwen emerged from the portal and Eddie did just as Max had said. Fortunately, he didn't have to answer his unspoken question about what happens if someone is in the portal when it closes.
Max took his grandchildren in a bear hug. As he let them go Eddie walked over. "Good to see you guys back in one piece."
Ben apologized to all of them for the way he'd been acting.
"I got cocky and totally abused my powers. And I'm sorry."
"It's alright Ben," Max assured him. "I'm proud that you learned from it."
Gwen then told him. "That sacrifice you made for me was pretty impressive. So here. I have a gift for you." She handed him a sphere. "The Omnitrix? But I saw you throw it away."
With a smug smile she said. "Maybe you're dumb enough to throw the Omnitrix away, but I'm not."
"What did you throw?"
"One of the bombs grandpa gave me."
"HA!" Laughing, Eddie put an arm around her neck, ruffing up her hair. "Clever girl."
"I think you owe your cousin some big-time thanks," Max told him.
Ben opened his mouth to respond, but then seemed to think better of it. "Yeah, I do. Thanks Gwen."
This seemed to catch her off guard a little. "You're welcome, Ben. You'd do the same for me. I think you proved that."
"Okay," Eddie said, "You're going to have to fill me in."
"As soon as I'm out of this get up," Gwen promised him.
"In the meantime," Max said, "I'll show you the adjustments I made while I put this thing away." He pointed a thumb at the null void projector. "Want to join us, Ben?"
"Tell me about it later. I don't think I want to hear anything about the null void for the rest of the day."
AN:
I have been referring to episodes of the original series to help me stay consistent with my writing. Unfortunately, my DVD player gave out as I was writing this chapter. So from now on you may see some errors in my chapters.
On the plus side; I'll use the opportunity to go my own way more with the stories. We will see if that's for the better or worse.