SZ: Hey guy. We're back with another chapter o-okay! *turns towards GT*What are you working on, GT?!
GT: *pokes head out* Eh, new story and a new type of explosion.
SZ:Oh..cool on the new st-wait…..what type of explosives….?
GT: I said explosion, not explosive. Trying to make it sound 'KA-fwump-a-fwish-krack.'
SZ: Oh…know what nevermind. We…*looks at latest review by Ages of Ages*... *takes a deep breath*listen...and listen...close Ages of Ages...or Age...whatever you call yourself since you've been overly critical since this story began.. Alternate...UNIVERSE!
GT: Like SZ said. Ben 10 has a multiverse. There's good Bens, bad Bens, a zombie Ben...We aren't dealing with Prime Ben in this story. This Ben Tennyson and his universe are what we will call the GSE Universe or Timeline if you prefer, where Gwen is a year older than Prime Gwen was.
SZ: Thank you...We don't own anything aside from original content, so...begin story!
GT: Right. Oh, and I already set it off.
SZ: Wait wh-
*KA-FWUMP-A-FWISH-KRACK!*
Normally at night in a city, one would assume peace, quiet and tranquility ass the stars shine in the night sky. However...this was not the case most of the time in Bellwood as the sounds of sirens filled the air. Firefighters were mobilized, doing their best in trying to deal with a fire blazing through a two-story home. A crowd had gathered, watching the firefighters try to fight the flames as one firefighter was helping a bald-headed man with a bushy mustache get to an ambulance, a blanket over his shoulders as he coughed.
"...Madison? Where's Madison?" the man asked as he looked back at the burning building.
"Daddy!" a young girl's voice screamed from the building.
"Madison!" the man called as the firefighter held him back as he broke into another coughing fit, "My daughter's in there!"
Almost as if on cue, the front entrance to the house finally collapsed, bringing up more flames, heat, and smoke into the air. The firefighters moved back from the sudden burst of flames as the one holding the man shielded him. Once it died down, they looked to see the back of an older teen before them, donned in a black and green shirt and baggy brown pants.
"Ben 10…"
"I got this, sir. XLR8 will have her out in a jiffy," Ben assured, activating his Omnitrix as he slammed down on the dial. Instead of XLR8 however...he ended up as Rath, "...Let me tell ya somethin' new Omnitrix; Even Rath thinks this isn't a job for Rath!" he pointed at the man, "And you! Stop worrying!"
"Gh!"
"Now...Rath is gonna…" Rath began before Makoto hopped over him and into the burning building, making sure to get through a blast of hose water, "What the?! Rath told you to stay back, Makoto Nanaya!"
"You need back up!" Makoto shouted, "I'll check upstairs! You take the bottom! ...oh and try not to get into a fight with the fire!"
"Rath is not gonna get in a fight with the fire!" Rath argued as he rushed in, "Hello~! Tiny Girl with a worried dad~!" he called out before some embers landed on his face, "...YOU WANT A PIECE OF RATH, FIRE!? YOU GOT IT!" he snapped as he ended up punching himself in the face, knocking himself over.
"Called it," Makoto deadpanned, hearing the shout and punch downstairs from her spot upstairs, "Hey! Madison! Hello! Please, shout as loud as you can if you can hear me!"
A loud cry caught her attention, prompting the Beastkin to look at a nearby door. Inside, a young girl was shaking, sitting between her bed and nightstand as she tried to stay away from the fire. Makoto frowned before adopting a confident smirk. The girl yelped as the door fell over from Makoto's punch.
"Hey, kiddo!" Makoto greeted as she entered and scooped her up, "Madison, right? Makoto Nanaya, at your service."
"...y-" Madison began before noticing a piece of burning debris falling right towards them, "Look out!"
Makoto jumped back, avoiding the burning debris, "Whoa there! Some hot stuff in here, am I right?" she looked around before spotting a doll in a cat costume and picked it up, "This yours?"
"Dolly!" she gasped, hugging it.
"Alrighty, now we're gonna get out of here and to your daddy, okay? You gotta be a brave girl and just hold on to me and not let go of me or your dolly," Makoto spoke as gentle as she could in the current situation, "Can you do that, Madison?"
"...O...okay, miss. I'll try."
"Atta girl," Makoto smiled softly as she rushed out of the room, holding onto Madison, 'Really glad I made sure to soak myself before going in here. It's nearly as bad as the Kraaho village in Undertown.'
"Gah~! Little girl, where are you?!" Rath shouted from downstairs, "Rath's running out of floor!"
"Hey! Found her!" Makoto called, causing Rath to look up in time for Makoto to land in his arms with the girl and her dolly, "Aw, such a gentle-cat."
"Seriously?" Rath deadpanned.
"Kitty!" Madison awed.
"Kitty? Kitty?!" Rath exclaimed in disbelief, "Lemme tell ya somethin', near-sighted little girl with a worried dad. Rath is…" a burning beam fell beside him, "...is taking you outside now!"
"Please do," Makoto deadpanned, pulling her tail over Madison for extra protection as Rath rushed towards the entrance, "How you holdin', Madison?"
"I'm okay," Madison replied, hugging her dolly closer before looking up at Rath and then whispered to Makoto, "I like the crab one better."
"Ah, a girl who likes smarts."
"D'oh…" Rath groaned at that before charging through the burning debris, landing outside the burning building as he skidded to a halt.
"One Madison, hold the death," Makoto informed as she hopped out of Rath's arms and gently put Madison down by her father, "Your daughter was a very brave girl for us, sir."
"Oh thank you…" the man sighed in relief as he hugged his daughter, "Madison, I was so worried."
"Daddy!" Madison cried, returning the hug.
"Not too bad, eh?" Makoto smirked at Rath.
"Whatever," Rath replied before their ears twitched and looked at the building to see the second floor's front half of it start falling towards them, "Aw…"
"...nuts," Makoto finished before a pink dome covered them, letting the debris bounce off it, "Eh?"
"Huh?" Rath blinked as the dome vanished, "Hey...who…?"
"Hey, Ben."
"?!" Rath tensed as he looked over to see a pair of familiar figures.
The first figure was a young man around eighteen years of age with long black hair reaching down to a few inches down his back. He wore a white long-sleeved shirt with the ends frayed under a frayed black T-shirt with the sleeves torn off, ripped jeans, and a silver necklace with a keyhole lock on it with an '1' carved into the spot beside the keyhole to make it look like an '11.' The other was a young woman around the same age as the guy with her long orange hair pulled back into a ponytail reaching down just a few inches down her back. She wore a dark-blue skirt, white stockings reaching her knees, dark-blue shoes, and a sky-blue button shirt under a blue vest.
"Miss us?"
"Kevin?! Gwen?!" Rath gawked.
"Huh...so this is them," Makoto noted before Rath stomped up to the two.
"Grr...Lemme tell ya somethin' Kevin E. Levin and Gwen Tennyson, former team-mates back from college: You show up out of nowhere in Rath's town and save Rath and his apprentice?! Nobody saves Rath! Rath saves himself!"
"Says the tiger who punched himself in an attempt to fight the fire," Makoto deadpanned.
"Zip it! Rath does not need any of your sass, Makoto Nanaya!"
"Wow. Thought your gramps was kidding on the ears and tail," Kevin noted.
"Huh?" Rath blinked at that as he changed back into Ben, "How do you…?"
"We called ahead that we were coming to visit," Gwen explained, "Grandpa Max filled us in on everything you've been up to since we were gone."
"That and he wanted us to be the ones to tell ya to stop using the Plumbers for your tab for your 'Misery Smoothies' and 'Depressed Chili Fries'," Kevin joked.
"What? I eat when I'm depressed," Ben snorted before smiling while putting an arm over their shoulders, "Great to have ya back."
"Aw~ Family reunion," Makoto smiled.
"So you're staying here now?" Kevin asked as he parked his black and green car outside of the house.
"Yeah. Meant to keep the new team together in one place," Ben replied, "Manny and the other Plumber Kids used to stay here before they got assignments on other worlds."
"Was wondering where they were staying," Kevin noted before noticing Ben's car with the front caved in still, "Dude! What happened?!"
"That was me," Makoto sheepishly replied, raising her hand, "Harangue ticked me off and I didn't want to break anything in Ben's house."
"...Yeesh. What did he say?"
"Just something really racist towards Beastkin," Makoto answered before muttering, "Darn racist jerk…"
"Most people tend to take his words with a grain of salt," Gwen noted, patting her shoulder, "Still, thanks for looking out for Ben. I know he's a hassle at times, but you have to admit he's a good guy at heart."
"...Yeah. He is," Makoto nodded, "Thick headed at times, but yeah...he's a good guy, and a great friend… Just wish he'd do something about that 'foot in mouth syndrome' of his."
"That's not a legit thing!" Ben argured.
"Yes it is, especially while you're Rath!" Makoto countered with a laugh.
"...I like her. She's sassy as heck," Kevin smirked, "Though really? She did that to the car?"
"One punch," Ben confirmed before sniffing the air, "Ulp. Uh, Makoto? Was today Noel's day off?"
"Yeah. W..." Makoto began before she sniffed the air a bit, causing her to pale as her ears drooped, "Oh chestnuts."
"...Dude, I feel like we're missing some context here," Kevin spoke as he looked at Ben, "What's got you and…?"
"Oh! Ben, Makoto! You're back!" Noel beamed as she opened the door, wearing a white apron over a baby-blue shirt and black skirt as she held a tray of...something before coming over, "I just finished making some sweet and sour cookies!"
"..." Kevin took one look at the tray and raised a brow, "...How does she know how to cook Atrocian Biscuits? You need to be in the middle of a cesspool to bake them just right."
"Apparently, she's a natural," Ben replied.
"All it takes for her is cookie mix, lemons, limes...and sugar. Lots and lots of sugar and lime juice," Makoto added.
"Seriously?"
"You should see her mousse. Apparently Petrosapiens love it," Ben spoke.
"Hm? Oh, we have guests?" Noel asked.
"Yep. Gwen, Kevin, this is Noel Vermillion, my third apprentice," Ben introduced, "Noel, these are my cousin Gwen and my friend/her boyfriend Kevin."
"Oh! G-greetings," Noel bowed a bit, "It's nice to finally meet you both…though if I had known we were gonna have guest, I would've made more."
'...The one time I REALLY wished Mai was here…' Makoto thought, "...So uh...Gwen. Ben told me you're in college. How's that treating ya?"
"Ugh. Exactly like saving the universe, only replace an intergalactic warlord with a pompous history professor," Gwen groaned before shaking her head, "Forget her. I'm on Spring Break, and Kevin took a week off from work t-"
"Woah woah woah! Stop right there!" Ben exclaimed as he held his hands up, "Kevin...has a job?!"
"My own garage," Kevin shrugged with a smirk, "Got my own cot and everything."
"Like a 'job' job?" Ben asked in disbelief.
"Uh...yeah…" Kevin replied.
"The man who once sold my hero services...to our enemies...has a Job." Ben stated.
"You use to be a special kinda slimey back then, huh?" Makoto smirked.
"Oh it has been a process to fix him." Gwen chuckled in agreement, "So many angry looks and talks."
"Ah. Well now you got him whipped at least." Makoto added.
"Hey!" Kevin complained.
"Dude...your whipped…" Ben stated before Kevin wrapped his arm around his neck tightly, "Gah! Uncle uncle!"
"Not so funny now, huh Tennyson?" Kevin grinned before whispering into his ear, "I need you to hide me."
"Hide you?" he whispered back as the girls talked, "Why...from Gwen? Has college had that much of an effect on her?"
"Well she contemplated a new look, but a friend of hers talked her out of it." Kevin muttered, "But not the point, and not from Gwen."
"Then from…." he stopped hearing the dull sound of a spaceship engine above them, "Makoto...is their an alien ship over us?!"
"Yep…" she spoke.
"And is it about to fire?"
"...Noellie?"
"H-hai," Noel squeaked.
"...out of the car!" Ben yelled as the four quickly got out just as a missile hit it.
"AH! My Ride! What is it with this town!?" Kevin cried.
"We're fine too!" Gwen pointed to herself and the others.
"I just repainted her…" Kevin whined.
"Ugh…" Gwen sighed before she formed a barrier blocking several laser shots aimed at them, "And here I thought I was homesick!"
"I put up the house forcefield!" Noel spoke, rolling over to their side, "Ah...the cookies…" she realized she dropped them.
"Later!" Ben exclaimed, turning on the Omnitrix.
They all looked up at the small black ship with golden exhaust piping as a blasted extended from its nose. It charged up another shot only to be knocked away by the Proto-TRUK as it landed in front of them.
"Get in!" Rook shouted.
"Shotgun!" Makoto and Kevin shouted at the same time, only for Kevin to give as Makoto raised her fist.
"...Fine. You win," Kevin muttered as the five hurried into the vehicle.
The Proto-TRUK took off and lead the ship away from their home and through Bellwood's busy downtown. The two weaved through buildings as the enemy ship kept up at a threatening pace. Ben poked out of the port at the top as he slammed the Omnitrix and became Bloxx. He jumped off and extended his body forming a wall in the path, but the ship quickly ducked under before he could finish forming. Bloxx growled reforming to normal before slapping his Omnitrix. Chromastone took his place as he flew after the ship and began blasting it. The ship turned around and fired on Chromastone...who absorbed the laser and merged it with his own, blasting the side of the ship making it fall down to the streets below. Chromastone smirked as he flew back to the ProtoTRUK and climbed back in.
"Okay. I think I bought us some time." Ben spoke as the divider to the back opened the top half so he could talk to his friends.
"Yeah if anyone can wreck a car, its you Tennyson." Kevin smirked.
"I too find he has a knack for that." Rook smirked.
"Guys this is Rook. I don't always get him, but he's cool." Ben introduced.
"The feeling is mutual." Rook smiled.
"Not the best of first impressions." Gwen sighed.
"Can't be any worse then Clockwork barfing up a time vortex that summoned my friend here." Makoto pointed out.
"..."
"...I jinxed it somehow, didn't I?"
"You did…" Ben groaned.
After finally finding a place to land just outside Bellwood, everyone filed out to take a breather. Kevin asked to check the ProtoTRUK to see how it worked...and to say he was impressed would be underselling his excitement.
"Gravitorque boosters, detrovite nav system, I think there's even some Galvan tech on here!" Kein excitedly cheered, looking under the hood.
"Yo Kev...who was shooting at us?" Ben asked.
"Quil-temp nanoshift transformer!?" Kevin gawked, finding yet another amazing piece of technology in the engine, "Ha! Dude Ben, he's got a Nanoshift Transformer!"
"I can make up words too…" Makoto muttered, not understanding any of what he'd been saying for the past ten minutes.
"Any ideas?" Ben turned to Gwen who was reading on a tablet.
"For once I'm gonna let you figure out who's trying to kill you." she sighed.
"Actually, I think they are trying to kill your boyfriend." Makoto pointed at the giddy Kevin.
"Makoto's right...those shots where aimed mostly at Kevin...at...vital places…" Noel muttered.
"Wait. What you mean vital?" Kevin panicked.
"Nothing…" she replied slowly.
"Totally your boyfriend's fault…" Makoto noted as Gwen sighed.
"...Look…" Kevin began as he looked at Ben, "All I can say is I need a place to hide...got any ideas?"
"We got a place…" Ben sighed, "Makoto, call Tsubaki and tell here there is a maniac after Kevin."
"Done…" she sighed.
"Okay. You've been leading us for a while now, dude. Where exactly are we…" Kevin began, the group traveling through a tunnel before they ended up in one of heh markets in Undertown, "...Woah."
"Hmm?" Gwen raised a brow, looking up from her tablet before noticing the area, her eyes widening in surprise, "...Okay. Not the same old Bellwood...How long has this been here?"
"You know...not really sure," Ben answered.
"We just stumbled across it my first day here," Makoto added
"It's been changed a little since then too…" Ben muttered.
"Hi, Changing Guy!" several Kaka clan women waved.
"You get back here, Tao!" Ragna shouted, running after said guardian of her clan, the latter having a piece of foot in her mouth as she ran away.
"You're it, Good Guy!" Tao laughed.
"This...is insane...out of this world...unbelievable…" Gwen listed, "Yeah...I'm home." she smiled.
"Wait…" Kevin blinked as he ran up to a stall, "You can buy Dark Matter Afterburners on Earth? ...We live in an age of wonder."
"Oh believe me. There is far more to find down here." Rook smirked, "It is thanks to these Undertown shops I was able to modify the Proto-TRUK."
"No way...you retrofitted that chassis? Get out of town!" Kevin smiled.
"Yes. My ride is a treat not unlike candy." Rook smirked.
"Oh yay...more car talk." Makoto complained.
"Ooh~" Noel awed, going off towards a stall selling alien groceries, "Magister told me of a recipe I must try!"
"Ack!" Makoto panicked, rushing over and picking Noel up, "Not the time…"
"Aw…" Rook sighed excited for whatever this dish could be.
"Still a lot of eyes…" Kevin whispered to Ben, "Gotta be somewhere to hide."
"...Hmm…" Ben muttered as he looked around before crouching down and tapping the door for an alien restroom.
Kevin poked his face in only for the diminutive little alien inside to lower his newspaper and toss it in his face, "Hey! Ever heard of knocking!?"
"Ever hear of locking the door!?" Kevin snorted, tossing the paper to the ground as the door was shut.
"Here!" Ben pointed to a large pipe tank, just big enough to fit a person. Kevin jumped in...but his height made it so he only fit up to his arms, making him shake his head in rejection of the spot. The two then looked at their friends, who were looking at them in confusion, "Uh...getting Kevin fitted for a tank suit...which is...a thing...down here." Ben muttered trying to justify this scene.
"Yeah...totally a thing…" Kevin muttered to Gwen.
"What did he do?" Makoto whispered to Ben.
"I don't know...but he's super freaked…" Ben whispered back.
"Alright. Arms up." she ordered to Kevin before smacking her hand on his head, making him sink into the tank, "There...perfect fit!" she smiled, joining in on their ploy.
"Makoto…"
"What? It worked."
"Let's try something else…" Kevin groaned in pain.
Gwen shook it off as she turned to Rook and Noel, "So as I was saying, I was thinking of majoring in Anthropology. Perhaps even an independent study on Alien Anthro." she explained.
"A fine idea!" Rook smiled, "Back when I was still stationed on Revonnah, I took several externet class on similar subjects."
"Tsubaki is doing the same thing to help her better understand the many aliens we work with and meet." Noel added with a smile.
"Rook, Noel?" Gwen got their attention, "Do you know why Ben and Makoto are trying to hide Kevin?" she asked as the latter two pulled him free of the tank and jogged off.
"No…" Noel shook her head.
"I, too, have noticed this." Rook sighed.
"That was close…" Kevin sighed as they ducked into an alley.
"Okay...what did you do?" Makoto asked, crossing her arms.
"Pfft...wha?" Kevin laughed.
"I'm a girl...you think I can't tell when you're spewing boy nonsense to try and avoid trouble? Your not even good at it…" Makoto countered, "Better hurry before I tell Gwen you have a secret." she smirked with a cocky arch of her eyebrows.
"You really know how to pick 'em, you know that Ben?" Kevin sighed.
"One more 'we're dating' joke and I swear I'll crack the skull of the next guy to say it." Makoto frowned, cracking her knuckles single handedly, making Kevin gulp.
"I'll even use Rath to help," Ben added in an annoyed tone, making Kevin gulp further, "Now spill...what did you do?"
"Ah...okay…" he sighed, rubbing the back of his neck, "Now look. This is a story from...my younger days…" he stopped as an explosion made them turn to see the ship back once more, "Oh no...it found me…" he hissed.
"What? Space mafia...Space Kingpin of crime...evil dictator...your secret evil clone?" Ben listed.
"Oh please let it be one of those!" Makoto cheered, holding her arms up as her tonfa formed from her armor.
The hatch opened as a tall red skinned figure rose up. The figure was a Tetramand, but their figure was thin...feminen, clad in a black unitard with cloth bindings around her stomach and a battle skirt of tanned leather with fur edging and open front covered her waist, a gold ornament covered her torso connected to two leather armor shoulder pads matching her skirt. Each of her arms where covered in black fingerless gloves that went up to her elbows and where kept right with wrapping around her wrists. Her legs where glad in golden armored open toed greaves/boots. Finally her face was framed by a black and gold helmet with two large horns extending from the sides and pointing upwards.
"...Let me guess. Ex girlfriend?" Makoto guessed as she looked at Kevin, "Also how did she…"
"Uh...Makoto?" Ben spoke, earning her attention as he pointed to a certain rat being held in one of the female Tetramand's arms.
"...ARGIT!"
"I didn't mean to give you up, Kev! She made me!" Argit yelped.
"I am Princess Looma Red Wind, and I am here to claim my husband, Kevin E Levin!" she declared.
"Husband!?" Gwen declared in shock and rage.
"Oh buddy you really done screwed up, didn't ya…" Makoto spoke, her ears drooping in annoyance.
"Uhm ...congratulations?" Noel asked confused.
"You are a husband? I had not heard!" Rook declared happily.
"No...Rook...honey, what your thinking is okay...isn't…" Makoto shook her head slowly.
"NO!" Kevin snapped in a voice of panic and concern; his voice even cracking a bit, "We're...uh…We're just engaged…" he turned to Gwen, "I meant to tell ya."
"Go on…" Gwen crossed her arms as Noel and Makoto joined her in giving the stink eye as Rook and Ben just stared at the scene confused as heck.
"Uh…" Kevn began before he noticed Looma charging at him, tossing Argit away in the process, "...Kinda busy right now…" he chuckled nervously before running to a nearby alleyway, only to see it was closed off.
"Why have you been hiding from me, Kevin?" Kevin turned to see Looma approach, banging her fist into her open palmed as Kevn quickly put his hand on the wooden board behind him, his entire body being covered in the same substance.
"Uh...I wasn't hiding!" Kevin replied as he quickly ducked under a punch, "I was sick! My ship broke down!" he began as he was punched, making splinters fly off his face, "I needed a new suit!"
*BAM!*
"...There was an Earthquake."
*BAM!*
"A flood…"
*BAM!*
"...Vilgax attacked…"
*BAM*
"It wasn't my fault…" Kevin wheezed, his face bruised up while sporting a pair of black eyes.
"Liar!" she shouted punching again, only to hit a pink barrier. Looma turned to see Gwen with her glowing hands held up and Ben slapping the Omnitrix.
The mutation began as his body swelled until he towered over the others, replacing him with a giant Anthropomorphic turtle/tortoise, with thick legs, two long flipper like arms that hit the ground, and his face poking out of a hole in his shell's stomach, several more holes forming along it, with the Omnitrix directly in the center.
"Terraspin...great. I'll turtle her into submission." he groaned as Makoto and Gwen climbed over his shell to see.
"M-maybe she can be reasoned w-EEK!" Noel yelped as she and Makoto hopped off just as Looma charged at Terraspin.
Terraspin used his arms to block her drop kick. The dust was blowin away as Terraspin lifted up, his arms spinning around as his legs merged into a third flipper, his limbs spinning as a propeller as wing blew from the holes in his shell lifting him and Looma into the air. A small visor opened on the top half of his shell where his head popped out of. The two flew off into the pipes above as Loom punched and scratched at Terraspin's face.
"GET OFF!" he shouted as they crashed into a pipe, making it explode.
"First; He's a flying turtle! Oh that's so cool!" Makoto cheered, "Second...Ben hang on!" she panicked.
"I'm trying h-WOAH!" Terraspin yelped as he flew downwards and crashed into a stall. A few moments of silence passed before Ben came out of the rubble, "Ugh...Anyone catch the number of that pipe?"
"Grr…" Looma growled, bursting free of the rubble.
"Surprise punch!" Makoto shouted punching at Looma...who blocked her punch without even turning to see it coming, "Ahahaha...she's...she's got skills…" she laughed nervously, remembering how strong Fourarms was and recalling the females are even stronger than that, "AH!" she cried, being tossed into Ben sending them rolling across the ground, "Ow…"
"Oh my back…" Ben groaned.
"We may need to call a retreat…" Makoto groaned.
"Hop on!" Rook shouted, driving an alien hover bike with a sidecar towards them.
"...And another point for the past!" Makoto beamed a bit as she shot up, grabbing Ben before hopping onto the sidecar.
=Hey! You gotta pay for that ren…!= a robotic alien began before some Taydens were thrown at him.
"Keep the change!" Ben shouted as Looma skid to a halt, making the vendor fly into the distance via crashing into him, "Drive drive drive!"
The team drove into the sewer system and made many turns and backtracked and made more turns until they themselves were lost. They still kept driving just to be safe.
"Oh, I can't wait to hear your explanation for this one!" Gwen shouted, making Kevin jump.
"Uh….that's Looma...been after me since we left campus." Kevin chuckled.
"So thats what happened to the recreation building!" Gwen realized.
"Not cool dude!" Makoto snapped, tossing an old soda can at Kevin's head.
"I figured you owed somebody money, but engaged?!" Ben added before narrowing his eyes at Kevin, "What do you get out of it…?"
"...Long story!"
"No it's not. You just…" Argit began before Kevin elbowed him in the face.
"Okay. You earned one point back…" Makoto muttered as they pulled to a stop.
"Hmm…" Kevin muttered as he hopped off and looked around, "...Ahh. I think we're clear…" he grinned as he turned back towards the group...only to tense at the glares he was getting, "...Ugh...fine I'll tell."
"Please do…"
"This was back during mine and Argit's more...questionable days," he began, "I needed a piece of tech from the Tetramands. It was...important. But they said there was no way. I was an outsider. So I made a deal...I got what I wanted, and in return…"
"You got a fiance…" Makoto noted with a sigh, "Okay. What was so important you agreed to a hasty-if not possibly-shotgun marriage?"
"..."
"...Just tell her, dude. In fact? Better idea...you should've given the tech back," Argit spoke.
"No way! I'm not giving up my car to some spoiled four armed princess!" Kevin argued before tensing, "...Oops."
"All this...is about...your car?!" Ben snapped.
"Seriously!?" Makoto joined him.
"In fairness, Tetramands do make indestructible engine blocks..." Rook muttered.
"Doesn't justify it, Rook!" Makoto snapped, making him jump, "Oho...just you wait till I tell Rayona's who's side you're on in this…"
"But he's got a point...how do you think my car survived all those beating!?" Kevin argued.
"That's how the engine survived that time Humungousaur used it as a giant exploding club…" Ben blinked.
"Yup."
"...Oh that poor princess," Noel whispered.
"Honestly, Kevin…" Gwen shook her head in disappointment.
"Wha…!?" he gawked.
"Oh what? You expected the jealous girlfriend bit? You are the one in the wrong here! You jilted a girl...to get a stupid engine!" Gwen snapped.
"I'm gonna break your stupid face after both the women in your life are done." Makoto added.
"She must be so heartbroken," Noel added, "For all we know, she could be nice."
"Tch. Nice nothing…" Argit scoffed.
"SHUT IT RAT BOY!" Makoto snapped.
"Yes, ma'am."
"And you!" Makoto snapped as she pointed at Kevin, "Ohohohoho! Oh you leading that girl on like that is REALLY reminding me of a lazy perv I worked with, and it is taking every inch of willpower I have to not punch you to the moon!"
"W-wait!" Noel shouted as she got between the two, "M-maybe she can be reasoned with. For all we know, she's most likely crying somewhere."
Before anything could be said, the wall behind Kevin suddenly exploded, causing the group to tense as Kevin as knocked to the ground.
"I will fight for your love, Kevin!" Looma declared as she stomped out of the newly formed hole, towering over Kevin, "Even if I must break every bone in your tiny human body."
"I can let it happen…" Makoto crossed her arms.
"Aw see? She fights for love," Noel smiled.
"I'm all for giving him his karma...but this might not be it," Ben muttered.
"Can we let her get a few punches?" Gwen countered.
"...I really like your cousin, Ben. She's sassy," Makoto grinned.
"A little help here?!" Kevin shouted.
"Against all better judgment...I'm gonna help him," Ben sighed, "But next time someone comes after him, we all agree to let him save himself right?"
"Totally/Oh-ho yeah!/Agreed.../Yep/Hit him in the face!" the others all said in unison.
"No wait!" Kevin cried as he was punched into the wall across from them, "Gwen...I don't need to go to the dentist next week...she knocked that molar out…"
Looma was about to approach Kevn before she noticed a green flash go off, making her turn to see XLR8 charging right towards her. Her response? She held her arm out, resulting in him ramming into it as he flipped through the air a few times before landing.
"Ow…" XLR8 groaned as he got up, coughing a bit before becoming a blur and zoomed around Looma, "Sorry, lady! You can't hit what you c-!"
"Rah!" Looma roared as she punched the ground, resulting in a shockwave that knocked XLR8 into Kevin, knocking him over.
"Well she's...surprisingly good at this," Makoto muttered.
"XLR8 is Ben's fastest running alien...but not strong enough to harm her," Noel noted, "Maybe Fasttrack would have been better?"
"Now ya tell me!" XLR8 cried as he was used as a club to beat Kevin.
"GAH! Pointy helmet!" Kevin cried.
"Okay now I feel bad...Ben doesn't deserve to get pummeled for Kevin's screw up." Makoto sighed, "Even though Kevin...deserves much worse…"
"Yeah but Ben doesn't…" Gwen sighed, "Hang on Ben!"
"Oh come on!" Kevin cried as he was lifted up by Looma.
"Allow me," Rook spoke, pulling out his ProtoTool as he fired a tether that wrapped around the arm Looma was using to hold Kevin.
"...Um, Rook. I don't think that's…" Noel began as Rook fired a gadget at the ceiling, the tether connected to it as it began to lift Looma up...right to a pipe big enough to pass through, Looma taking advantage of it as she held Kevin in one of her other arms and swung into the pipe, breaking the tether in the process, "..."
"Hey! Don't just stand there, Tennyson!" Kevin complained.
"Ya know...I have always felt gross about the thought my best friend would become a part of my family…" XLR8 muttered.
"Please help!" he cried desperately.
"That's what I thought you meant," XLR8 smirked, rushing after him.
"Yeesh...and I thought Argit was a hassle," Makoto muttered.
"Hey!"
"Do I need to bring up the U-Bomb again?"
"..."
"Yeah. I thought so."
"Wait...what did Argit do?" Gwen asked, her eyes glowing pink.
"Attempted to sell a universe destroying bomb to the Incurseans."
"?!" Argit tensed at that as he bolted out of there.
The group climbed up through a manhole, finding themselves back at the construction sight which sadly was pushed back after they chased Ester through it. Kevin was left on a pile of wooden board he'd been slammed into with a noticeable bump on his noggin, most likely when Looma probably bonked him to keep him there while the fighting inside the incomplete building was her and XLR8 going at it.
"...Think Ben's doing okay in there?" Noel asked in concern before Looma jumped out of the incomplete building, holding XLR8 by his tail.
"...That answer your question?" Kevin groaned.
"Hang ten, Ben!" Rook shouted as he charged.
"It's 'hang tight', Rook!" Makoto corrected.
"Right! Hang t-" Rook began before he was slammed into by XLR8, the two beign sent flying into the incomplete building.
"Okay. This has gotten out of hand." Gwen sighed.
"I'm on it!" Makoto spoke.
"Makoto I'm not sure…" Gwen began.
"Oho let me have this, Gwen…" Makoto smirked.
"Makoto please. I'm sure she can be reasoned…" Noel began.
"I think it's obvious she can't be reasoned with!" Argit barked.
"Ha! As if I'd lower myself, especially to a bunch of girls and a half-animal freak!" Looma laughed.
"...What did you call me?" Gwen and Makoto asked with narrowed eyes.
"Argit, be useful and shield Noel with your useless body!" XLR8 groaned.
"Ow…" Argit replied before running as Gwen covered her hands in energy and walked forward with Makoto.
"Did Looma always have the hammer?" Noel asked, helping XLR8 stand up.
"Apparently...she can summon it via some alien tech in her glove…" he groaned, timing out, "It was so cool…painful, but cool..."
Looma swung her hammer as Gwen blocked it with a barrier. Looma's eyes widened in shock before Makoto jumped and punched her, sending her skidding back. Looma growled, standing up before grunting as she was blasted by a beam of pink energy, which pinned her against some concrete pipes. Makoto flipped one of the pipes up by stepping on it before swinging it and striking Looma sending her flying away. Looma then stopped mid-air as a pink energy board held her up while pinning her arms to her sides. She then blinked as Makoto ran up this energy before slamming her fist into Looma, sending her rocketing back down and into a pit, which was to be filled with cement.
"Whoa…" Kevin muttered.
"And you!" both girls pointed at Kevin, making him cry and fall over.
"When this is over, you are in a lot of trouble, Kevin Ethan Levin..." Gwen frowned.
"Ooh she middled named you...NOT a good sign," Makoto shook her head.
"You do deserve a stern talking to," Noel added from her spot, "Why not call his mother?"
"Gh?!"
"Not a bad idea…" Gwen spoke.
"Correct me if I'm wrong...but isn't he just barely a legal adult?" Makoto smirked.
"Tennyson, I hate your new girl!" Kevin snapped.
"You don't get to be angry!" Gwen and Makoto snapped, making him whimper and fall over.
"Yeah..I'd argue about the 'girlfriend' bit, but I'm not walking into that hornet's nest," Ben shook his head.
"But there are no…" Rook began before blinking, "Oh...another Earth expression."
"...Um everyone?" Noel spoke, earning their attention, "Sh-she's getting back up."
"Hammer's glowing...oh crud the hammers glowing!" Ben panicked, flashing into Diamondhead as he and Kevin pushed the girls out of the way as a blast struck them, knocking them both down, "Regret...so much regret…"
"I think she broke something that time…" Kevin groaned.
"Now we end this...beloved," Looma frowned as she approached, bits of cement on her.
"Can't...you just get a divorce?" Diamondhead complained as Makoto helped him stand, the cracks in his body sealing up.
"And make her livid? No thanks…" Kevin groaned before a large shadow covered the area, "...Crud."
"And that's an alien war ship…" Makoto muttered, looking up.
"Oh no…" Noel added to the sentiment before pulling out her badge, "We know…" she replied to Tsubaki.
=...I'll be there with a team stat. Considering who's ship that is...wait. Who angered someone from the House of the Red Wind?=
"For once I can say this un-ironically…" Diamondhead grunted, "Wasn't me!"
"It was Ben's friend Kevin...he made a deal for a car part in exchange for a shotgun marriage more or less," Makoto answered, pulling out her own badge.
=I'll bring a lawyer…=
"...About that. They don't seem the reasonable type…" Makoto deadpanned.
=Makoto, I'm sure…=
"Enough!" a voice boomed as a large Tetramand in gold armor and an eye patch over one of his eyes, "You now face Warlord Gaar of the House of the Red Wind! Turn Kevin LEvin over to Looma, or the Earth perishes!"
"You can have him!" Makoto panicked before grunting as Diamondhead bonked her head, "Owie…"
"He's probably bluffing," Diamondhead muttered before a large fleet of ships appeared above Gaar's ship, "...or not."
"You heard me. Kevin Levin or I will incinerate the Earth." he repeated as several Tetramand guards rushed out and grabbed Kevin, one leading Argit with a spear pointed at his back.
"...I'M NOT WITH THEM!" Argit freaked as he held his hands up.
"...Uh...hey Gaar. Eh heh...how's it going, pops?" Kevin asked with a nervous chuckle.
"Kevin…" Gaar frowned as he glared at Kevin
"Oh yeah. He never liked you…" Makoto deadpanned as she looked at Kevin, "He'd be that father in law who demoralizes you...or tried to drive you out of the family. Or if you're really unlucky...a combination of both."
"Not like it'd be hard…" Diamondhead added.
"Daddy!" Looma beamed as she rushed up to Gaar.
"Oh there's my girl," Gaar smiled a bit before he was suddenly lifted up in her hug, "Woah! You're getting stronger everyday! I'm sure you make your enemies quake in fear!"
"I know I do…" Argit muttered.
"Warriors of Earth!" Gaar shouted as Looma put him down, letting him return the hug with one arm around her, "I am not a violent man...per say. But understand this; I will do everything I can to protect my daughter's interest. Any who object...well..." he motioned to the fleet of ships in the air, "My personal fleet is ready to fire at my command."
"Not gonna happen." Ben sighed, flashing back to normal.
"Good. Then let the wedding commence!" Gaar declared as a large circular structure was placed around the group. Parts of it began to shift and turn, two sides folding out as what looked like organ pipes rose up. The ground then suddenly began to rise up from underneath the group as the wall they were facing converted into a wedding altar of sorts.
"...Wow," Ben and Makoto blinked.
"They don't waste time huh?" Gwen added.
"I'd be impressed if I also wasn't really really nervous." Noel added.
"Uhm...Congratulations?" Rook added.
"Gee...thanks…" Kevin muttered as he was forced closer to the altar by a few guards.
Kevin was forced to stand at the altar as an elderly and skinny Tetramand priest walked forward. He had one pair of arms clasped together as he used the other to motion to the soon to be wed.
"Warrior and Gentlemen," he began, "We are gathered here today in the eyes of Zed."
"Their god's name is Zed?" Makoto whispered.
Ben shrugged as Gwen sighed in a confused tone.
"We gotta stop this…" Ben sighed as Tsubaki landed from a Plumber ship that flew overhead.
"Oh no its already started." she sighed, "Tetramands customs say that the ceremony and contract can be annulled if a worthy champion comes forth to fight one of the two parties."
"So someone has to go up their and fight…" Makoto muttered before the group looked at BEn.
"Why's everyone looking at me?" Ben asked, "Oh NO! I've been saving Kevin's grease stained butt since we were kids! I've literally given him more second chances then I have aliens, and now I have to fight a battle of champions for him to avoid his own karma!? ...Alright fine...but Kevin? When this is over...your car...is mine."
"That's fair," Gwen and Makoto nodded.
"What?!" Kevin gawked.
Crashhopper landed at the Altar as he stomped his leg, "I don't want to fight you...like really...I really don't want to. But I will!"
"Kevin Levin, do you allow this?" Gaar asked.
"Yes…" Kevin spoke slowly.
"Challenge accepted! What good Fortune!"
"Oh I feel I'm gonna regret…" Crashhopper began before Looma grabbed him by the face, "...Called i-"
*BAM!*
"Ahh!" Crashhpper screamed as he was sent flying. He then quickly jumped out of the way of Looma's attempted slam.
"Is this one a train fighter?" Gaar asked.
"Yes!" Crashhopper complained as he was punched in the face several times.
"No…" Rook and Gwen sighed.
"Not in the normal sense…" Makoto added.
"Scared...worried...scared...worried…" Noel muttered to herself, "What to do…?"
"...Heh. Earth's greatest Warrior?" Gaar asked.
"Earth's greatest Hero…" Rook replied.
"Ha! This I gotta see!" Gaar laughed, "Looma is my greatest warrior. If what you say is true…"
"Yeah yeah we get it…" Kevin muttered
"Don't worry, Kevin...Ben and I will drive you back to your place...in his new car," Makoto patted Kevin's shoulder.
"D'oh…" Kevin groaned as Crashhopper continued to hop around Looma's attempted strikes, "Come on, Ben! Change into a different Alien! Go Way Big or something on her!"
"Hey wait. Doesn't Ben know the rule about…?" Argit began before Kevin bonked him on the head.
"What...rule?" Makoto growled, cracking her knuckles as a green flash went off.
"Uh…"
"...Tsubaki?"
"I'm looking…" Tsubaki muttered as she looked through some notes she had taken.
"Wait...why did Ben turn into Clockwork?" Gwen asked, making those from the future tense as they looked up, seeing Looma pounding on Clockwork.
"I swear I vas going for Cannonbolt!" Clockwork shouted before Looma tossed him, "Urp! Gurh! BLARG!" They all then saw a beam shoot up into the sky.
"AH! He looked at me again!" Makoto complained.
"Not good…" Tsubaki whispered in worry.
"...m-maybe something good will come out of it," Noel offered...while mentally hoping nothing bad would come out of the forming portal.
"What is that!?" Gwen shouted.
"This happens whenever a Chronosapeins looks at people from the future for some reason," Tsubaki explained.
"Oh…" Kevin muttered.
"Wait? More chicks like you three!?" Argit shouted.
"Very tempted to toss you into that p-" Makoto began, raising her fist at Argit before two figures fell out of the portal just as it closed, "?!"
"Vhat?! Two zis t-" Clockwork began before Looma punted him across the arena.
"Focus on the fight!"
"Oh for…" Makoto groaned as she rushed towards the falling figures, "Gwen, some assistance please?"
"On it," Gwen nodded as she quickly created a net of pink energy just as Makoto jumped up and grabbed the two figures, the Beastkin falling down as she landed on the net.
"Got it. Now who…" Makoto began as she looked at the two figures, "?!"
Both figures were of her age. The first figure was a teen with the same curves Makoto sported with long blue hair. It was pulled up into a ponytail held by a yellow ribbon with two 'antennae' and two sidelocks reaching her ample chest. She wore lowleg tight-fitting black pants that exposed some skin on her sides, a backless white halter top with red trimming, black symbols, and a big golden zipper piece, maroon fingerless gloves that reach close to her elbows and high-heeled boots.
The other girl was as developed as Tsubaki with long pale-purple hair. She wore a pair of black pantyhose along with a short navy blue dress with a separate matching collar with lavender ribbons on each side, and a white lab coat with black trimming and blue cuffs. Her hair had a black headband in it with a large metal butterfly on the right side of her head.
"Mai?! Kajun?!"
"Do we need to make up another room?" Rook asked.
"Most likely…" Tsubaki replied as she and Noel hurried over to Makoto.
"Ow…" the bluenette groaned as she began to wake up, "That's the last time I try something for you and Kokonoe, Kajun…"
"Apologies, Mai. I did not expect those re…" the other girl began as her and the bluenette opened their eyes to see Makoto, Tsubaki, and Noel, "..."
"...Makoto? Noel? Tsubaki?" Mai blinked.
"Mai! Kajun!" Makoto and Noel beamed as they hugged the two.
"What's going on? Why are you here?...What's with that armor? A-" Mai began before she noticed the battle going on, "...EH?!"
"Not my fault!" Clockwork cried face first on the ground, he rolled way just as he timed out. Ben slammed the Omnitrix as he turned into Kickin Hawk, "Ugh. I am so not in the mood for this bit all over again...not even gonna say anything." he spoke looking their direction.
"Well not our fault you didn't check for…"
"Interesting…"
"...oh crud…" Makoto whispered when she noticed Kajun was no longer near them.
"What?" Kickin Hawk blinked before tensing when he noticed Kajun near him.
"One moment you were a machine, and now you seem to be an anthropomorphic chicken hawk," Kajun noted as she examined him, "Judging by your physique, y-"
"KAJUN! NOW IS NOT THE TIME FOR SCIENCE MODE!" Tsubaki and Mai exclaimed.
"Gah!" Kickin Hawk cried as he was punched sending him skidding back, "Look I'll explain it all later...AFTER!" he snapped flipping forward and kicking Looma making her stumble back. He ducked around and kicked her making her stumble forward.
"What is going on…?" Kevin asked.
"Do you even listen?" Gwen asked.
"Yes...no...maybe...which one doesn't make you even more mad...I love you…" he panicked.
"...ugh…honestly…"Gwen sighed as Makoto, Noel and Tsubaki carried Mai over, "..." her eye then twitched a bit once she noticed Mai's outfit, "What…are you wearing?"
"Eh?"
"...Actually I was going to ask the same," Tsubaki admitted, finally noticing Mai's outfit as Makoto rushed out to get Kajun.
"Um...it's...a long story," Mai answered as Makoto returned with Kajun.
"Whoo~" Makoto whistled, "That's a look…" she chuckled.
"...Don't even think about it," Mai said as she instantly covered her chest.
"Think about what?"
"You know what, especially with...whatever is going on!"
"GAH!" Kickin Hawk grunted, skidding across the ground as he flashed and turned into Shocksquatch, "Oh is this how I made people feel when I went Fourarms as a kid? ...ooh...talk about irony, eh?"
"...Makoto, please let go," Kajun calmly ordered as Makoto had her arms around her.
"Like Tsubaki and Mai said, not the time for Science Mode!" Makoto barked before turning her towards Argit, "Examine him instead."
"Wait wh-" Argit began before Kajun was instantly before him, "Gh?!"
"Interesting...another humanoid lifeform…" Kajun noted, a notepad and pen already in hand as she carefully looked at him..like he was a test subject so to speak, "Not unlike that of a common sewer rat, and yet…" she used her pen to poke at one of Argit's quills, "You have traits not unlike that of a porcupine or hedgehog."
"...I don't like that look she's giving me!" Argit hissed at the others.
"Oh...and the pungent odor of a skunk…." she covered her nose after sniffing him.
"Hey!" he cried before sniffing himself, "Phew...okay no yeah...I stink…"
"...What an odd day," Gaar noted before laughing, "And yet still a momentous day! Had it not been my daughter's wedding day, I would almost feel sorry for blowing this planet up!"
"Wait. He was gonna what?!" Mai exclaimed.
"Long story…" Noel explained before the group heard Looma's cries of pain, making the group look to see Shocksquatch holding her from behind as electricity coursed through them both.
Looma grunted as she slammed her lower set of elbows into his side and using her upper arms to open Shockswuatch's arms. She landed and spun around to punch as Shocksquatch kept his arms and guard up. Shocksquatch attempted a few punches at her, only for the female Tetramand to block them before grabbing his fist with her upper arms.
"Grr…!" Looma growled as Shocksquatch attempted to grab her, only for her to grab him and lift him up, "Yield, human!" she declared as she threw him into one of the structures, shattering it upon impact.
"...Well that's that," Gaar noted as he placed a hand on Kevin's shoulder, "Shall we continue?"
"...But...but...I'm not good with commitments," Kevin gulped.
"Coulda fooled me…" Makoto quipped.
"Okay. Y-" Kevin began in an annoyed tone.
"This isn't over Looma!" Ben's voice called out, causing the female Tetramand to look at the dust cloud, "You know why I always win?" he asked as a green flash went off within the dust cloud, a figure begin seen within before stepping out, revealing none other than one of Ben's heavy hitters...Fourarms, "Because I never give up."
"FOURARMS!" Kevin shouted excitedly, "Finally a fair fight!"
With that the two rushed and punched at each other. Their fists colliding with one another as a powerful shockwave shook the ground. Looma sent flying and hitting the base of the Altar cracking it in two.
"Not exactly…" Makoto muttered, "Fourarms...with his kind...the girls are stronger. It's why typically their government leaders are female. They...are a monarchy."
"It's true...ah...how I do miss my beloved." Gaar sighed.
"Makoto how do you know this?" Tsubaki asked.
"Eh, me and Ben hung out with Ragna at the bar he sleeps in." she shrugged, "Got to talking with the Bar master, nice guy."
"I take back any nice thing I ever said about you…" Kevin groaned.
"I stopped respecting you a long time ago." she smirked.
Looma charged at Fourarms who swung for another punch, only for the warrior princess to use her shorter stature to duck under his punch and close line him, sending Fourarms skidding across the ground.
"I do not think Ben can take much more of this…" Rook noted.
"He's winning…" Kajun spoke, still examining Argit as the others looked at her, "Look closely at the arena and their placements."
"...She's right," Tsubaki realized, seeing Fourarms near the broken structure he had crashed into earlier.
Fourarms spun around on one of his arms as he swung his leg and struck Looma's helmet, breaking one of her horns off her helmet. Looma grunted in anger as she punched Fourarms, sending him skidding back even further. She jumped and kicked only for Fourarms to block and swing her away. Looma charged again, unleashing a barrage of punches which Fourarms blocked with each of his arms up in defense. The moment he felt his back touch a pillar, he kicked his leg out and sent Looma skidding away. One pair of the hero's eyes looked up before he smirked. Fourarms moved his arms and up as he grabbed the pillar...and tore it down, bringing it down like a hammer on Looma. Everyone cringed as the dust flew into the air from the giant ball at the end, exploding into dust. The dust began to disperse as Fourarms walked out with Looma over his shoulder before putting her down. He then grinned holding up his left arms in victory.
"Yes! He won!" Kevin cheered.
"Whoo! Way to go, Ben!" Makoto whooped.
"Haha! At last! A champion worthy to marry my daughter!" Gaar declared.
"Wait, what?" Fourarms blinked at that.
"And he's even a Tetramand!" Gaar added, "...er, sometimes."
"...Wait, what?" Fourarms asked again before Looma hugged him.
"What would you like for an engagement gift? Daddy's loaded!" Looma smiled as she hugged him.
"That's what I forgot…" Tsubaki slapped her head.
"Wait...you mean this is how you got your stupid engine?" Makoto realized, "Wow...you must have let yourself go." she taunted at Kevin as she emphasised by poking his stomach.
"...she wasn't always that big," Kevin argued, slapping her hand away as he walked away.
"Sure she was…" Makoto rolled her eyes as she and the others followed them.
"It is an honor to lose to you…" Looma smiled softly at Fourarms before shooting Kevin a stink eye, "I always knew that Kevin Levin was not husband material."
"Hey…"
"Again...You don't get to be mad after what you put us through was all your fault," Gwen replied with a smile...that promised pain and suffering for Kevin.
"I want...my...new...car." Fourarms growled at Kevin.
"Oh...you...you meant that!" Kevin chuckled nervously.
"Well...Way Big would be more than happy to toss it all the way across state to your garage."
"...You better take good care of her," Kevin frowned as he pulled out an electronic control.
"Oh trust me...after today...I won't," he growled.
"You're lucky that's all you're getting...I can still magic you into a toad until I decide I forgive you," Gwen added.
"...Fair enough," Kevin slumped.
"Any ideas how to help Ben now?" Makoto asked.
"Uhm…We could just keep up this juggling game every three years?" Tsubaki muttered, "Honestly...I have no clue...this alien law thing is impossible. Maybe if we called an expert."
"No! No Chadzmuth!" Fourarms shouted, crossing both his set of arms, "I refuse to have anything to do with him!"
"I am at a total loss right now…" Mai whispered.
"Me too, but I'm taking advantage of it…" Kajun whispered, writing in her notepads, "So many interesting new things..."
"Oh Grandpa is so gonna have a cow…" Ben groaned, flashing back to normal.
"Worst vacation ever…" Kevin sighed.
"Look at it this way. Now you can spend all your time building an even better car," Rook spoke, "This time one that could truly be indestructible. Or in this case? Ben proof..."
"What am I? Ben Tennyson the Vehicle Destroyer?" Ben complained.
"Considering my ride keeps getting busted everytime you were around in a fight?" Kevin deadpanned.
"...Well…"
"And know what? In exchange for my ride, I'm taking yours back to use as a base," Kevin added.
"What?!"
"Call it payback for your squirrely girlfriend busting it in one punch."
"Again, she's not my/I'm not his girlfriend!" Ben and Makoto complained.
"Oh forget her, love," Looma pushed Makoto aside as she put an arm over Ben's shoulders, "We're gonna have a much bigger wedding planned, Ben Tennyson! Our parents will fight it out, the best man will be chosen by combat, a battle royal for the bridesmaids, the traditional plunder, then the customary offerings...oh!" she gasped as she ran over to her father, "When Drova got married, they bludgeoned their guest with his and her warhammers. Can we get those, daddy?"
"Anything for you, daughter," Gaar chuckled as he hugged Looma, "Good battle, Ben!"
"Good battle, love!" Looma added.
"...Yeah. Good...battle," Ben sheepishly waved as the Tetramands went into the ship before it and the fleet flew off.
"So where are you and Kevin going to stay for the time being?" Noel asked Gwen.
"I guess we can stay with you guys...if that's okay...Right, Kevin?" Gwen asked with the same smile that promised him suffering.
"Yeah...gives me time to get some work done."
"On my new car?" Gwen smiled.
"...Yes. On your new car," Kevin sighed a bit.
"Aw…" Noel smiled softly.
"Anybody able to make a whip crack sound effect?" Makoto snickered.
"Same old Makoto, I see.." Mai deadpanned before her stomach grumbled, "...Please tell me Noel made some food."
"Oh! I was actually planning on making something new tonight!" Noel beamed, making Ben, Tsubaki, Makoto, and Kajun pale a bit while Mai...seemed ecstatic at that, "An everything pizza! It'll have all the toppings that are used for pizza, plus some special tomato sauce and dough I bought from Mr. Baumann's store."
"That...doesn't sound...bad…" Ben muttered, "Almost like a super supreme pizza…"
"Yeah. It sounds…normal," Makoto added.
"And...perfectly okay if prepared correctly," Tsubaki sighed.
"If I am being honest, I was hoping to be surprised by what alien food she accidentally made next," Rook spoke up.
"...Wait. She said she bought the sauce and dough from Mr. Baumann's store...right?" Makoto asked.
"Yeah. Wh….oh…." Ben realized
"Kevin gets first dibs!" Makoto declared.
"Huh?"
"Seconded," Tsubaki added.
"Wait a…"
"Motion carried!" Ben shouted.
"Okay, this is gonna suck, isn't it?"
"Leave some for me!" Mai shouted.
"Wait...she can stomach…" Ben began.
"So this is how you're able to transform…" Ben looked down to see Kajun looking at the Omnitrix, "Interesting...to think something like this is capable of transforming you into different species…"
"..." Makoto slowly got behind Kajun and grabbed her, "Ben. Run…NOW!"
"Wh-"
"Do it!" Argit screamed, already in the tunnel leading back to Undertown, "Those eyes of hers are freaky!"
"..." Ben turned on the Omnitrix as he slapped it and turned into an alien made of black and green slime like material, his body was mostly black on the back half of his body with green circuits, the front of his body was inverted green with black circuits, the Omnitrix formed in the center his 'eye' =Wait hold...dang it…= he groaned in a digitized version of his own voice as he moved the Omnitrix down to his chest =It keeps doing that! Anyway...into our new car!= he ordered, jumping on the green muscle car as he merged with it, making the same black with green circuit patterns all over it, the Omnitrix emblem appearing as a hood ornament.
"...Makoto, please let go…." Kajun simply ordered.
"Nuh uh."
"Let me go so I can examine the transforming teen's watch."
"See ya later, Kevin," Gwen smiled, hopping into the Upgraded car.
"We shall return to the house and prepare for company," Tsubaki explained.
"I shall call the ProtoTRUK to come give us a lift," Rook smiled.
"Thanks…"
"But before we head to the house, we need to do some quick shopping for Mai," Tsubak stated.
"Eh?" Mai blinked before she was pulled into the Upgrade Car, "Ah! Wh-"
"Your outfit is almost as bad as Makoto's was when I first saw it!" Tsubaki hissed, "And considering you or Kajun don't have anything in this time-long story. We will explain on the way. A quick shopping trip is in order."
=?!= Upgrade tensed at that =Ah nuts…=
"Got Kajun's sizes from school!" Makoto added, flicking her tail and letting a folded paper land in Noel's hands.
"Huh? School? Wha-Okay, why are my clothes slightly baggy?" Mai realized.
"Blame Chronosapiens and Celestialsapiens," Makoto deadpanned.
"...And I thought our weird days were over after graduation…" Mai sighed, "...Wait. What a..."
"Best you don't ask," Tsubaki quickly replied, "Especially with Kajun within hearing distance."
"Hurry please! She's starting to break out!" Makoto called.
=Driving!= Upgrade declared as the doors became arms that scooped up Noel and Tsubaki before driving off.
"Aw b-but that watch…" Kajun whined almost like a child not able to get something that interested them.
"Don't bother. Last time someone messed with it, I got turned into a freak for a few months...again," Kevin warned.
"...A defense mechanism of sorts I see...fair enough."
"Phew…" Makoto sighed in relief.
"However…" Kajun began as she looked at Makoto, "I will be wanting an explanation of what's going on…"
"...Ah nertz."
SZ: And done, and we got Mai and Kajun within the mix now.
GT: *in a cast beside SZ, also in a cast* And many be afraid. Follow the Argit in the fleeing! Escape the horrors that is...Science!
Z0: *drops anvil on GT's head* and done. Come back next time for a new original chapter.
SZ: Take care, read, and review…
GT: I pain…I pain lots…