Authors notes: Chapter 10 is finally here folks, sorry for the long delay, after completing Sonic and the Secret of Swan Lake and helping with my Uncles birthday I needed a bit of a break. But now I'm back bursting with creativity. Now a small note I've been seeing in the reviews a lot of requests regarding Queen Angella's fate in the season 3 finale of She-Ra and the Princesses of Power. Whilst a few creative suggestions I will be sticking to the canon story line of the finale, as I have a plan for this and if you think about it Angella's fate is a critical plot point for season 4.
So to take that away would be taking away what to me was a defining moment of the series. What those plans are, I won't say we'll cross that bridge when we get to it. But for now enjoy.
Ben 10 (c) Cartoon Network
She-Ra and the Princesses of Power (c) Dreamworks Animation
:Where in the Universe is Ben Tennyson?:
In a deep region of space far away from the planet Earth. The Prototruck piloted by Magister Rook Blonko and his partner Ben Tennyson the wielder of the Omnitrix were sent by the Plumbers to investigate unknown anomalies in space time energy. So far however they found nothing.
"Despite the mission we are under taking it is rather beautiful." Rook observed.
"Yeah I kinda wish Kai could see this." Ben agreed.
However all of a sudden the Prototrucks sensors were going crazy as they had detected something and it had similar signatures to the very thing they've been searching for.
"W, wait a moment Ben I have got a fix on the anomalies." Rook said locking in on the signature.
"But Rook theres nothing out there, just the expanse of…" Ben was interrupted when he saw something happen before him.
The nebular in front of them began twisting and turning as if it was turning into something.
"…scratch that theres something happening." Ben breathed in surprise as his partner turned to see what was going on.
The space in front of them began turning into some kind of spiral and it had a dark hole deep in the middle of it and it seemed to be surging with energy.
"The sensors are picking up that it is a…" Rook looked at the controls and saw the sensors were going crazy and looking at the readings Rook instantly knew what this was.
"It is a wormhole!" Rook exclaimed and suddenly the Prototruck began to move towards it.
"Rook whats happening?!" Ben exclaimed.
"We are caught in its gravity well!" Rook exclaimed.
"Get us out of here NOW!" Ben exclaimed.
Rook turned the wheel of the truck to turn the truck round and pushed the thrusters to full blasted into life as it tried to pull away from the gravity well, however they weren't getting away they were just going further in.
"We are being pulled in!" Rook exclaimed.
"Pull out!" Ben exclaimed.
"I am trying!" his partner replied.
All of a sudden the rear thrusters on the wings and the behind overloaded and blew out. The truck was flung into the wormhole with the two Plumbers screaming and growling in an effort to handle the G-force they were being exposed to as they were spiralling out of control. They fell into the wormhole which sealed behind them.
Earth: 4 Weeks later:
On a bright summers day in the city of Bellwood all was quiet and peaceful. The city was alive with people walking around attending to their own matters in life. The city was rather quiet of late no disturbances or nothing.
Far Below: Undertown:
They weren't the only ones thriving, for deep beneath the surface of the city lay the secret underground city of Undertown. A secret city of aliens who have lived underneath Bellwood for so many years. That is until the Incursian invasion of Earth their presence had become known and with some negotiation and fighting off the threat to their home, they now live in harmony with the people of the surface.
The market place was thriving with business today aliens from different planets were looking at the stalls ready to purchase things.
However the peace wasn't to last. All of a sudden a massive explosion shocked the market. Not too far away was a column of smoke coming from a brown delivery van. It bore the logo of Argistix. Emerging from the smoke were two of Psyphons goons Bubble Helmet and Liam.
Bubble Helmet was a pink skinned caterpillar alien wearing a life support armour in purple and silver. Liam was the same species as Kicken Hawk a chicken like alien with two bandoleers connecting on his chest and he has large blades on his lower arms with pastel yellow feathers and sticking out of his head were red feathers.
They had in their possession a large metal crate that was being delivered to one of Argit's clients.
"Bkaw! Heh heh what I tell you Bubbles easy taytens!" Liam squawked.
"Yeah I just like the fact that Tennyson isn't around to stop us this time!" Bubble Helmet said smirking in his bubble.
It had been some weeks since Ben Tennyson had disappeared on a mission and the absence of Ben 10 can spread pretty quick across Bellwood and Undertown. Since then old villains of his have been coming out of hiding and taking advantage of Bens absence, fresh bank jobs, new plots you name it.
However as the two villains were walking away from their heist they were suddenly stopped by a large pink energy blast which catapulted them to the ground.
When they got up they were faced with two faces they never thought they'd see. Standing before them was a woman with short orange hair with green eyes, wearing a blue short sleeved shirt with a blue cat face, a tartan skirt long white socks, blue sneakers and blue tinted glasses.
Accompanying her was a muscular young man with a roughly cut black shirt, grey undershirt with stripes and a collar, blue holsters, long straight hair with greyish blue pants with a slight tear at the left knee and black sneakers. On his chin he had an 'x' shaped scar, with a padlock necklace with a number '11' printed on it.
"Oh maybe not Tennyson, but maybe we'll do." Kevin smirked as he stood with his girlfriend and Bens cousin Gwen Tennyson.
Bubbles just looked with a deadpanned look at the appearance of these two. "Oh great Tennyson's sidekicks!"
"Squark!' Let's make this quick!" Liam said as he branded his lower arm blades. Likewise Bubble Helmet retreated his arms and in their place were a pair of bolted staffs.
"You try to be reasonable." Gwen said as she energised her hands with orbs of pink kneeled down and touched the ground absorbing the stone of the ground which covered his entire body.
Bubble Helmet attacked first swinging his duel staff round firing laser blasts at the two heroes. Gwen raised an energy shield to protect her and Kevin from the rapid blasts.
Kevin used the advantage and ran towards Bubble Helmet forming two hammers from his hands. However Liam attacked first with his bladed lower arms slashing at the Osmosian hybrid. Kevin blocked his attacks with his hammer hands then quickly tripped him up with a leg swipe.
The chicken alien quickly recovered and delivered a back flip kick knocking Kevin back.
Bubble Helmet meanwhile focused his attacks on Gwen who blocks them with her shield. Eventually she decides to fight back and switches to her Anodite form which had a blue mask on her face, blue gloves, a shirt with a darker blue stripe and a black cat symbol, blue boots, short skirt, and a white belt. She steps over her shield with mana footsteps.
She then fires a ball of mana energy towards the armoured villain blasting one staff out of his hand and catapulted him back. He looked to see the package he was trying to steal but he was stopped by another pink energy shield projected by Gwen.
"No you don't!" Gwen said.
Kevin meanwhile was still duelling with Liam who kept throwing kicks at him as he protected himself with his hammer hands. Eventually he had enough and stomped the ground below him and the shockwave knocked Liam back. He was about to attack again until suddenly he was grabbed by an energy line cast by Gwen who then swung him straight into Bubble Helmet sending them both crashing into a store.
"You could have just stopped him with an upper cut right?" Gwen asked.
"Yeah but I trusted in your initiative." Kevin smirked.
However their victory was short lived by a crying sound coming from a certain short green alien in a black and silver suit. It was Pakmar.
"NOOOO! Even with no Ben Tennyson Pakmar's business still get trashed!" Pakmar exclaimed.
"Sorry Pakmar couldn't be helped." Gwen shrugged.
"Yeah maybe next time you shouldn't set up in a place thats likely to turn into a battle ground." Kevin pointed out.
Meanwhile: Baumans Shop:
The incident in Undertown wasn't the only crime in progress today. In Mr. Baumans shop two individuals named the Vreedle Brothers were armed with their heavy both alien and human were fleeing for their lives. Leaving the store owner Mr. Bauman at the mercy of the Vreedle Brothers Boid and Octagon.
"Alright Bauman stick'em up and make with the Taytens!" Octagon threatened holding up his blaster.
"Yeah or we gonna blow ya up real good!" Rhomboid added.
"Boid what I tell ya let me do the talkin!" Octagon reminded.
"Now now please I don't want any trouble." Mr Bauman said a little afraid as he reached into the register and pulled out a cash box of Taytens.
However just as the two clone brothers were about to leave… "Halt in the name of intergalactic law!"
They turned and saw behind them two women. One of them was a Revonahgander like Rook, she had the same coloured fur with orange brown coloured eyes, with long violet hair that runs down to her waist. She wore a white and black Plumbers cadet uniform and was even armed with her own Proto was Rook Shar younger sister to Rook Blonko and recently graduated the Plumbers academy.
Her partner was a slender athletic built tanned skinned woman with black hair in a pony tail and brown eyes, wearing a red short sleeved t-shirt with a red and peach coloured sweater. With brown boots and brown shorts with holsters on her belt.
This was Kai Green girlfriend to Ben Tennyson, since Ben's disappearance Kai had taken a more active roll in helping Kevin and Gwen keep Bellwood safe. She was even partnered with Rook-Shar upon her graduation and assignment.
"Well well well what are two lovely gals like you doin in a dangerous place like this?" Octagon said smirking.
"Yeah cause this is a dangerous place." Rhomboid added.
"On the contrary it is you who are making this a dangerous place!" Shar argued. "Now put your hands in the air!"
"Or we can just as easily do this the hard way." Kai suggested.
"Heh heh you girls have spunk I'll give ya that but you ain't no Ben 10" Octagon said as he and his muscle bound brother pulled out their blasters.
Kai and Shar just looked to each other and smiled. "Shall we?" Kai suggested.
"After you partner." Shar nodded.
Kai moved to draw a sword from her back, but this was no ordinary sword, it was the sword in the stone Excalibur. Since her adventure with Ben and Rook in fighting the Forever Knights in London, she remembered how the sword seemed to move when she touched it. So sometime after that incident she went back to see if she could find it again, and by some luck she found it and she was indeed worthy enough to wield it.
Kai ran forwards with Shar close behind turning her Proto Tool into a blade. The Vreedle Brothers fired shot after shot towards the two of them. Bauman just ducks behind his counter and as he does he looks up at a sign that said '4 weeks without incident.'
"I'm gonna have to update that." He moaned.
Kai ducked beneath the blasts from Octagons blaster then swung her sword to deflect the blasts which did hit one of the shelves in the store much to Bauman's dismay.
Shar moved quickly to avoid the blasts and then tossed her Proto Sword towards Rhomboid and with one slash it sliced off the barrels on his large blaster.
"Oh dang now you done it!" Rhomboid said angrily. He threw several punches towards Shar who ducked from the punches then performed a flip kick which knocked the muscle Vreedle back.
Rhomboid got more mad and tried to slam his fists into the ground to flatten the female plumber. However Shar like her older brother was agile enough to avoid the Vreedle's bulky fists then acting quickly turned her Proto Tool into a blaster and blasted Rhomboid right into another one of the store shelves and the others fell like dominos.
Octagon was still blasting at Kai trying to nail her and eventually Kai had enough of dodging her blasts and decided to act. Timing her movements carefully she tossed her sword towards Octagon and the tip of the blade hit straight into the the firing barrel and it exploded right in his face. Which caused him to collapse to the ground right next to his brother.
He was then met by the blade of Kai's sword and by Shar's Proto Tool blaster. The two Vreedles saw they were beat.
"Aw nuts Octagon we've been rumbled!" Rhomboid groaned.
"I do believe we have Boid, but the only consolation we have is we ain't been blown up." Octagon said.
"Yeah whenever Tennyson fought us, we'd normally either get blown up or sent to jail." Rhomboid said.
"That we would Boid that we would." Octagon said and the two of them sighed sadly.
Kai and Shar could see the two of them were sad that a certain hero didn't bust them for once. "You…miss him." Kai noticed.
"Wait us?!" Rhomboid said in surprise.
"Miss Tennyson no way!" Octagon exclaimed in denial.
The girls just moved past that. Just then Kai heard a beeping sound coming from her Plumbers Badge and so she answered it.
"Gwen?" She called.
"We got things done on our end, how'd it go with the Vreedle Brothers?" Gwen asked over the coms.
"Oh great they weren't too much trouble." Kai said looking as Shar placed the two brothers in handcuffs.
"Excuse us mam, we are sitting right here you know?" Octagon said.
"How about you how's things on your end?" Kai asked.
Undertown:
Meanwhile Liam and Bubble Helmet were in custody and being taken away by the Plumbers. More so Argit arrived on the scene to see the two villains being taken away since it was his shipment they robbed.
"All good here, course it didn't stop Pakmar from throwing a fit over his store again." Gwen said.
"Bwark' things just haven't gone right for us since Fistina went to the side of the red spots!" Liam complained.
"Oh shut it!" Bubble Helmet exclaimed as the Plumbers escorted him into an armoured vehicle.
"This has to be the third string in alien attacks in weeks, it's like nearly all of our old enemies have grown bolder." Kevin said to Gwen.
Gwen knew her boyfriend was right, it was like some of their old villains had come out of hiding ever since Ben disappeared. Like they were taking full advantage of there being no defenders to protect the city or Undertown.
"Its because he's gone right?" They looked to Argit who for the first time had a look of genuine concern on his alien porcupine face.
"Benny I mean… its cause they know he's gone." Argit said. "So where does that leave us?"
Kevin and Gwen looked at each other with questionable looks on their faces. Kai and Shar had the exact same expression on their faces after hearing that question from the com line. Bauman even if he didn't want to admit it was also concerned.
"I…I don't know." Gwen answered unsure.
Kai cut the communication line and turned her attention back to the two felons in their custody. Shar helped them to their feet and was ready to escort them out.
"Well there goes my four weeks without incident, it's like even with Ben gone my store gets wreaked!" Bauman said.
"Really Bauman thats all your worried about!" Kai snapped thinking that Bauman was insulting her missing boyfriend. "Not surprising seeing as how you never liked having Ben in your store, newsflash collateral damage is part of the job so get used to it!"
With that she left the store hiding her upset look much to Shar's concern and the two Vreedles were more than surprised by that was all but taken aback, he never intended that to be offending to her or her missing boyfriend.
"I didn't mean it like that." Bauman said to Shar.
"I apologise Mr Bauman sir, she has been on edge since well…." Shar couldn't finish her sentence.
"So…have you heard anything about…what happened to him?" Bauman asked.
"Nothing yet, the Plumbers will help cover the damages." Shar said sadly as she escorted the two villains out of the store.
Later in the day a news broadcast hosted by Will Harangue on his news show the Harangue nation was on the television and big screens in a TV shop.
"This is Will Harangue with a Will Harangue nation special report." He began. "Four weeks have passed since the dissapearence of our so called hero Ben Tennyson. Well I for one can say that since his absence our fair planet has known nothing but peace."
Harangue then looked through his news script and saw some of the letters he had received from his viewers. Some of them were not good.
"However a lot of people say that since Tennyson's disappearance Bellwood has become nothing but a war zone." He said. "Hello crime is a war zone people! But a lot of you viewers have been writing in with your comments and I have been asked to read them."
He looked at one and read it aloud. "You're full of it Harangue, not surprising since you never liked Tennyson all you care about is your ratings this is nothing new, since Bens disappearance a lot of villains have attacked!"
Harangue really didn't like that comment and was forced to turn the attention to recent news. "Whilst it's true that Ben 10's absence has lead to a rise in crime, and a lot of known criminals both alien and human have committed a series of crimes over the past few weeks."
Visuals were then shown of some of these crimes, Rojo robbing a bank on her alien hover bike. Animo lounging an army of mutant yetis against the city as the Plumbers fight to contain them, and alien villains like Psyphon causing havoc throughout Undertown and even Fistrik and his gang pulling bank job after bank job.
"However this has also caused true heroes like the Vengers to step up and succeed where Tennyson has failed, however others don't seem to see their intentions that way." Harangue said.
Footage was then shown of Billy Billions, Kangaroo Comando, Overlord and his body guard Mazuma stepping up to fight.
"Fear not Bellwood unlike Ben 10 The Vengers will protect you!" Billy proclaimed however the people were not pleased and started pelting them with junk given they were frauds who made Ben look like a chump and them the heroes. They were immediately met by Plumber officers who immediately took them away. Given they were still wanted criminals.
The scene flashed back to Harangues studio. "And who are we left to defend us, Tennyson's so called team of sidekicks!?"
A visual was shown of Kevin, Gwen and Kai on the screen and then footage appeared of them fighting off criminals like Animo and whilst it looked like they were outmatched they eventually overpowered the villains.
Among the people who were watching this news cast was Bens biggest fan Jimmy Jones who was wearing Bens original green sports jacket. He looked down rather saddened, that his hero had disappeared and was presumed to be dead. He just walked away with his head hung low without a word.
"I can't say we're in deep trouble since Ben Tennyson's disappearance thats up to you the viewer, but it is clear that our city has become a crisis zone and everyday more and more villains attack for dominance, which leaves us with one qestion….." Will continued with a dramatic pause.
"WHERE IN THE UNIVERSE IS BEN TENNYSON!"
The screen was switched off as it was being watched in Plumber headquarters that was orbiting Earth. In the rec room Max was in a heated conversation with his son Carl Tennyson and his daughter in law Sandra Tennyson. Bens parents.
"Dad this is just what I'm talking about, you send our son to who knows where in the universe and now he's disappeared!" Carl argued with his father.
"You don't think I know that son, I never liked the idea of sending Ben or Rook on that mission!" Max argued.
"But you sent them anyway knowing full well they may not come back!" Carl argued.
"Carl please calm down, this is our son we're talking about and he can take care of himself." Sandra insisted.
"Thats not the point Sandra everywhere we go reporters like that prideful idiot Harangue have been hounding us and asking us where Ben is and we don't have an answer for them!" Carl argued. "Because you sent your grandson your own flesh and blood on something he may not even come back from!"
"You know I never intended this to happen son! These were orders from the Magistrata, but I've got every Plumber in that sector looking for him and Rook!" Max exclaimed. "We will find them but it's a forgotten zone of space we won't know what we'll find!"
However Carl wasn't satisfied with that excuse. "I never should have let him go camping with you that summer maybe none of this would have happened!" He stormed out of the room.
"Carl!" Max called to his son but it was no good he had left.
"Max please understand that he's been stressed with everything thats happened." Sandra tried. "But…has there been any recent word?"
Max let out a sigh before he answered. "No…nothing yet."
Sandra let out her own sigh as she left the rec room before looking back to her father in law before she left the room. Max was now completely alone and he pushed away all his cooking materials on the side out of frustration. He knew deep down this incident was his fault, if anything happened to his grandson or his best Plumber the responsibility was on his head.
Elsewhere in another room, Gwen was in a meditative state and in front of her was one of Bens old shirts. She was focusing her mind on reading her cousins mana and track it to the source.
Watching and waiting were Kai, Rook Shar and Kevin who waited anxiously for good news. Since Bens disappearance Gwen had been spending day and night trying to locate Ben through his mana. But so far had no luck they were hoping this time she would manage to find him.
Grandpa Max then entered the room to see Gwen was still trying to locate her cousin.
"Anything Gwen?" Kai asked anxiously.
The pink glow on the shirt faded as it slowly descended to the ground Gwen stoped glowing herself and she opened her eyes. However she had a rather saddened look.
"I'm sorry but I still can't sense any trace of Bens mana." Gwen said much to Kai's disappointment.
"Wait you mean he could be…." Kai was close to tearing up until Max put a hand on her shoulder.
"We can't assume that right away Kai." Max assured.
"The trail was weak but Its like something was blocking me from getting an exact fix on him. He and Rook could be on the far side of the universe for all we know." Gwen explained standing up.
"Magister." Called a voice and stepping into the room was Blukic and Driba.
"Please tell me you two have good news." Max said with some faint hope left.
"I'm afraid not, you should come take a look for yourself." Blukic said.
Soon everyone was gathered in the lab and looking at the computer screens. The visuals displayed the schematics of the Plumbers badges highlighting the long range transponders they installed prior to Rook and Ben going MIA.
"As you know we built the new long range transponders into Magister Blonko's and Ben Tennyson's Plumbers badge to work outside of satellite range." Driba explained.
"Yeah and we added a tracking device to them so we could pick up the signal of their ship." Blukic added. "But since we last had contact the signal disappeared, we hopped we could set off the trigger on the homing device, but we couldn't detect a signal."
"Its like somehow they've vanished of the face of the universe." Driba finished much to the disappointment of everyone else.
"Tell me something I don't know." Max pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Even with all this equipment you still can't find Ben!" Kai said rather loud much to the surprise of everyone.
"We're trying our hardest. Take it easy." Driba explained.
"Well try harder we've got villains appearing left and right and we're still no closer to finding Ben or Rook!" Kai exclaimed. "Its been weeks since they disappeared to who knows where and its like no one here is trying to find them! And those people on earth act like he doesn't matter!"
Kai just stormed out of the lab with the door closing behind her. Max, Gwen, Kevin and Shar could see she was taking this the hardest of all. Despite all the times she would tease Ben she did deeply care about him.
Outside she was looking out of one of the windows looking out into the vast nebula of space. She looked up at it knowing somewhere out there her boyfriend could either be dead or alive. She looked at the photos on her phone, mostly of her and Ben in his green and black sport shirt. She even had one of her teasing him as Blitzwolfer.
She did crack a small smile but she was still hurting on the inside. Kai looked to the endless void of stars.
"Where are you Ben?" She said rather saddened. A lone tear ran from her eye. Before she could start sobbing she felt a lone hand on her shoulder and she turned to see Rook Shar looking at her with a comforting look.
"I know this cannot be easy for you, but we all worry for the wellbeing of both Ben and Blonko." Shar assured.
"I know its just I wish we had a way of knowing they were okay." Kai said sadly.
"I too wish for a sign, father and the rest of my family have been greatly worried for my brother, but I have to keep going." Shar said. "Though I grieve and worry for him I know I have to live up to the expectations he left for me to honour him until we find them."
Kai was most surprised by her partners sincerity though she had only been teamed with her for a couple of weeks she had to approve of the respect she showed her older brother.
"She's right Green." She looked and saw Kevin and Gwen standing in the hallway with them. "You're not the only one who's finding this tough we're all right there with you." Kevin said.
"I sometimes have my doubts that we will find him, but I won't give up, and come on this is Ben we're talking about he and Rook are still out there somewhere and no matter how long it takes we're gonna find them wherever they are." Gwen comforted.
"Yeah besides Tennyson and Rook can take care of themselves they're pretty tough." Kevin agreed which was met by the smirks and raised eyebrows in the room as Kevin admitted that Ben was tough given the history they shared as kids.
"If you ever tell him I said that I'll deny it." Kevin then dismissed.
Kai let out a grateful sigh knowing that her friends and partner in the Plumbers were there to support her through this hard time.
"Thanks guys I guess I…" Suddenly this conversation was interrupted by the blaring sound of the alert sirens around the base.
"Its an alert!" Shar exclaimed.
"Oh great now what?!" Kevin groaned as the group headed to the main command deck of the base.
All the Plumbers were running around the base arming themselves with weapons and others were at the monitors like they were tracking something. Kai, Gwen, Kevin and Shar arrived on the bridge to see Pateliday and Max standing at the main screen.
"Grandpa whats going on?" Gwen asked.
"Our perimeter sensors picked up an unidentified object thats on a direct course with Bellwood." Max said.
"A meteor?" Kai asked.
"Not likely its very rare that a meteor flies by Earth, besides look at the readings." Kevin pointed to the screen and took note of the speed the object was traveling at and its size.
"Kevin is correct judging by its speed its too fast for a meteor and it is too small to be an enemy craft." Shar noted.
Outside the base the object zoomed by and entered the Earths atmosphere at high velocity. It soon crashed down right in the city not too far away from Mr Smoothy. Steam was pouring off the object.
Soon a light appeared and it was Kai, Kevin, Gwen and Rook Shar being teleported down via the Plumber HQ teleporter. They cautiously approached the crater of the explosion.
They squinted their eyes to see what it was, and in the smoke a lone shadow could be seen it was a rather muscular built being. Everyone gasped in horror as they knew what or rather who it was.
Stepping out of the smoke was a large muscular being with what looked like an octopus head with tentacles running down from its head. However it was coated with a black skin armour with red marks similar to that of Upgrade only spiked and the mouth area was a star shape with yellow glow emanating from it.
"Oh no…" Kai breathed in shock.
"Vilgax!" Gwen exclaimed.
"He's back!" Kevin exclaimed.
"TENNYSON!" He shouted and it echoed all over the city causing the people to flee. But the new Team Tennyson stood their ground. Gwen readied her powers, Kevin absorbed the steel from the lamp post. Kai drew her sword and Rook Shar readied her Proto Tool blaster.
"Well well well what have we here." Vilgax addressed. "If it isn't Ben Tennyson's pitiful lacks! It has been sometime since you were in my presence!"
"Likewise squid face didn't know Malware was still in season!" Kevin exclaimed back remembering how Ben told him of Vilgax and Albedo taking the psychotic mechamorph Malware from the hall of predators and turning his lifeless remains into armour so he could claim the Omnitrix.
"Last we heard you were fossilised after being dumped into a warp core! How are you still alive?!" Gwen demanded.
Vilgax could only laugh at that statement. "You pathetic children should know by now that nothing can stop Vilgax! Our last battle left me crippled but thanks to this armour I am as you see me now!"
"State why you are here war monger!" Rook Shar demanded.
"I have come to claim what is rightfully mine! Where is Ben Tennyson?!" Vilgax demanded.
"Didn't you get the memo he ain't here!" Kevin answered.
Vilgax didn't accept what the human had said to him as he addressed the four nuisances that stood before him. "You dare mock me boy! I can feel him hiding amongst this insignificant mud ball he calls home! If he's too cowardly to face me then you shall suffer in his place as I lay wast to this miserable planet!"
The warmonger shapes his hands into large energy cannons and fired a colossal beam of red energy towards the four heroes. They quickly ducked out of the way as the beam completely destroyed the Mr Smoothy sign.
The group realised they were in for a near death fight with their old foe. "No way we tell Tennyson about that." Kevin said.
"Not the time Kevin!" Gwen said as she readied her mana and fired blasts towards Vilgax who just sliced them apart with duel energy blades from his arms.
He charged forward and tried to slash at Gwen only for Kevin to block him with his hands shaped like blades. Kevin did cringe in pain as he felt the energy blades cut into his metal skin and some blood did leak from them.
Under his armoured mask Vilgax smirked with pleasure as he could see his opponent was in pain. However he didn't see an incoming attack from Rook Shar who turned her Proto Tool into a rocket launcher and blasted the squid faced villain back towards the crash site.
This gave Kai the chance to attack from the side as she swung Excalibur towards Vilgax and with one slash she sliced off one of the tentacles on his face. He screamed in rage. Kai landed, not to far away, but to her shock the tentacle she sliced off just healed itself as Vilgax formed a blaster from his hand and fired a laser blast towards the female archaeologist.
She was protected by a pink energy shield made by Gwen. She smiled in relief to know her friend had her back.
Vilgax was about to fire another laser cannon blast until he was cut off by Kevin who rammed into him with his hammer hands like a battering ram. Though it pushed Vilgax back he just slammed his fists onto Kevins back sending him crashing to the ground. He raised his foot and was ready to crush him but he was stopped by a bombarding of mana blasts from Gwen.
Vilgax fires lasers from his eyes only to be deflected by Gwens shield but then the tyrant formed twin energy cannons from his hands and fired a massive blast towards her. The blast hit the shield and shattered it, the shockwave sent the anodite flying to the ground.
"Gwen!" Kevin exclaimed running over to her and helped her up. "You okay?" He asked his girlfriend.
"Yeah I'm okay." Gwen groaned but saw Vilgax forming a jet pack on his back as he took to the air hovering over the four heroes.
He yelled as he slammed his blaster into the ground sending a blast wave through the ground sending them tumbling to the ground.
"Plumber HQ come in please requesting immediate back up Vilgax is attacking the down town area this is a code red!" Shar exclaimed down her Plumbers badge.
In Plumber HQ, the Plumbers were rushing to the satellites vehicle bay to the tanks and jets to help their comrades in distress.
"Shar back up is on the way, they're five minutes from your position just hang tight until we get there." Max said.
Kai then came in on the coms. "Max no offence but…. WE'RE GONNA BE DEAD IN FIVE MINUTES!"
The line was suddenly cut by a large cannon blast sound. "Kai! Gwen! Kevin! Shar!" Max cried but there was nothing but static.
He was frozen in shock, his best people were being outmatched by Vilgax fused with Malware. The only one who could stop him was MIA it was then he realised the consequences of his grandsons disappearance. He had to do a word he hurried to the elevator in the base.
"Max where are you going!" Called Piteliday but the doors shut before he could answer.
Back on Earth, the Osmosian hero was flung into a nearby building. The smoke cleared to reveal he was beaten and battered. The steel skin that coated him was cracked and burnt.
Vilgax was fighting Shar and Gwen. The Revonnahgander was blasting him with her Proto-Tool whilst Gwen bombarded him with pink mana blasts. They ran around him and blasted him. Vilgax then jet packed into the air and fired a laser cannon from his arm trying to blast the two of them. However he didn't see was Kai leaping in from behind and stabbed him in the back with her sword. He growled in pain.
However the armour on his back then shaped into a cannon below her. Her eyes widened in shock as she was blasted right off Vilgax's back and sent crashing into a nearby car.
Kevin got up and ran forwards and readied his blade hand. Gwen readied a spell. "Appendaga Regoria!" She exclaimed.
Suddenly Vilgax found that he couldn't move he was paralysed by a glowing pink aura that surrounded him. This allowed Kevin to land a solid slam to his face with a hammer fist sending him flying into an empty transport truck.
Kevin landed safely but groaned out in pain as he knelt down to the ground. Gwen hurried over to him as Shar supported Kai as they walked over to them.
"Kevin are you okay, you're bleeding." Gwen said in genuine concern.
"As long as I can land a punch, I'm fine!" Kevin said.
However their rest was short lived as emerging from the smoke of the destroyed truck was Vilgax who upon touching the truck rendered it to nothing but ash. Given he has Malware's abilities to turn tech to ash, it was a deadly power.
"Accept the inevitable you cannot harm me! Surrender Tennyson and the Omnitrix and I may spare your lives!" Vilgax said.
Kai just couldn't believe this nor could Shar, they knew the stories told by Ben and Gwen about this guy. But they never knew how invincible this guy really was. One thing was for sure they were in way over their heads.
"This is a very disturbing development." Shar gasped.
"Doesn't anything stop this guy!" Kai exclaimed.
"Not even before he fused to Malwares corpse. You mix his ability to absorb tech and become it with Vilgax you got an all out unstoppable fighting machine." Kevin explained. "Man Tennyson picked the wrong time to disappear."
"Well Bens not here but we are we've fought Vilgax before and we can do it again." Gwen said determined as she looked at the approaching war monger. Then she remembered what species Malware was and what could stop him.
"Wait thats it, Kai, Shar I need you to keep Vilgax distracted." Gwen said.
The two nodded as they hurried towards Vilgax weapons at the ready. They stood unintimidated by the villain before them.
"Ben isn't here Vilgax so you're gonna have to deal with us instead!" Kai said with a smirk.
Vilgax could only cackle at this as he readied his energy blades and slashed at Kai. Only for her to leap out of the way then land crouching on the ground.
"Shar double team time!" Kai called.
Shar ran towards her partner and Kai gave her a leg up into the air and she leaped over Vilgax and her Proto Tool blaster split into two blasters and she fired upon the squid faced villain from above. Vilgax blocked the blasts then formed a fusion cannon from his right hand and fired upon Shar who quickly dodged out of the way of the blast.
"Now Miss Tennyson!" Shar exclaimed and Gwen was ready with her attack.
"Mechanae Discombobulus!"She exclaimed. She launched bolts of mana which hit Vilgax and caused his armour to spark electricity and he cried in pain.
"What what is happening to me!" He exclaimed.
Kevin was more than surprised. "Whoa what you hit him with?"
"A deconstruction spell, it's one I accidentally cast on Ben as Upgrade when we were kids. Since it short him out it should work on Mechamorph based armour." Gwen said remembering the affect her deconstruction spell had on Upgrade back when she and Ben were kids.
It did slow Vilgax down just in time as multiple Plumber tanks and jets arrived on the scene just in time. The Plumber agents maning the tanks activated their gun turrets against Vilgax and fired their laser blasts at Vilgax which weakened him further.
"Keep on him men he's almost finished!" Said one Plumber agent. However Vilgax was not one to be defeated he let loose from his mouth a powerful blast which completely blew away all the tanks and the agents along with the four heroes.
Everyone groaned and lay on the ground in defeat, Kevin groaned as he tried to get up but was too weak to fight.
"TENNYSON YOU COWARD!" Vilgax yelled at the top of his voice. "ALL YOUR ALLIES ARE CRIPPLED AND YOU STILL HIDE FROM ME! SHOW YOURSELF AND FACE YOUR DOOM!"
Just then he heard the sound of an approaching vehicle he turned round and saw what looked like an old RV heading towards him at top speed it was tricked out with boosters and tail fins. This obstacle was more than a nuisance to him so with one swift slash he cut the Rust Bucket in half with his energy blade. The two halves crashed into the buildings on the opposite side of the street.
However he wasn't prepared for an energy blast that hit him in the back sending him crashing to the ground. He turned round to see the one responsible.
Behind him was Max Tennyson armoured up with his Plumber gear and blasters one of which was a large energy cannon. One he had used the last time he crossed paths with Vilgax when he reappeared to claim the Omnitrix from ten year old Ben.
"Ben can't hear you Vilgax, he's somewhere in the universe saving lives. But I won't let you harm anyone else so do your worst!" Max said with a defiant glare.
"Max Tennyson!" Vilgax exclaimed. "You must truly a fool to try and face me, your not the same nemesis who defeated me all those years ago!"
Max gritted his teeth as he fired another shot from his big gun which blasted Vilgax back but the squid faced villain blocked his attacks with his own arms and pushed forwards. He used his energy blades to slice off the gun rendering it powerless. He then tried to stab the old plumber only for him to duck under and then pulled out his laser rifle and fired a blast towards him which was instantly deflected by Vilgax's armour Max continued firing on him but every shot was useless. In the end his rifle was grabbed by the villain and was rendered to nothing but ash.
Max was then simply swatted away by the tyrants massive clawed hand. Max tried to get up only for him to get pinned down by Vilgax who was ready to blast his head off with his fusion cannon.
"Now heres where you end, then I shall destroy everything precious to you until I find Ben Tennyson myself!" Vilgax threatened.
However his gloating was short lived as he felt a sudden blast in his back which sent him flying into one of the wreaked tanks.
Max looked and saw Kevin was standing with one of the turrets he ripped off one of the wreaked tanks. "Didn't happen then won't now!" Kevin said.
He quickly ran over to Max and helped him up from the ground. "Max what were you thinking taking Vilgax on head on?!"
"I had to, Ben would have your backs I'm here in his place I owe that to him." Max explained. Kevin helped carry Max to the still undamaged tank.
However little did they know that Vilgax had recovered and glared at his opponents. He formed his hand into a fusion cannon and targeted it on the two suddenly heard a noise the sound of a cannon and he turned and saw Vilgax firing his fusion cannon. The blast was heading right for them.
"KEVIN!" He yelled as he pushed Kevin out of the way and he got the full force of the blast from Vilgax's cannon on his right arm.
He screamed in pain as he felt the laser fire burning his arms flesh, and Kevin,Gwen, Kai, Shar and the Plumbers looked in complete horror. Max toppled to the ground and his arm was bleeding out and burned from the blast.
"Grandpa!" Gwen cried out and everyone hurried to the wounded plumber.
Shar looked over his injuries and they all looked with shrunken pupils seeing the extent of the damage. Gwen was completely balling up in tears but her sadness slowly turned into her clenching her fists in an unrelenting rage. She turned to Vilgax with hatred in her eyes which glowed bright with energy. She changed into her anodite form and slowly approached the tyrant.
"Gwen!" Kai said but Kevin stopped her from going after her looking with a knowing frown.
Vilgax then trained his cannon on the Anodite and fired on her. However she merely deflected the blast with a swipe of her hand. He couldn't believe it so he fired it again with duel laser blasts this time but she deflected each and everyone of them away.
Gwen then sped straight towards Vilgax and blasted him with a massive blast of mana knocking him back. He tried to fight back only for the Anodite to block his attacks and lands energised punch after energised punched she was screaming like an animal possessed.
She landed an energy punch that sent Vilgax flying down the street. She teleported then arrived at the opposite end of the street and released an almighty energy blast. This sends Vilgax crashing to the ground.
"You hurt my grandfather attacked my planet! I. Have. HAD IT WITH YOU!" She unleashed her full fury on Vilgax and blasted him with her energy blasts.
Kai and Shar were all but amazed they had never seen Gwen with this kind of power before. Kevin could see his girlfriend was angry and how she might take it too far. Just then he saw something in one of the wreaked tanks that could help end this.
Vilgax was catapulted into one of the tanks beaten and battered but his mechamorph armour all but healed. He was suddenly restrained in a pink aura that was beginning to crush him. He saw Gwen hovering above him with a hateful glare.
"This is where you end Vilgax! Once and for all!" She yelled and applied more and more pressure to the aura as he yelled in pain.
"Gwen no!" Called a voice, she saw Kevin and Kai standing nearby. "Don't do it he's not worth it!"
"No he needs to pay! He needs to be taught a lesson in fear!" Gwen exclaimed in tears.
"But it won't change anything Gwen this isn't you talking!" Kai exclaimed.
"She's right remember what your grandmother said you still haven't matured to that kind of power yet, don't let it consume you!" Kevin agreed.
Gwen listened well to what her friend and boyfriend were telling her and she looked at Vilgax with a hateful glare.
"You know this isn't the way. Ben wouldn't do it, not like this you know that!" Kevin added.
Deep down Gwen realised they were right, if she went down this path there was no coming back from it. She also knew the number of times she and Ben fought Vilgax since they were ten and they never crossed a line they couldn't uncross, even after all this blood thirsty tyrant had put her family through.
So she released the grip she had on Vilgax sparing his life. Kevin then pulled out a familiar looking projector device and aimed it towards Vilgax.
"Y…you should have finished me! Tennyson would have!" Vilgax groaned.
"No he wouldn't…not like this!" Gwen said and without further instruction Kevin fired the projector at Vilgax who was instantly sucked into a portal that lead to only one place. The Null Void.
Gwen reverted back into her normal form and instantly went into a hug with her boyfriend who all but welcomed the embrace. Kai was all but relieved that it was over, however the victory was all but sour. They looked at Max Tennyson wounded by the battle as Rook Shar tried to tend his wounds the best she could.
Soon at the Plumber Head Quarters Max was stirring from an unconscious state he looked and saw Gwen and Kevin standing by his bed side.
"He's coming around." Kevin said and Gwen looked with tears in her eyes as Shar, Kai and Piteladay looked at him.
"Grandpa, h..how are you feeling?" Gwen asked.
"Welcome back to the land of the living old man." Kevin said.
Max groaned as he found himself lying in a hospital bed in the medical bay of the base. "I've been better." Max groaned.
"Its a miracle you are with us at all Max Tennyson." He looked to his right side and saw what looked like a frog like alien who was older and wore green and black robes. This was Azmuth the creator of the Omnitrix as he stood by Blukic and Driba.
"Azmuth? What are you doing here?" He asked.
"We called him when your condition worsened." Gwen explained.
"So.. have you told him yet?" Kai then said. Max was all but confused by that statement. Told him what?
Azmuth took a moment before he spoke. "Max Tennyson, the medical equipment and treatments here were able to heal most of the internal damage caused to you by Vilgax. However your arm I am afraid was…beyond salvageable."
Max looked to his right arm and saw it was gone and replaced with what looked like a cyber prosthetic hand in metallic silver. He sighed in sadness as this time the battle with his old foe had taken its toll.
"I'm sorry Max, but Blukic and Driba did all they could to save you, and well whilst the arm may seem unsightly we've made some improvements that may help." Peteliday said assuringly.
"It will take a while for your nervous system to adjust to your new appendage." Azmuth said.
Max tried to wiggle his fingers but it took a few minutes before they moved. He did have a slight happy look on his face but it didn't replace the fact his real arm was gone, this was going to take some getting used to.
Just then entering the medical bay was Carl and Sandra who looked with great concern. Gwen had told them what had happened and they came as quick as they could.
"Dad!" Carl breathed in horror as he came over to his bed side and gave him a hug.
"Hey hey son I'm fine I'll be alright." Max assured as they broke their hug.
"Dad I I'm so sorry for everything, I never meant what I said I just…" Carl tried but Max stopped him from talking.
"No no Carl… you were right, this was all my fault." Max said looking down in regret. "I never should have sent Ben on that mission." He raised his prosthetic arm and looked at it. "Now I've paid the price for my mistake."
Everyone could see how the veteran Plumber deeply blamed himself for what happened to his grandson. They all had their share of grief over this.
"I hate to be the damp cloth in this, but I don't think this is over yet." Kevin then said breaking the silence.
"Kevin is correct if todays encounter was any proof it means that Ben and Blonko's disappearance may have reached the worst of alien low lives that we have faced in the past." Shar agreed.
"She's right, with Ben gone the planets been left wide open so hostile aliens can come and invade." Gwen added. "And I'm still no closer to finding him or Rook.
"There just has to be a way to find them, we can't just sit here and do nothing before the next heavy hitter conquer arrives we're running out of time!" Kai added and then in that moment.
"Did someone say time?" Said a voice, they all looked in surprise as standing in the room was a certain Time walker wearing what looked like a steam punk look in white and terracotta brown coat and under jacket. His right hand was a metallic gauntlet which was the new form of his Chrono Navigator.
"Professor Paradox!?" Everyone exclaimed.
"Greetings all good to see you again, or it will have been good to see you before, time traveling can make verb tenses so very confusing." Paradox explained.
"Wait you only show up when somethings happening?" Gwen guessed given past experience.
"Sharp as ever Gwendolyn, in fact I am just in time to tell you that I may know where Benjamin and Rook are." Paradox said.
This perked up a spark of hope in everyones hearts, the time traveler knew where their missing comrades were. Kai was also hopeful.
"Well don't keep us in suspense where in the universe are they!?" Kai exclaimed anxiously.
"Well that is a rather complicated query Kai Green, for they are not in the known universe per say." Paradox said.
"Oh boy I'm already starting to get a headache." Max groaned.
"Theres a story to come with this right?" Kevin guessed.
"Yes and its quite the tale." The professor said.
Soon they were all gathered in the rec room, Max was in a wheelchair whilst Kai, Kevin, Gwen, Carl, Sandra and Shar were on the couch whilst Azmuth, Blukic and Driba were standing on the chair arms. They all listened as Paradox explained everything.
"As you all know many anomalies in time and space are a result of tampering with the chrono energies. In the wake of Maltruants tampering with space time it has created new variables." Paradox explained. "The anomaly that Ben and Rook have fallen into lead them to a shadow dimension, one that is known by many names but is commonly known, as Despondos."
"Despondos?" Gwen said curiously.
"Yes a shadow dimension, that is completely cut off from the rest of the known universe." Paradox explained.
"So they're stranded in an empty dimension?" Kai guessed.
"Ah it's not empty per se, there is something residing there, a lone planet one known only by Etheria." Paradox said.
"Etheria? Never heard of it." Kevin shrugged.
"Kevin is correct, in studying the star charts at the Plumbers Academy, I am not familiar with a planet by that name." Shar agreed.
"It was once part of the known universe." Paradox explained as he used his gauntlet to show them a projection of the universe and a lone planet surrounded by a number of planets. Carl and Sandra were all but taken aback by this projection.
"You see Etheria was once a planet in this system, and ancient powerful beings known as the First Ones, great alchemists and explorers from beyond colonised the planet. However over one thousand years ago, a cataclysmic event in time space energy sent the planet into this empty dimension." Paradox explained.
The projection showed the planet being surrounded by energy and light as it then suddenly disappears without a trace. "So this is where our son is?" Carl asked to which Paradox nodded.
"But how did Tennyson and Rook wind up going there?" Kevin asked.
"Because something about space time in that sector of space makes it very easy for portals to suddenly open and pull anything in." Paradox said. "When Ben and Rook approached the anomaly it suddenly pulled them in given their own exposure to space time energy in their confrontation with Maltruant."
"Well what are we waiting for Paradox, you can go there and find them!" Gwen said.
"I don't think it's that simple Gwen." Max suspected.
"Your grandfather is correct." Paradox agreed. "As you all know, there are many places in time and space that I can and cannot go, and Despondos is one of the places I sadly cannot travel.
"Then quit talking and open a portal to send us there!" Kai added.
"Again Kai it is not that simple, for it is not getting to Despondos thats the problem…." Paradox explained as he walked to the other side of the room and turned to them.
"….Its getting back." He then said. "For once something or someone enters the shadow dimension, they can never leave it."
Everyone looked with great horror and hurt, Paradox had just told them that they're friends are stranded in a shadow dimension and an unknown planet they can never leave. If they're disappearance didn't hurt them knowing they can't return hurt them worse.
"Y..you mean, they're stranded there! Maybe forever!" Kai said in was more guilty than ever knowing he sent his grandson to somewhere he would never return. This new reality hit them like a car to a wall.
"Well then send us to them we can still help them!"Kai suggested.
"I'm afraid not, for as a time traveller I have seen many timelines, and one of which is if you all did travel to Despondos, it would therefore leave the Earth unprotected, if Vilgax's attack today was any evidence of that." Paradox explained.
"But if if me Gwen and Kevin went…." "The outcome would be exactly the same." Paradox explained interrupting Kai.
"But.." "Kai." Gwen interrupted her. "I don't like it but he's right, I know from experience what it means to tamper with time and space."
"Yeah and if I know Ben he'll find a way back he's stubborn that way." Kevin said. "So maybe he should have an earth to return to, so its up to us."
"They are right partner, we must protect the earth he and my brother love so much, and though their absence maybe long we will do what we can to protect the universe from evil low lives!" Shar said. "I must follow where Blonko tread in his path to be a hero."
Kai realised that they were right, and that her boyfriend would want to come home to a still existing Earth. Plus she knew he wasn't a quitter and would find a way back. She also knew that though Ben isn't with them there were others who would rise to the challenge like her and her friends.
"Alright then thats what we'll do we'll protect the earth, and we'll stop whatever comes next with whatever it takes or however long it takes." Kai said with confidence. "Its what Ben would want us to do."
Max looked with pride to see that they were rising from the ashes of this. Ben paved the way for them to follow in being the new protectors of Bellwood in his absence.
"However…" Their attention was then drawn to Paradox again. "…Though we cannot venture to Despondos, we can still send objects through to them."
"We can!" Carl said amazed.
"Are you sure!" Sandra said.
"Yes, and I believe there is one object, that defiantly needs to be sent to young master Tennyson, right Azmuth?" Paradox hinted and all eyes turned to the smartest being in five galaxies.
He closed his eyes and remained silent for a moment as he was deep in thought. And then he spoke.
"Yes Paradox is right. Ever since our last conflict with Vilgax fusing with Malware, I've feared he may resurface. As such I have been working on a new feature for the Omnitrix that could help increase its power exponentially should the time arise." Azmuth said. "I was planning to give it to Tennyson a week ago, however given the circumstances now seems to be the time to do so." He finished.
"For now understand this, events are now in motion that cannot be undone." Paradox then said getting their attention.
"Why because of Vilgax?" Gwen questioned.
"I'm afraid not Gwendolyn, whats happening in Despondos is the forerunner of events to come. There is a greater threat on the horizon, an enemy yet to reveal himself." Paradox explained. "You must all prepare for the storm that is coming."
He gave a short pause which was all but tense for the rest of the group, what great evil was he talking about. He could time travel so they must assume he's talking about something that may happen in the near future.
"Now then enough dilly dally, it's time we send Ben and Rook the help they need." Paradox said. "But before that perhaps Kai and the others should let the people know who will defend them."
Kai, Kevin, Gwen, and Shar all looked at each other and had an idea of what to do next.
Later nearly all the people of Bellwood were gathered in front of the city hall and standing on a stage in front of a set of microphones were Kai, Kevin, Gwen and Shar. Many reporters were gathered as Kai had called for a press conference regarding Ben Tennyson and naturally everyone came.
Kai stood up to the microphones. "Everyone thank you for coming." She started. "My name is Kai Green, and I am here today to talk about my boyfriend Ben Tennyson."
Reporters started talking at once and started asking questions like, "Do you know where Ben 10 is? Why had he abandoned us? and can you account for his absence?"
"Hey pipe down the girls talking!" Kevin yelled to the crowd.
"Yes I for one want to hear this!" As if on cue Will Harangue appeared in the crowd of reporters.
"Miss Green care to tell the public where you so called boyfriend public menace Ben 10 is? And should we even be bothered if he should return as far as todays attack is concerned these recent attacks are his doing! These villains are here to hunt him!" Harangue exclaimed. "Today many civilians paid dearly for this and…"
"Of course you would say that!" Called a voice and everyone looked to see Jimmy stepping out of the crowd.
"You just like to talk smack about the guy who has saved this city! This planet who knows how many times!" Jimmy exclaimed. "Who knows where he is but he's out there saving people his obligations don't just end at the borders of Earth! And all you care about is your ratings Will Harangue in fact thats all you ever cared about what makes good news!"
Will just looked at Tennyson's biggest fan in shock he pretty much called him out. "The kids right!" Called a civilian.
"Yeah he saved my daughter in a fire years ago, and you call him a menace!" Called a man in the crowd.
"You suck Harangue in fact that new slimy alien look of yours is appropriate for your ego!" Said a woman.
"Everyone please settle down!" Gwen yelled getting their attention.
Kai then took a deep breath and spoke again. "You're right I do not know where Ben is and I do admit these villain and alien attacks emerge because he's disappeared. But I would like to share something with you all." Kai said.
"Ben admitted to me that, he never asked to be a hero and though at times he's arrogant and a pain, he does the right thing in the end. He always told me it could have been anyone to find that watch, but he just….happened to be in the right place at the right time." Kai spoke with passion in her voice and everyone listened carefully. "He never asked for his powers but he chose to use his powers to help people."
Elsewhere: Bellwood stadium:
In a lone tennis court Julie Yamamoto was practicing her tennis swings, then she heard the news cast over the radio. She went over to it and listened.
"Though Ben isn't here now and many villains rise to take advantage of that." Kai's voice spoke. "There are others who he has inspired that may rise to the challenge."
Julie knew about her ex's disappearance and was too worried about everything they meant to each other in the past he was still a good friend to her. Just then her Galvanic Mechamorph pet Ship hopped up onto her shoulder.
"Ship, Ship." He chirped. Julie knew that was the only word he could say but knew what it meant. She looked with a determined smile into the sky.
Elsewhere on a farm ranch:
In a lone farm ranch on the far side of the country. Bens cousin Clyde Fife was in his room in the farm house watching the conference that Kai was holding.
"Anyone who possess his determination, courage, wisdom and dedication. Can be a hero."
Clyde looked at the large gold metal wristband which had a yellow number five printed on it. It was actually alien tech that made a nano shift exo armour which he dubbed the had been training at the Plumbers Academy alongside Rook Shar and others dedicated to the cause of justice. But he always kept it with him. And now it was time for him to step up.
"I won't let you down cousin Ben." He said determined.
In many other places even across the globe and beyond those Ben Tennyson has met and inspired to be better heroes like Alan, Helen and Manny the Plumbers kids, Ester, Zak Saturday and the Secret Saturdays, even his alien allies like Tetrax, Argit even Rad Dudesman all heeded the words that they heard on the broadcast and chose to answer the call.
Back with the press conference everyone was all but touched by these words that this woman spoke. Even Harangue knew to shut up for once.
"We all have a power that doesn't come from alien tech, and in our own way we're all Ben Tennyson, and we're counting on you stand with us and protect the home he strove to protect. We may not be perfect, heck he wasn't perfect but the safest hands are still our own." Kai finished.
Gwen, Kevin and Shar looked with proud eyes and deep down they knew Ben would tear up with pride if he was listening to this now. The crowd was silent, however just then lone applause came from Jimmy who stood in the crowd and soon enough more and more people began to applaud and cry out with joy. Harangue knew he wasn't welcome at this gathering he thought they were all out of their minds.
Kai smiled with pride and even shed a tear in her eye as they all had listened and heeded her words. She looked at the crowd and saw her grandfather was amongst the crowd smiling with pride.
"We're gonna be okay Ben, wherever you are Earths in good hands." Kai said in her mind. "We won't let you down."
Back at Plumber HQ a lone grey and black spherical pod was loaded into a space capsule. The inside of the pod a bright green light was emanating from it and died down once the pod closed. It was then loaded into a space capsule, meanwhile Pateliday had finished programming in the coordinates of its destination.
The capsule was ready to launch. "Commencing count down." Pateliday said as Azmuth, Max, Carl and Sandra stood and watched. "5…4…3…2…1…BLAST OFF!" He pressed a button on the console and the capsule blasted off into the far reaches of space and beyond.
The Tennyson family watched as the only hope for their sons salvation disappeared into the darkness of space. "I hope it can reach them in time." Sandra said worried.
"It will, Ben is our son we need to trust and hope that he will come home to us." Carl said.
"Your right son, kids do have a way of rising to the occasion." Max said then looking to the distant stars. "Ben, Rook, wherever you are out there. Be safe, look out for each other and come back to us safe." Max said to the distant stars.
Etheria:
Several lightyears away on the planet Etheria a large column of light was shining from the Whispering Woods. At the source stood a lone tower made of First Ones technology, it was like a beacon of sorts.
Approaching the beacon was Ben and Adora, they had recently found each other and found the beacon that Adora had come looking for. And after a few life changing speeches and talks from old forest hermits they found what they were looking for.
They approached the tower, unaware however that they had company. Namely a certain feline Horde Force Captain hiding in the trees. That had come looking for the same thing, the secrets of this mysterious tower.
"Okay so how do we get inside?" Ben then wondered to Adora, and his answer came seconds later as a small door printed with a shape of the swords blade opened before them.
"Okay…." Ben guessed.
"Look Ben, you don't have to come with me I…" "Adora I'm not leaving, we're in this together." Ben interrupted Adora dead set on seeing this through she had to admire him for that.
"Okay lets go." She said and the two of them entered the Beacon unaware that Catra had jumped down from the tree and looked down on the secret entrance way.
The door suddenly began to close, Catra leaped in just before it closed behind her.
Adora and Ben found themselves walking down a triangle shaped hallway surrounded by First Ones symbols. Catra slowly slid down the entranceway and saw Adora and Ben heading towards another door way. She looked with squinting eyes, wondering what they wanted in this strange tower.
Authors Notes: And thats the end of that chapter folks. And whew its been a long one. Now for this chapter I was greatly influenced by the opening of Justice League (original film) and by Spiderman into the Spider-Verse for some aspects of this chapter. Now I'll admit having Vilgax/Malgax blast Grandpa Max's arm off may have been a bit extreme. But if you recall from the classic Ben 10 timeline Max is seen with a robotic prosthetic but never understood how that happened. Then in the No Watch Ben reality of Omniverse it was revealed that Grandpa Max lost his arm fighting Vilgax. So who's to say this wasn't an event in the Ben Prime timeline.
Now as many of you will have noticed, I have ended this chapter with the beginning of the episode The Promise, the reason behind this will be revealed in the next chapter. And lets just say Adora and Catra won't be the only ones who'll get a blast from the past.
Until then ITS HERO TIME!