Galactic Shift Extend

by Seanzilla1988

A familiar Beastkin goes through a familiar abandoned Cauldron. However, she doesn't end up in another timeline, but Bellwood, home to a teen with a watch he wears on his arm that can change his shape to save the world from harm.

50. Reprise of Forever

SZ: Well...on a technicality...we made it...we hit chapter 50!

GT: Hooray!

Z0: So...celebration…*walks out* I'll be back. I got just the thing for this!

SZ: Ok...still fifty chapters...we've come a long way since we started this story. Hell we even recently hit 600 reviews

Z0: *comes back with a tank painted in a familiar pink color* I got a specialist…

SZ: Specialist?

Z0: Pink tank...celebration...specialist...let it sink in as I load the confetti into the cannon

SZ:..oh...OH!...0-0…*grabs Gt and runs before randomness incarnate arrives*

Z0: I don't know where they can go...it's not like reality can stop this person...eh but that's an us problem. You get to enjoy the actual story part Reader. Also for those few idiots who read too much into our bits...stop...just...stop. You know who you are, these are bits we do for fun.

SZ: *offscreen*AGREED! Oh and we own nothing aside from original content, so...start us off!

Z0: What's that *talking on a phone* Oh I see busy with an important party...oh no worries we'll still be here for a while. No really take your time, oh don't worry...I can still make use of the tank *swaps the ammunition for a real one* Fire in the hole! *blasts the screen*

---

"Whoa…" Max awed, entering Undertown with his new friends. His helmet vanished as he was finally somewhere he felt more comfortable without his disguise, "There's an entire Alien town down here?!" he ran around looking at anything and everything, "Dude this is awesome!" he zipped around with his enhanced speed from his armor, "Dude...this guy is selling alien lazer bazookas! I gotta get one of these!"

"So...this...is the new guy?" Ragna asked Tsubaki as they watched Max run around.

"Correct," Tsubaki nodded.

=Given Max is half alien, I suppose he should...fit in around here= Steel spoke floating next to Tsubaki =Thankfully I drained him of excess energy just before we walked in. So...hopefully he won't...you know...go boom=

"Go boom?" Ragna repeated.

"It's...complicated," Tsubaki sighed.

"Max produces a form of super energy," Noel spoke up, "He produces so much his body can't handle it all. It makes him faster, stronger and tougher than any human, but it also builds up so much...he could wipe out a city." she explained, "But don't worry...that's what Steel is for! He drains the energy to charge himself and safely disperse or contain it."

=You're free to thank me any second, cyborg= Steel replied to that while looking at Ragna.

"Cyborg?" Ragna blinked.

=Uh...the...arm= Steel pointed, =It's not normal to your anatomy and is a high form of science, in fact...it's not all that different from my bio-organic interface=

"...it's...complicated," Ragna muttered, holding onto the arm that housed the Azure Grimoire.

=Just noting...I think you have some form of tech derived from my species in there= Steel explained.

"Wait...I have alien robot stuff in my arm!?" Ragna realized.

=I said derived...whoever made it must have had an Ultra-link sample to study in your timeline= Steel added.

"...Most likely," Ragna muttered as he pondered that over, "...listen. Let's just keep an eye on the kid before.."

"Ahh! Help! I'm being attacked by cuteness!" they turned to see Max on the ground, a few of the Kaka Clan kittens right on top of him, "Oh...they're so adorable...help! Ahaha...it tickles through the armor!" he laughed as his helmet went up on reflex.

"Oh! He formed a helmet, nya!" one kitten gasped.

"He must be a hero like Changing Guy, nya~!" another awed.

"He's cool armor guy, nya!" a third beamed.

"My name is Max!" he laughed as he was able to sit up, "You can just call me Max...or Armor Guy...Armor guy is cool too!" he laughed, picking one up, "Look, flying kitten!"

"Nya~! She's flying!" the first two awed.

"He's good with kids at least." Ragna chuckled.

"Hai," Noel smiled a bit.

"We wanted to all show Max around...but Ben had to stay behind and get yelled at by Azmuth." Tsubaki sighed, "Makoto being the kind and supporting girlfriend she is, stayed by his side."

"As long as the Old man ain't kidnapping us to fight Kaiju again…" Ragna sighed.

"That only happened once...right?" Noel asked in concern.

"Noel help! Cuteness overload! I-I can't take much more!" Max laughed.

"Oh! Right!" Noel nodded as she rushed over

"Trust me kid, you haven't dealt with Taokaka yet!" Ragna shouted.

"Ah...let me guess...a grown up version of these?" Max held up a confused Kitten, "I have trouble with the kids...I am not looking forward to that…" he sighed.

"Trust me...the kittens are tame compared to her," Ragna sighed.

"Oh please don't listen to us today Murphy…" Max sighed standing up as Noel got the Kittens to get off him, his helmet vanishing once more, "Still this place is awesome. Maybe someone here knows something about my dad's race?"

"Possibly," Tsubaki nodded as she walked over, "Undertown is known as a hive of information when it comes to different alien species here on Earth."

"And I'm the guy who makes sure that info isn't anything Earth threatening and the like," Ragna added.

=I imagine that happens a lot= Steel noted.

"When it involves this pencil necked dumbass thinking he's some hotshit mob boss and his equally dumb thugs? Yes...yes it does."

"Well this place sounds like fun." Max laughed.

=And chaotic= Steel added.

"You have no idea…" Ragna sighed.

---

"Stop moving!" Azmuth's voice shouted as Ben yelped in pain, "Honestly...overloading my Omnitrix and making it glitch, how dare you! Who do you think you are to get away with treating my masterpiece so poorly!" he spoke as Ben's arm was strapped to a table so Azmuth could work on it, "I should take it away and leave you with nothing!"

"What?!" Ben exclaimed, "But...it wasn't my fault!...Well technically it was when I was trying to help Max but still!"

"Excuses!" Azmuth snapped his fingers as a robotic arm came down and thwacked Ben upside the head with a cane, "I asked Kajun to set that up just for this," he explained, "And while no I won't take it...you are going to sit there and listen to me rant and complain like a good hero. Or you can kiss your super powers goodbye and become the damsel in distress your girlfriend always has to save from danger."

"I'll...shut up…" Ben complained/complied.

"Don't think you're innocent in this too, young lady." Azmuth spoke as Makoto tensed, "I swear I'm feeling like this is what it's like to have kids! And I do not like it! I am the smartest being in the Milky Way...I should not have to free up time to fix my perfect invention cause Dumber here did something stupid! Arm...one for the girlfriend." at that the arm thwacked Makoto over the head to.

"What I do!?" Makoto complained, rubbing her head.

"Did you stop him?" Azmuth asked.

"Well no but…" She tried to argue.

"Aren't girlfriends supposed to be able to control their idiots...control him!" Azmuth preempted her, "Ah...I wish this pain on no one. Kajun be smart...never have kids. I don't and yet it feels like I do..."

"So...can you fix it?" Ben finally asked.

"Of course I can fix it…" Azmuth sighed, "But it'll take a while...maybe...a few...hours." he muttered, "6...maybe 7...depending on my breaks…"

"...Nertz," Ben muttered.

"There there…" Makoto whispered as she patted his shoulder

"So...what exactly do you need to do to fix it?" Kajun asked Azmuth.

"First I'm going to need to remove the power core, then I'll have to replace the energy dampeners and reinforce the mainframe to prevent this from happening again." Azmuth explained, "I locked the Fulmini DNA deep into the Omnitrix, but Ben here randomized the playlists. So he must have found it."

"I what?"

"You don't think the sets of ten you have are the originals...besides the original ten that is…" Azmuth sighed, "When I first categorized them, I put the most dangerous and potentially troublesome aliens away in secret playlists. The Fulmini and Celestialsapien DNA's are two of them. But when you unlocked your form called Cannonbolt, and lost Ghost Freak...well…"

"The Watch lost data...and had to reorganize itself." Kajun finished.

"Exactly. So now the Playlist of the worst aliens...are all randomly inserted into other playlists. Thankfully he hasn't found the one that makes Dark Matter yet…" Azmuth mumbled, "But The Fulmini is one I hid away for fear that if someone became that form...they could revive the entire race."

"Oh...right...these guys are…"

"Warmongers…" Azmuth sighed, "But at the same time I never imagined you'd find the last of the Tachyon race."

"Least we got to him before the Forever Knights and those Elementors did," Makoto pointed out.

"I still think you should split them apart." Azmuth spoke, "Keeping them so close just...screams trouble, and I should know, I've done everything I can to make sure their entire species stays lost."

"Lost?" Makoto asked.

"Imagine an army of robots like this Steel...who latch onto anything and make it a monster...or worse anyone and take control of them." Azmuth explained.

"...oh crud.." Makoto whispered with wide eyes, "So the Elementors…are just other 'Steels' gone maverick?"

"Other way around…" Azmuth corrected earning a few stares, "What...I have hobbies." he jumped away to grab his tools, "But yes, Steel's race is a great danger. If you wonder why neither Max or Steel's kind are in the Omnitrix, do you think it's wise to put the DNA of a species who produce more energy than the Omnitrix into the system?"

"...he has a point," Kajun spoke, "The Omnitrix would more or less self destruct from having that much energy in it without a limiter to keep it in balance."

"The Fulmini are living energy, and aliens like your favorite Feedback take in energy, but those are different because the Omnitrix can handle such power. The Tachyons are different." Azmuth went on as he opened up the Omnitrix and tapped the core section as it slid open, "Because the only energy that can power my Magnum Opus...is in fact...Turbo Energy." he pointed to the green center, "Or rather...Green Turbo energy, a rare type made only by the strongest warriors of the Tachyon race. The Sample I have is...limited."

"Wait...Green Turbo energy?" Ben blinked, "You mean the reason the Omnitrix is all green is because of that?!"

"Well I also like Green…" Azmuth muttered.

"...Eh. Can't argue with that," Makoto shrugged with Ben nodding in agreement.

"But yes….this means you have to do all you can to make sure this core is not overcharged by Max's Blue energy." Azmuth added, "Even if it doesn't go kaboom...I don't think I have enough Green energy to...remake it." he sighed.

"So in short...don't overcharge it, Ben," Kajun added, "And Makoto...make sure he doesn't mess with it...again."

"Right…" the two brunettes muttered.

"Look at it this way Makoto...least you don't have Kokonoe lipping you off and making you and Ben be the test monkeys," Kajun pointed out.

"Touche…" Makoto muttered, "Could still be less sassy about it…and like heck am I gonna let her mess with my boyfriend."

"She...can't be that bad...right?" Ben asked.

"Oh she is...she'd try and take the Omnitrix in your sleep or do test on your different Aliens...or even make an adaptoid that copies every one of your aliens abilities," Makoto listed, "Or test you to some drugs that make you or parts of you act….weird."

"...weird how?"

"Two words...Miss Tail," Makoto deadpanned, jerking to her tail, "She gave me some candy to test and next thing I knew? My tail falls off and comes to life!"

"Is this legitimate or was it a drug that made you see some stuff?" Ben asked honestly out of concern and confusion.

"I...I think...it was a mix of both...maybe..I..I don't know!" Makoto exclaimed, "Whenever Tager wasn't around and I was free, she'd use me like a test monkey!...er, squirrel."

"There there…" Ben replied, patting her head to calm her down.

"I've never seen two dumb-dumbs more right for one another." Azmuth sighed with a slight chuckle, "But don't worry...I'm not going to test on you. I am not into that type of science. Sides, good luck even trying, the DNA lock is so strong nothing can fool it. If anything...the Omnitrix would...defend itself."

"Defend how?" Makoto asked.

"Scramble her DNA with the dumbest and weakest alien in the cosmos…" Azmuth smirked proudly.

"So...no one but Ben can use it?" Kajun asked just to be sure.

"Well...maybe their future kids." Azmuth shrugged, jutting a thumb to Ben and Makoto, "As long as part of them is Ben...it will work."

"Ahh...interesting," Kajun noted.

"One more time now?" Makoto asked, leaning in.

"If at such a time Ben no longer needs the Omnitrix...you can just pawn it off on your kids." Azmuth explained simply, "Not sure why he would...but as the boss of this couple, I imagine that is up to you my dear." he turned and went back to work on the Omnitrix.

"...K...k...kids?!" Ben exclaimed before shaking it off, "Eh heh..th-that's not for a LONG time now, right Makoto?"

"..."

"...Makoto?"

"K...kids...me...and Ben...kids…" Makoto whispered, a blank look on her face as she stood there as she replayed the scenario over and over again.

"She's gone...yep...her brain broke." Kajun replied, "She must be lost in a very vivid daydream of the future where you're both married with a dozen kids…"

"DOZEN!?" Ben exclaimed.

"Of course. Makoto is technically the eldest of five children in her family after all," Kajun pointed out. "Although it might be different i-"

"D...dozen...kids.../me..and Ben...kids…" Ben and Makoto muttered, the former now in a trance-like state with the latter.

"Come now...the two of you have never once given this thought?" Azmuth asked as he kept working on the Omnitrix, examining a piece before replacing it, "Aren't you two madly in love? Surely you have considered it could happen sooner or later?" he pointed out as he readjusted the core of the Omnitrix before he started soldering a new piece to the side.

"He does make a point. Plus I did cover for you two a few days ago after we came back with Max and left the house for just you two," Kajun added, "And don't think I noticed you sneaking off with your old outfit while Tsubaki wasn't looking, Makoto."

"?!" the two tensed up at that.

"There you see...valid point." Azmuth replied simply, "Hmm...gonna need another part. Kajun if you'd please carry me to my ship. I only ask because you have the longer legs."

"Of course," Kajun nodded, carefully picking him up as she walked off.

"With any luck, they are so dumbstruck they'll be in the same place when we come back." Azmuth chuckled having enjoyed tormenting them like he did.

"Of course…" Kajun added as she stepped out the doorway, "..provided they can keep their hands off one another," she teased as she closed the door.

"Faint now?" Ben asked.

"Uh-huh…" Makoto nodded as they passed out from emotional overload.

---

"Steel, you okay?" Max asked his little robot partner as he held onto him.

To explain...a certain rat attempted to steal Steel in whatever scheme he had cooking in that brain of his, and he got caught almost instantly by Ragna via using some fish to get a certain catgirl species to pile on top of him.

=Besides needing to be disinfected…?= Steel groaned.

"So...what have we learned?" Ragna asked, holding Argit upside down by his tail.

"Not...to take anything that could be used to get rich quick," Argit groaned.

"And?"

=Does he realize he never would have escaped the city if Max went critical...he would have died...a loser...with nothing to his name= Steel spoke up, =And an idiot...cause...you could have sold me, but like I said Max's explosion would have killed you. And if in the slight almost impossible chance you escaped...I would have lost power and become...worthless= he finished =In short...uh...you had nothing=

"And I am an unlucky idiot…" Argit spoke in a defeated tone.

=More like completely braindead and worthless= Steel crossed his arms.

"Wow...you are harsh…" Ragna muttered, "You have my respect robot."

=Thank you=

"Now…" Ragna began, about to reel his leg back before stopping, "...Actually no…"

"Phew…" Argit sighed in relief.

"...Let the kid do it since its his robot you stole."

"Wait, what?" Argit blinked as Ragna let him drop, "Ow! Jerk..."

"Not sure if that's fair...but okay," Max shrugged, "Steel, Turbo Strength."

"Turbo what?" Argit blinked before tensing when Max gained his more heavy powered armor, "?!"

"This is probably overkill...but I bet you won't learn if we're not harsh on you, young man." Max reared his fist back as it began glowing, "No mercy!" he shouted, punching only to stop just short of Argit's face sending out a huge gust of wind. Everyone blinked and looked to see a now hairless Argit who in his fear used all his quills...but they just bounced off Max's impenetrable armor, "Kidding!" he laughed as Argit fell over while shaking.

"...YOU GUYS ARE CRAZY!" Argit screamed as he ran off.

"Put on some pants!" Max shouted as he returned to normal.

"I think he's too scared to hear ya," Ragna chuckled.

"Amazing...Argit's quills didn't pierce the armor." Tsubaki noted, "Those things could pierce To'kustar skin…"

=Of course. Like that filthy rat's quills could pierce his armor= Steel scoffed.

"Guess this armor really is one of a kind." Max laughed as his helmet vanished again, "That was kinda fun though."

"Eh. It kinda is," Ragna admitted with a shrug.

"I guess it was one thing fighting monsters made of elements themselves...but now that we pit Max against normal enemies of ours…" Noel muttered, "He's kind of...too strong."

"Yes...he kind of is," Tsubaki noted, "Possibly...even stronger than Ben."

"You say he produces unlimited energy…" Ragna muttered, "Well I guess it all has to be used for something." he gave a theory, "I mean...he might even produce more energy then…" he looked at his synthetic arm, "Though I'm not ready to test that theory…"

"I feel like there's some missing context, but I'm gonna guess the energy your talking about is bad news," Max guessed.

"It's...a weird story." Ragna replied simply.

"Then I guess it's a good thing it's not a problem right now." Max smiled.

"Nope, and I plan to keep it that way," Ragna nodded.

"Ano..why don't we continue the tour?" Noel suggested.

"Agreed. Let's just pretend that little...distraction didn't happen and move on," Tsubaki agreed.

=I still say we should have hit him for real=

"And scar him and/or possibly break his skull like a sparrows egg? Yeah no..." Max countered.

=It's not like that thing will ever change= Steel argued, =From what I see, organics and even Ultralinks come in either good or bad=

"Yeah well ratface only has one creed he follows..look after what he thinks is best for himself," Ragna sighed.

"So buttmonkey...er...rat. Got it," Max nodded

"It's easier then arresting him…" Tsubaki admitted, "He's...just insufferable…"

"That and last time we tried...Makoto tried to kill him...with a butter knife." Noel added.

"A butter knife?"

"She wanted it to hurt…" Noel sighed.

"Makes me wonder how the Lovers are doing stuck at HQ…" Max muttered.

---

"Arm...cramping…" Ben groaned, still stuck in place as Makoto returned with snacks and drinks, "I know fixing the watch is important and everything, but could I have just taken it off?"

"Guess he wants ya to stand still while he works on it," Makoto guessed as she put the snacks down, "Probably as a lesson to be patient…"

"I can be patient…" Ben argued, making Makoto laugh, "Hey...well I'm patient at things that matter…"

"Our relationship probably doesn't count to him." Makoto argued back.

"...yeah your right," Ben slumped a bit.

"Well...while we wait on him and Kajun, we can talk stuff," Makoto offered.

"Before we begin...am I in trouble?" he chuckled.

"Hmm?" Makoto raised a brow at that.

"In my experience...I tend to get in trouble for stupid stuff...and honestly don't know what I did." he chuckled.

"Oh…I see," Makoto blinked, "...Well, I can tell your definitely in trouble with Azmuth. But with me? Well..not more in trouble, more..worried."

"Worried?"

"Yeah…" Makoto nodded as she sat down...her ears starting to droop, "Worried..I'll never be able to see you again."

"...what do you mean, babe?" Ben asked in confusion and concern.

"I mean...I love being in this timeline with my friends and you...and I know my family is somewhere out there, but deep down...I'm afraid I'll suddenly be dragged or pop back into the timeline I came from...and will have no way to come back here," Makoto admitted, a sad tone in her voice as tears began to form in her eyes, "That my happiness...my time with you and my friends here...will be all gone...that I'm afraid that it'll just be a distant memory…a dream that never happened."

"Hey hey…" Ben spoke up, "You shouldn't think about that. I mean if anything was wrong at all...trust me. Paradox would have walked through those doors right now." Ben pointed to the doors, "See...he always shows up if something is wrong...or sends someone to fix it." he went on, "And see? No Paradox. Trust me, if I could call him as easily as last christmas...I would." he looked at the Omnitrix, "I kinda need Clockwork to do that though."

"...True," Makoto muttered, "But that's another thing that worries me...Clockwork...Alien X...those things are probably dangerous to the Master unit and...I'm also afraid it's gonna erase this timeline all together to 'fix the damage' and 'prevent anything detrimental to the timeline.'"

"Counter point...I rebooted the universe. Who's to say your even in your original timeline at all?" Ben argued, "Also when I did it...uh the angry persona kinda said he borrowed some stuff from your time to...fill in the gaps. Just to spite that thing…" he went on, "The Kind one even implied it let you guys stay here...just to mess with Alien X's kind."

"Wait what?" Makoto blinked.

"I swear if I knew what they meant I'd tell you...but I'm hardly sure I even understood them. It felt like they were being annoyed by someone with a 'You had to be there' story." Ben added, "I really wish Paradox would show up just to tell me what this all means…" he sighed.

"You and me both…" Makoto sighed.

"Gumball?" a familiar british accented voice asked, holding a bag up to Makoto.

"...hakase?" Makoto blinked as she looked up, seeing Paradox standing before her and Ben, "...What timing."

"Well time is kind of my thing." he mused, "Ehehe...eh...I have to stop getting my jokes off a show unintentionally inspired by me." he walked around and grabbed a chair, "Ah...if it isn't my favorite couple from across time and space. How are you kids doing? You know...besides the internal turmoil and Ben breaking the Omnitrix...again?"

"Oh come on…" Ben complained about that.

"Hakase...since you already know, why hasn't anything happened?" Makoto asked.

"Your assumption my dear is that this is not the story the Master Unit wants to happen. See that is a very fickle device I made sure to check out a while back. Fickle thing it is...but it's not as all powerful as you think it is. Is it powerful, very much so, but you think it can just undo the events of a new universe that it didn't chart out? Oh no...after Ben rebooted the universe...he made a new path, a new world and time. I dare say it's poetic if it weren't for how stupid that day was…" he pointed to Ben, "Put simply, your beloved doofus has more or less made a blank path and even I don't know what'll happen. Not even it knows...and if it undoes that event...well...imagine it like this. It would be like undoing the Big Bang...there'd be nothing...not even time...and so...the Master Unit would stop working...and quite frankly I think I can only fix that problem maybe two more times…"

"?!" Makoto's eyes widened at that

"Uh...oops…" Ben replied, "Wait...did I do a good...or a bad?"

"Hmm...bad for some...good for you and Makoto." Paradox smiled, "See...time travel is annoyingly difficult to explain. It's not as simple as Back to the Future makes it seem to be. It's more like...well Makoto I'm sure you'll understand this," he motioned her to walk over so he could whisper, "It's more like Endgame…"

"?!" Makoto's eyes widened further at that, "...oh I get it now...but wait. Then why...why can't I remember anything from before I came here? Did...a Chronosapien or someone similar really did knock me out?"

"Honestly my dear, I don't have that answer…" he put a hand on her head to calm her down a bit, "You my sweet girl have much going on up here...trying to solve the riddle of how time travel works should not be one of them. It's thankless work, trust me I know. You should be worried about saving this wonderful home you built, your friends, and your boyfriend not screwing up life on Earth."

"HEY!" Ben snapped.

"Just let me leave you with this dear...there is no Future for you to return to...the future is your tomorrow...what you make of it. Frankly...the world you know...you probably can never return to it. Trust me trying would be the bad thing, time has judged it okay for you to live here and now." he sighed rubbing Makoto's head, "So let this old man tell you simply...forget about those worries. Leave fixing time to me...and a very cheeky girl named Rachel."

"Rachel?" the two repeated.

"I'm not the only time walker, might not be the last, but I'm proud to be the first human Time Walker." he smiled, "And in all my years of endless journeys, and flipping between sanity and insanity...trust me when I say, time is always on your side...so long as you just try moving forward with it."

"...r...right…" Makoto whispered as she took this info in, "So...I don't...have to worry…" she began to smile a bit, "I don't have to worry….thank you, hakase."

"Hmm," he smiled, "I hope you realize just how much I care to take the time to tell you these things. Just so you know I had to leave right in the middle of an amazing battle with a demon from a higher dimensional plane…just hope Valkenhayn isn't cross with me."

"Eh?" Makoto blinked before suddenly...Paradox was no longer there, "...Wait. Did...he just say the name of one of the Six Heroes?"

"The what now?" Ben blinked.

"Oh come on. I've told you the story before…"

"Was this any of the times I was resting my head anywhere near you?" he asked, "'Cause I might have just been napping the whole time." he chuckled in admittance.

"Nope...We more or less brought it up when we talked about the Black Beast," Makoto answered, "The Six Heroes are...well the people who took down the Black Beast and won. They consist of the Great Sage Nine, Trinity Glassfille, Valkenhayn R. Hellsing, Jubei, Yuki Terumi, and Hakumen."

"Isn't Jubei the name of the guy Ragna always complains about and who Luna and Sena are looking for?" Ben blinked.

"Have you only tuned into every other story we told you?" Makoto pouted.

"...Maybe…" Ben admitted slowly.

"...Ugh. You're so lucky you're cute and make me happy," Makoto sighed, "But yeah. That is technically the same Jubei...which explains why Ragna's so strong as Jubei is technically 'the strongest being in the world.'...In fact, I think he went by a different name in the past if I remember history class right...Mitsuyoshi...which is kinda odd."

"Odd how?"

"I mean...no one really knows what happened to the Six Heroes after the Black Beast was vanquished," Makoto admitted, "All I know and read on a bit was that Mitsuyoshi and Jubei were one in the same...maybe he had a name change or something."

"Ragna did once say he was a giant talking cat…" Ben muttered.

"Aye…" Makoto nodded, "Still this….this feels like a huge mystery...and something tells me the NOL is a key factor in it."

"Well...guess that is gonna probably lead to misadventure for you and me…" Ben sighed, "It's a good thing I have the best girlfriend in the world to keep me from dying!"

"Yeah...and me having the best and most awesome boyfriend in the world!" Makoto giggled.

"So...that means...you're stuck with me," Ben smiled, "And I'm stuck with you. Might as well make the best of it, right?"

"Yup…" Makoto nodded, walking over to him before pecking him on the cheek, "And I wouldn't have it any other way, my hero."

"Do you two need a moment?" Azmuth and Kajun asked, suddenly making them both jump...well Makoto jumped and Ben just fell out of his chair on account of his arm which was strapped down to the table.

"Don't do that!" they both complained.

"I do what I want…" Azmuth grumbled, jumping onto the table, "And I don't follow orders from a bunch of kids."

"And you know how I am," Kajun added, "Also...referring Ben as your hero?"

"...Well of course. He is my hero," Makoto huffed a bit in defense, "He's done so much for all of us and everyone in the universe, and I still remember when he saved me from that psycho Junko back during the Hope's Peak Incident."

"..." Kajun smiled, "Yes...I suppose I do owe my friend for taking such good care of my best friend." she smiled, "And if he ever messes up...I'll leave him paralyzed for a week via a fast acting nerve agent absorbed via the skin…"

"...sh-she's joking, right?" Ben nervously asked.

"Oh no...I don't joke or threaten when it comes to my best friends...I promise," Kajun answered, that calm smile never once leaving her face.

"Aw...you're a great best friend," Makoto smiled hugging Kajun, "Please don't murder my boyfriend…" she chuckled.

"Only as long as he doesn't screw up," Kajun replied happily.

"...I'm in danger…" Ben muttered.

"Take my advice...don't screw up a good thing," Azmuth replied as he began working on the Omnitrix again.

"After what happened with Julie...agreed," Ben muttered.

"And you wonder why I promise…" Kajun smiled while tilting her head to the side.

---

"Okay...did not think alien food was gonna taste good...but you were right man," Max said as the group was currently sitting down at a small food court, "Those Tetramandian Sol Burgers had a real spicy kick to 'em."

"Of course," Ragna smirked, "I live down here, after all."

"Oh! I could try and recreate it for you at home, Max," Noel offered

"Gh!" Tsubaki flinched at that.

"Sure…" Max shrugged, "Let's give it a shot some day."

"Oh you poor soul…" Tsubaki whispered to herself as Noel beamed.

"...Something isn't right," Ragna frowned a bit, grabbing his sword as he stood up, "It just got too quiet…"

=He is right= Steel spoke as he scanned the area =The inhabitants went into a sudden mood shift...they seem deathly afraid of something...or someone=

"...Just one day where we c-" Noel began with a sigh.

"HELP~!"

"Welp...back to work." Max smiled as his helmet reformed.

=Your too quick to run to danger!=

"Danger is my middle name now!" Max shouted as he ran off towards the voice.

"...heh. I already like this kid," Ragna smirked as he ran off.

"Noel, you and I follow after them and provide support," Tsubaki spoke before taking her badge out, "Rook, I need you to bring the Proto-Truk. A possible kidnapping is happening..and possibly something bigger."

=Bigger how?=

"The people of Undertown seem afraid of something…" Tsubaki whispered, seeing some of the aliens of Undertown trying to ignore the pleas for help, "It's as if someone is threatening them…"

=I am on my way= Rook sighed =Good news is Kajun just finished a new tool...well she says tool but I call it a weapon, for Max=

"...already I'm worried what it could be…"

---

"Mmm! MM!" a young boy in a green jacket with a ten on it muffeldly yelled as he was tied up and gagged, carried by a large and bulky Forever Knight.

"Oi, quite! Th' less you keep yer mouth shut th' better!" the knight snapped in a thick british accent as he ran towards a large truck with the Forever Knights' symbol on it, "Besides, y-"

"Hey big guy!"

"Hmm?" the large Knight skid to a halt when Max jumped over him, landing a few feet away, "You...the new brat."

"Brat? Dude...I hit puberty." Max argued, "I'm all developed and like...up here to…" he tapped his helmet, "You...uh...no offense but you have a look that screams 'I need to be looked after for my own safety.'" he dodged a punch before grabbing his arm and tossing him through several walls. He then held his arm out as he caught the kid before he hit the ground, "Do me a favor buddy...sit back." he turned to the truck as the knights inside gulped.

At that Max dashed forward faster than a human eye could track. He shoulder checked a Knight before he ran over and punched out another. He twisted his body around and dodged a laser blast aimed at his head. He wagged his finger to reprimand the Knight making him drop the Laser Lance...only to be uppercut into the ceiling of Undertown.

"Didn't even need to use Strength mode...getting sloppy guys." Max put his hands on his hips before he raised his hand back into the last knight's helmet making him groan and fall over as an imprint of the back of his hand was left in his helmet.

"MMM!"

"Wh-" Max began before tensing when Ragna was instantly before him, blocking the blade of a familiar red armored Forever Knight, "?!"

"So...Ninja Knight is here...that must mean the head honcho is in town…" Ragna grunted as their swords grinded against one another, "Max...get the kid out of here. I'll hold this guy back…"

"Got it!" Max nodded as he ran off.

"Oh no...you don't!" the large knight from before growled, having climbed out of the crashed buildings as he got into the truck and began to chase after Max.

"You really think you can catch me man?" Max asked, "Oh...now that's cute. Steel, Go Turbo Flight!" he shouted as his armor changed, he held onto the kid as his wings extended and a jet of energy came from his back and fight in the large Knight's face sending him flying away in the opposite direction as Max flew off with the kid, "Well...that was exciting, hang on…" he removed the gag, "Got a name sport?"

"Jimmy. Jimmy Jones," the kid answered.

"Well...any reason why the Dorks of the Round table are kidnapping ya?" he asked, slowing down to land, "I mean...they wanted to kidnap me...but I got the superpower to produce limitless energy...so...what can you do?"

"I report...I was looking into info on those knight guys after I saw them in one of Will Harangue's Podcast," Jimmy answered.

"...And why were you…"

"I was watching something online before his podcast came up in an unskippable ad," Jimmy frowned, "He said Ben 10 was controllinh those freaky monsters that appeared a few days ago in California."

"Well I can honestly tell you that's wrong cause me and Ben were fighting those freaky monsters...only they aren't called freaky monsters. They are called Elementors, monsters made of Earth, Air, Water and Fire." he explained as Jimmy began writing in a note pad, "They are these weird aliens. But some of them are good, I got one stuck to my chest." he tapped Steel.

=Hey!=

"Only...mine is like a hundred times cooler." Max chuckled, "Think of it like Venom from Spider-Man. Only a robot and he can form change." he looked up to see the Proto-Truk fly to them, "And that is your ride to safety." he chuckled as they landed, "Hey guys...I saved a reporter!"

"Reporter?" Noel blinked as she and Tsubaki hopped out.

"Wait, I think I recognize him from a file in the base," Tsubaki noted, "James 'Jimmy' Jonah Jones. Ten years of age, always calls Ben 'Mr. Tennyson,' and is the one who revealed his existence to the world on nothing but good intentions for Ben. He also runs a blog about alien activities with an entire section of the site focused on Ben's exploits meant to counter Harangue's accusations."

"Dude, you got a record with the space cops?" Max asked, "Nice!" he held his hand up for a high-five.

"Everyone has a record," Tsubaki corrected, "Even you prior to your powers coming out. Or would you like me to explain what happened in the third grade and your class doing a pl…"

"Ayayayayay! Nothing happened. Absolutely nothing," Max defended, his cheeks pink.

=Sounds like something happened= Steel noted.

"Nope. Absolutely nothing," Max stressed, "Ugh...Let's just figure out why the Forever Knights kidnapped and -possibly- tried to silence him."

"Beg pardon?" Tsubaki blinked.

=Yeah. Forever Knights were chasing Jimmy here= Steel explained.

"Well, Jimmy is an informant for the Plumbers, Ben especially," Tsubaki noted, "Records do tell that it was thanks to Jimmy's information that a lot of operations were able to be taken with varied levels of success."

"And you're Tsubaki Yayoi, one of the 'new' people working with Ben," Jimmy noted, "Not much about you outside of some video footage of you coming out of a time portal, meaning you're from another time."

"Someone recorded that?" Tsubaki asked.

"Everyone records things," Jimmy replied, "I just find what's recorded and reconstruct what they make."

"And the Forever Knights are chasing you because of that?" Noel asked.

"No...well partially most likely, but I think they started chasing me right after I tried asking Harangue some questions about them," Jimmy answered.

"You actually went looking for that guy?" Ragna deadpanned, climbing up the side of the building as he walked over.

"I didn't like the fact he blamed Ben for 'controlling' those Elementor things in California," Jimmy frowned, "He even said he was co-conspiring with that crazy lady over in Japan."

"...I think we need to pay Mr. Harangue a visit," Tsubaki suggested, a small scowl on her face upon hearing that last one, "Rook, you mind taking Jimmy back to HQ? Since the Forever Knights are after him, it's not safe for him to be in public."

=In other words...he'll just get in the way and you don't want to waste manpower having someone save him all the time?= Steel bluntly asked.

"No. Because if Harangue is willing to send-if he's conspiring with the Forever Knights-people to go and silence a child...it shows how dangerous he could be," Tsubaki argued.

=So what I said, but worded differently…= Steel rolled his singular eye, =I mean...it doesn't change my point, he'd be in the way= he argued as Tsubaki began shaking in anger and annoyance.

"You see what I have to deal with, right?" Max sighed.

=I could say the same...but with all humans…= Steel sighed =The simple facts are best said blunt=

"...L...let's just go," Tsubaki sighed, "Rook?"

"Right this way, Jimmy," Rook spoke as he began to move him towards the Proto-Truk.

"I'll stay behind in case the tinheads come back," Ragna added, "Besides..I wanna pay back that red armored one."

"Oh wait Max!" Rook called out, "I have something for you."

"Hmm?" Max blinked at that, "Something for me?"

---

"Okay...just remember. Do not stoop to his level, no matter what he claims," Tsubaki stated to Noel and Max as they stood outside the door of a large penthouse on top of the roof of a large building.

"Got it," Noel nodded.

"And Steel? Don't try and instigate him…"

=...I promise to try= he spoke from his spot on Max's chest =But...I also can't promise I won't get...angry=

"...Fine," Tsubaki sighed before she began to knock on the door.

"One second!" Harangue's voice called out from inside before he opened the door, "...oh...its you. Tennyson's corrupted human allies..." he frowned before he took notice of Max, "And I see he corrupted another poor youth with his fake words."

=...I already hate him= Steel whispered.

"Shh!" Max shushed.

"Mr. Harangue, I have a few questions I'd like you to answer," Tsubaki spoke, keeping a serious yet neutral look on her face.

"...what do you want to ask? I have a podcast I need to produce considering I no longer have a job thanks to Tennyson and the rest of his monster brigade," Harangue stated.

=I thought it was because he sided with those Incursions and then had that one guy's boots make him tell the truth= Steel whispered.

"Who keeps talking!?" Harangue demanded.

"I don't hear anything." Max replied looking around as he gently elbowed Noel.

"Oh...me too! I don't hear anyone else." Noel smiled.

"...Look. Just ask me what you need to know, or else I'll fine you all a $150,000 fine for wasting my time," Harangue frowned.

=That's not legally possible and we know it= Steel replied as the others pretended they didn't hear him, making Harangue look around the area again.

"You swear you can't hear that?!" he snapped.

"We don't hear anyone but you…" Tsubaki replied.

"Grr…"

"And as for the questions...did you have an encounter with one Jimmy Johns earlier today?"

"...I did. He still owes me 30,000 for stealing footage from my last podcast," Harangue answered.

"He's a child…"

"Who stole someone's news footage to try and defend that menace Ben Tennyson," Harangue argued, "Faking the news itself is a felony, and can get him arrested…"

"..." Tsubaki's fist clenched up for a moment before she took a deep breath.

=Oh hi Kettle meet Pot? Come on, we know that's what we did, too= Steel spoke up, acting like Haragnue's inner voice now due to the act.

"HOW DO YOU NOT HEAR THAT?!"

"Please stay focused, Mr. Harangue," Tsubaki stated before taking out a photo of some Forever Knights, the image showing it was taken from a zoomed in shot, "Did you or did you not come into contact with a group known as the Forever Knights?"

"...No. I have not," Harangue answered in a neutral tone, "Are we done here, or do you have one more question up your sleeve, traitor?"

=I don't think we have ground on that one...didn't we do the same thing when the Frogs arrived? ...You know the saying, 'I'm glue; you're rubber, so everything I say bounces off you and sticks to me...or something like that, who knows, we're going crazy!= Steel spoke up as Harangue was now visibly panicking and holding the sides of his head.

"Th...this conversation is over! Now get off my property!" Harangue snapped as he slammed the door shut.

"Good work, Steel." Max laughed as they walked away.

=By the way...he was lying= Steel spoke, =I scanned his body. His heart rate was off the charts whenever he answered, so...either he's in the middle of a panic attack...or he was lying through his disgusting organic mouth=

"You can do that?" Noel asked.

=I'm bonded to a human-hybrid. I need to be able to tell what's normal health for one. In fact, I can tell when anyone is lying…= the chest armor flashed as if indicating he was staring at the girls =Anyone…=

"...Still, good work Steel," Tsubaki spoke, now scowling a bit, "Harangue and the Forever Knights are planning something...but what?"

"Two vastly different Xenophobes are working together for something…" Max spoke, "I don't think it matters what to them, it's gotta be bad for us," he looked down at Steel, "Steel, call Rook and see if Jimmy has told him anything else. We'll need to find the knights again in the meantime, and they could...wait...you don't think…" he stopped, "...I think it's time for a lunch break." he said in a serious tone.

"Huh?" Tsubaki pondered.

"I got a...hunch." he replied, walking forward again, "Trust me...it's so dumb...it can't possibly fail."

---

"Least he was able to let me take it off while he fixed it…" Ben muttered, walking alongside Makoto within HQ as he flexed his currently Omnitrix-less wrist a bit, "I think I was getting a charlie horse from sitting down for so long."

"I'm sure he only strapped you to the table as punishment…" Makoto sighed, "But since he let you go, he must be over it now."

"I guess," Ben muttered, "Still...l-"

"Ben 10!" the two looked ahead to see Jimmy waving at them, "It's great t-aw what?! You went with a hoodie now?! Aw…" he pouted before looking at his jacket, "I just got a replica of your jacket too…"

"Hey. It's like your green leather jacket you keep in a dry cleaning bag back home." Makoto noted, "The one you don't want to put on."

"It's...my last one." he muttered, "All the other ones are kinda...damaged…"

"...Huh...Come to think of it…" Makoto muttered, "I think the last time I saw you wear the green one it got caught on fire from that Pyronite sneezing when we were looking around Undertown before Khyber popped up in person."

"Green fake leather is hard to find…" Ben muttered, "Still...what are you doing here, Jimmy?"

"Tsubaki is having me look after him," Rook answered, "The Forever Knights are after him due to him asking Harangue some questions involving them."

"You went near Harangue?!" Ben asked, "Jimmy, why would you do that? You know that guy's off his rocker."

"Well, yeah I know he's crazy, but I think he's working with them on something." Jimmy argued, "I have evidence of him meeting with some of their high ranking officers and talking business. Plus they've been seen around Undertown a lot…"

"Ah…" Ben sighed, "If you weren't so good at solving mysteries...I'd call your mom on you." he smiled, "Tell us everything...and try not to get involved after."

"Because there is gonna be a lot of chaos," Makoto added, "Well...once Ben's Omnitrix is good and fixed, then we'll convey with our friends and start crushing some Forever Knights' helmets like a sparrow's egg between thighs."

"Wow...the rumors are right...they are perfect for eachother…" Jimmy noted.

"We get that a lot," the two older brunette's shrugged.

---

"Are you out of your medieval minds?!" Harangue snapped, standing within a large warehouse as he looked at Forever seemingly working on something, "First that kid was at my house asking questions, and then Tennyson's traitor human allies arrived and asked questions as well! If someone figures that I'm in on this, I can forget ever hosting the news again!"

"Hmmm…" he looked at what looked like a rifle as he took out its ammunition, "And that's my problem...how?" he asked as he reloaded it, "I am just tolerating you...and right now...that's getting kind of hard." he turned to Harangue, "If you cared so much about your image...you should have never sided with disgusting space toads…"

"Spy! I was a spy to sabotage them from within!" Harangue argued, "Tennyson interfered with my masterplan…"

"White Pantera's Golden Booths of Truth spoke a different story," Forever replied, "I mean...even without them I knew the truth." he laughed, "But not that I cared...that whole time...I was...gathering test subjects…" he walked forward, "And thanks to you...We've gotten more and more subjects. I thank you for the knowledge I've been able to harvest...nerve point structure, the limitations of skeletal structures, organ locations, brain chemical composition…" he kept walking as Harangue stepped back as Forever towered over him, "But before all that...I learned that same information...from humans…" he leaned forward as his visor flashed, "Like here…" he pointed to a spot on Harangue's neck, "One tiny little needle here...and your body would lock up...unable to move till it's removed. The knowledge I've gained thanks to your help is most valuable...but don't think that knowledge is enough for me to warrant keeping you."

"...W-well what about that secret project of yours?" Harangue asked, "I didn't pay good money to be kept in the dark about it."

"Ahh...very well then," Forever sighed as he pressed a button on a nearby console, causing part of the ground to open up and let a tall tower-like device rise up, "Once we've gathered enough DNA, this High-Breed Pulse Generator will rewrite the genetic code of all Aliens, half-aliens, and super-powered beings on the planet, turning them into what you dream of...full blooded humans."

"...No more aliens?" Harangue repeated.

"Not a single one, my paranoid reporter," he sighed, "Well...at least not the ET kind...I'm not sure what to say about the political kind…"

"That...that's fantastic!" Harangue beamed, "If every one of those freaks can become human...I'll be a hero! Back on top...My reputation will be restored!"

"...yes…" Forever simply nodded before noticing his knights walking in, making Harangue tense.

"...we never had this conversation," Harangue whispered before running out, "I was never here!"

"Is what you said true?" the large bulky knight that had tried to kidnap Jimmy asked, "That you're gonna turn all those aliens and the like human?"

"Hehehehe…" Forever laughed, "Sure...just to see if it even can…" he chuckled, "Honestly...this is meant to be an Anti-Ben 10 weapon." he tossed a device to the Knight, "Using it as a jammer for the Omnitrix. Forcing him to revert to human by sending out a wave matching whatever alien he turned into in a reverse frequency." he paused, noting the confused look, "Ugh...it's a cheat code to make him go back to squishy powerless human."

"Oh~"

"Honestly...how the previous king let you join I will never know…" Forever sighed, "But...you're strong and your skull is so thick a bullet literally bounced right off...I need a brute to smash things now and again." he lifted up the rifle he was working on before, "This...should be able to knock the new kid off his feet for a moment." he tossed him the weapon, "But...it's got some kick to it, so try not to miss, Sir Morton. It can only shoot so many times before it runs out of ammo."

"Got it, my liege."

"However...I seem to be noticing something out of place…" Forever began as his visor glared a bit, "Where is the boy…?"

"...we uh...lost him to Tennyson's new ally."

"And this is why I….hold…" Forever paused as he looked at the tower, "...yes...I believe we have a means to not only disable Tennyson, but put him and his Omnitrix to use for us."

---

"Hmm…" Azmuth looked at the Omnitrix as he continued to work, he took out a tool and began adjusting a section before replacing another part. He stopped for a long moment as he turned to look at the data for all these enhanced forms born of the Fulmini energy leaking to the other forms, "I never did anticipate this sort of glitch. But...the power it granted...it's preferable to that horrible Ultimate evolution feature in my opinion."

"Was it that badly made?" Kajun asked.

"No. To the contrary, it was a wonder of design...but I hated it because the concept of what it did...disgusts me."

"...hmm…" Kajun began to ponder at that before she began to look at some notes, "Yes...I have read on the effects the Ultimatrix would have on the Aliens Ben turned into with the Ultimatrix, and the concept is disturbing...so what if you did a different version of it? One that won't harm the alien's biology, but still enhance it? An 'Omni-Kix Armor,' if you will."

"Sadly...I think with how many new threats Ben is facing, he might need an edge..." Azmuth sighed, "Yes...in theory, he could just unlock his Ultimate Playlist and use those only." he paused, "But...maybe it's not always about might...maybe just the same thing but new…" he mused, "I don't want to say I'm taking credit for the idea of enhancing Ben's aliens, but rather...I'm ensuring that boy doesn't start using Alien X to make Buttered toast…"

"Understandable," Kajun nodded, "And….well...to be honest…" she paused as she reached for a notepad with the Omnitrix's symbol on it, but turned 90 degrees, "I have mused on the concept before and imagined what these 'Omni-Kix' forms for Ben's aliens would look like."

"?" Azmuth raised a brow as Kajun placed the notepad before him, letting him search through it, "Hmm...interesting." he mused "Well...if I didn't know your place was here...I'd have someone to bring home as my new assistant."

"Oh my...Thank you, sir," Kajun thanked.

"But...we both know your place is here," he smiled, "You like this strange and dumb little world, and the people you love are here. Don't make this old man's mistake. Never let those closest to you drift away."

"Of course," Kajun nodded, "Now...let us finish this project, shall we? Knowing Ben...he is going to need it."

"Oh no doubts from me. The boy's always finding trouble even if he goes for a simple walk," Azmuth replied.

---

"...and you're sure this is gonna work?" Ragna asked, standing in the middle of Undertown with Max and his group.

=Well no...but if I've learned one thing...it's that human criminals are predictable= Steel sighed.

"Yup. So trust me...this should work," Max added

"Good thing I have Robotboy charged and ready," Noel whispered, looking at the backpack that sported the little robot.

"Be ready...who knows what the Forever Knights could do a-" Tsubaki began before the ground began to rumble, "!?"

"...That's...not normal, is it?" Max asked as his helmet formed.

"No...unless…" Ragna began before he noticed a large herd of buck-toothed alien-like creatures coming from the distance knocking over and destroying some stands in, "...Pyroxovore Stampede!"

"Turbo Strength!" Max shouted transforming he reared his hands back before slamming together, the thunderous clap making the creatures stop in their tracks, "Come on get on home creepy alien cattle." he sighed as he used his size to scare the creatures the other way.

"Wow…" Ragna awed, "Never thought I'd be so happy to have a transforming kid around Undertown."

"...That was too much of a coincidence…" Tsubaki frowned a bit, "Ragna, do stampedes normally happen here?"

"Not on purpose…" Ragna spoke, "The old coot who looks after those things is crazy...but he's good at leading them away from places."

"...Ah crud it's a tr-" Max began.

"Kya!" the three turned to see Noel being held by a pair of Forever Knights, one currently holding onto a deactivated Robotboy, "Let...go!"

"Tch! No good assholes!" Ragna growled, about to reach for his sword.

"Don't…" Morton spoke as he walked forward, "Not unless you want the girl to be harmed."

"Are you really doing this, bro?" Max asked, flexing his giant arms, "Pretty sure I can break ya like a Kit Kat Bar."

"...I was hoping this'd be the hard way!" Morton smirked as he pulled out the rifle he was given and aimed it, he pulled the trigger as a beam shot out, it wasn't a small thin laser...but a giant irradiation of blue energy that struck Max and sent him flying back and slamming onto and crushing a building.

=Max is knocked out!= Steel shouted, popping off =Not good!=

"And unless you want to save him...you'll come with us," Morton added.

"...Tch. Y-" Ragna began.

"Don't…" Tsubaki spoke, eying some Forever Knights hiding within the empty buildings, "We're surrounded...and Noel and Max are at risk…"

"What kind of weapon could even hurt that guy…" Ragna muttered looking at the rifle.

"That's also a problem...could we even survive that blast if we were the ones hit?" Tsubaki added as she looked around.

"...Damn it," Ragna frowned as he held his arms up.

"You too, red head," Morton ordered, Tsubaki quietly activating her Badge's beacon as she soon raised her own arms up, "Good girl…"

'Ben...Makoto...you better hurry,' Tsubaki thought.

---

"Hmm?" Rook blinked when the main computer turned on, "That was the beacon for Tsubaki's badge...something must've happened to her and the others."

"...Oh no," Jimmy's eyes widened, "Did the Forever Knights get them because of me? A...I should've kept this story secret..."

"Hey...don't blame yourself," Makoto spoke, getting down on her knees and put a hand on his shoulder, "We would have gotten involved anyway! Ben's not even around and they still got in trouble."

"Some offense taken!" Ben spoke up.

"Point is that sooner or later, this would've happened even if you hadn;t gotten involved, Jimmy," Makoto noted, "It's just a normal day of the week for us. So don't go blaming yourself...just believe in the heroes to save the day from a bunch of xenophobic villains and a ex-reporter who has way too much free time hating on my boyfriend."

"I just can't do much without the Omnitrix," Ben sighed.

"What, is the world in danger again?" Azmuth asked as he and Kajun walked over to them, "Can't this planet go one day without it being another end of the world scenario? See, this is why I made a planet. No issues, no one can cause trouble...and I got a moon of super techno-organic life forms to protect it."

"And I have some projects of my own to get back to, so…" Kajun paused as she held out a tray with the Omnitrix on it, "Try not to break it."

"Sweet. Talk about timing," Ben grinned as he took it and strapped it back onto his wrist.

"Sorry it took longer than usual. We were busy adding something...fun to it," Kajun stated.

"Fun?" Ben, Makoto, and Jimmy repeated, "Fun how?"

"Fun...as in soon." Azmuth spoke, making all three fall over, "Hehehe...don't think you're out of trouble yet." he turned away, "Once I'm done...I'll give you the key."

"Key?" Ben asked.

"...I realized my perfect Omnitrix is not done yet." Azmuth replied, "It's an object for peace and is meant for the one hero in the world I will acknowledge. My favorite hero…" he sighed, "So...since you're being left behind by your own team in terms of power at times..."

"Hey!" Ben complained.

"...I'll help make sure you can stay this Number 1 hero you're so fond of being." Azmuth added, "So long as you never stop protecting the universe."

"...Don't make your hair long in the front to make it look like rabbits ears, mister," Makoto warned Ben.

"What?"

"A manga Makoto enjoys that comes out a few years from now," Kajun stated, "Just ignore it until it comes out in July of 2014."

"Oh...uh...sure…" Ben muttered.

"So...Ben 10...do you really need a new ultimate power? Or can the hero I've watched grow into a decent man...handle a couple of weirdos in tin suits?" Azmuth asked.

"...Finish it when you can. You'll give it to me when I need it," Ben smiled simply, "I trust you, Azmuth...you're the smartest guy in the universe, right?"

"Hmm...so you can learn," Azmuth mused, "Makoto...make sure he stays a good man, will you? His Grandfather and I have lives of our own even at our ages. We can't be there to lift him up when he feels down all the time,"

"Can do, sir," Makoto replied with a salute.

"Good. Now hurry on out, you two. The sooner your friends are rescued, the faster I can return to my lab," Azmuth stated.

"Got it," Ben nodded, going through his selection of aliens before carefully pressing down on the raised symbol, engulfing him in green light as he changed into XLR8, "Ok...everything seems good! Babe, hold on tight!"

"Wh-" Makoto began before XLR8 picked her up and ran off in a blurr, "WHOO HOO~!"

"...I swear those two will be the death of me someday…" Azmuth sighed as Kajun nodded slowly in agreement.

---

"...I hate this. I hate this so much," Ragna frowned, sitting within a red energy bubble with Max in a similar one while Noel and Tsubaki were strapped to metal tables.

=How do you think I feel? I escaped from a prison bubble...I don't wanna be stuck in a new one!= Steel complained as he kept zapping the bubble to little effect =If Max were awake, we could overcharge this thing and bust out...but that blast really did a number on him=

"Ah...no...I didn't do Sir...please...no extra math homework...it's sooooo boring…" Max rambled in his concussion induced state of stupor.

"Mmm...if only I could move…" Noel whispered, struggling a bit to free herself as she looked at Robotbot at a nearby table.

"...That tower worries me," Tsubaki whispered, looking at the Pulse Generator, "I think I read something about it somewhere..but...where…?"

"Don't rack your brain, my dear…" Forever spoke walking in with the rest of his Knights, "I'm more than happy to tell you what it is. If you ask...politely?"

"...This…" Tsubaki began to realize before scowling at Forever, "This is a High Breed Pulse Generator, isn't it?"

"Correct..and we have one key component missing," Forever replied, "Just need our special guest of honor to arrive."

"...We're bait," Tsubaki realized.

"Correct again!" Forever laughed, "If this was a game show, you'd be taking home the grand prize." he laughed once more as he walked away, "Ah...good to see my Kinetic Energy cannon worked just as intended. Still workshopping the shorter name...but what wonderful results. Anybody else and their organs would be jelly!" he cheered examining Max, "But...that armor just barely protected Max from total organ failure...also maybe his half-alien biology."

"You just make shit like that and laugh about it?!" Ragna growled in anger before flinching as Forever appeared in front of him.

"Yes…" he said slowly, "Aliens make the best test subjects for untested weapons...so much more resilient...stronger and durable! Only they can let me see how powerful my work really is!" he learned forward as Ragna instinctively tried to back away from him, "I bet you...would be just as fascinating to study as well...you don't look alien...but...oh...you're not fully human either, are you? Judging by the hair...and the eyes...don't tell me...have you come in contact with...a vampire?"

"...how?" Ragna asked with a scowl.

"Probably haven't met who you have…" he replied, "But...I've found a few...They don't last long in the lab, honestly…" he backed away, "But...oh so insightful. You...might have something useful in there, too…" he lingered on his arm, "What's that?"

"...None of your fuckign business is what it is," Ragna answered.

"Oh...but you see, the endless pursuit of knowledge...is my business." Forever chuckled, "It's what I do…" he reached his hand as it phased through the bubble and grasped at Ragna's jacket before pulling him face first into it, "...and I don't like being denied answers…" he leaned in again to match Ragna's glare, "You look like a strong boy...let's see how long you last in my lab."

"Yeah how about no?" XLR8 spoke as he ran into the area, putting down Makoto as she brought her Proto-Gauntlets out.

"...What perfect timing, Benjamin," Forever grinned as he turned, "And so kind of you to trap yourself…"

"Wait wh-" XLR8 began before he and Makoto yelped, the two now suddenly trapped in an energy bubble similar to Ragna and Max', the former suddenly changing back into Ben, "Ahh!"

"It's so nice to see you again, Ben. Sorry you caught me in the middle of my...well I guess you have a term for it...Science Mode." he chuckled, "Oh how shameful...I let myself get emotional. But I do so love science, and learning what makes things tick." he held a hand up, "You're wondering why you changed back, right, Ben? Well that's thanks to this little beauty here." he motioned to the tower, "This High Breed Pulse Generator. I told the buffoon Harangue it will rewrite DNA to make aliens into humans. But...sad to say...no such luck. I couldn't do that even if I really wanted to." he laughed, walking over to Ben and Makoto, "Instead...I collected DNA of your alien forms...and turned it into an Omnitrix Jammer!"

"...Ah man! I just got this thing fixed, too!" Ben complained...with Makoto sitting on the back of his head while she was squished on the other end of the bubble, "So what..you're gonna use it to destroy all Aliens On Earth?"

"Partially correct...you see…"

"Hey! What's taking so long?!" Harangue snapped as he stomped in, "I told everyone in my podcast to stay tuned f…" he paused when he noticed Ben, "...You!"

"You know...I Thought you were scum before, but this is technically a new low...even for you," Ben frowned.

"Shut it! I'll not rest until you're finally brought to justice!"

"I don't know whether to feel relieved you saved us from the horror that is what sick thing Nerd Knight has planned...or annoyed you showed up," Ben sighed, "Given the moment...I'd rather be scared by the guy in titanium long johns…"

"Carbon fiber…" Forever coughed into his hand.

"Then a reporter who hates my guts..and is assisting in genocide," Ben frowned.

"I will not listen to your lies!" Harangue snapped, putting his fingers in his ears to tune him out, "...It is a lie, right?" he asked Forever.

"...well yes and no if I can continue before you interrupted me," Forever answered, "Yes...this device won't change the DNA of all aliens, half-aliens, and superpowered beings on Earth...it'll destroy them, and anyone who shares their DNA."

"?!" the heroes' eyes widened in horror at that.

"D-destroy?" Harangue repeated.

"Yes…" Forever sighed, "I'm hoping Max proves immune though...I need his energy for an acquaintance of mine." he went on turning to Ragna, "And I want to study that one...I think he's part vampire...and...has something of note." he turned around to Noel and Tsubaki, "These ones...give off interesting readings. Worth investigation."

"I...what are you talking about?" Harangue asked confused.

"I mean...I am a scientist...what I care for are facts. Cold...honest...facts." Forever turned to him, "I don't care for you...your name...your reputation or intent. I used you...for my sake. For my work, for so many other things. Once I kill all the specimens I have data on already...I have less to worry for contamination. And anything left will be catalogued into the machine...and rinse and repeat." he went on, "Ah...it's...going to take a long while. But as long as my research specimens are kept intact...well...who cares?" he laughed.

"I do!" Harangue snapped, "You should've told me this from the beginning!"

"Hmm?"

"If I had known it's gonna destroy Ben Tennyson and freaks like him, and his entire family, I would've been all for this plan!" Harangue laughed, "Humanity will understand once this planet is wiped clean of unpatriotic aliens and those other menaces."

"?" Forever just tilted his head as if confused.

"...you….you…." Tsubaki shook, her hair shadowing over her eyes as she began to growl and tremble in anger.

"Hmm?" Harangue raised a brow as he looked at her.

"You horrid, soulless, blackhearted, evil monster!" Tsubaki snapped, "...No. You're not even a monster. You're just...just a thing! All you care about is feeding your ego and proving to everyone your xenophobia is right!"

"So wha…" Harangue was stopped as Forever grabbed the back of his head, "What are…?" he began before electricity surged off the Knight's glove, everyone flinched as the surge was very bright, after a moment Harangue was left to fall to the floor a drooling mess.

"Ah...much better." Forever sighed happily, making everyone but Tsubaki stare at him in confusion, "What? He was getting annoying. Now th...hmm?" he noticed Tsubaki glaring right at him...with her currently red eyes, "Hoh? What's this now?"

"T...Tsubaki?" Noel spoke, a concerned look on her face before tensing when Tsubaki glared at her.

"...Oh...I see now…" Forever noted, an intrigued tone in his voice, "So this is what Relius meant about you...the previous wielder of the Izayoi…"

"Wh-what?" Tsubaki spoke as she shook her head, her eyes changing back to normal.

"The effects...the influence of those from your time...as they molded you into a weapon to aim…" Forever pointed to Noel, "To kill your own friends…"

"?!" Noel's eyes widened on that.

"...no. That's no longer me," Tsubaki argued, "I'll never be that cruel person again."

"No...but…" Forever paused, pulling out a syringe as he jabbed it into Tsubaki's arm, making her wince a bit as he drew some of her blood, "I could use that possibly…so thank you, my dear. You've provided me with something very special."

"Okay...stop…" Ben spoke up, "What is with you...what do you want?!" at that, Forever appeared before him again.

"I am a man of knowledge and that is all." he replied, "I am the Forever Knight itself...I don't need to be evil or good. I am what I am, and the Forever Knights always need a Dragon to slay...and I thank you, Ben Tennyson...for giving us the greatest dragon of all time...you," he learned forward again, "I don't hate you, Ben, far from it. I don't hate aliens, they never did me wrong. I don't have a story for why I do what I do. I am a man following his beliefs...this is what I have faith in. But...wait. How can a heartless monster like me have faith? Well...that's a funny thing. Faith...Resolve...Determination...it goes both ways. You have the resolve to save people..I have the determination to seek knowledge, no matter what consequences happens to the people around me."

"Okay you...are scum," Makoto grunted.

"Matter of opinion," he countered, "I'm scum to you, but to the Forever Knights...I have brought order...progress...and results. It's why it was so easy to lead a revolution against the old king...and replace him. The Knights knew I would give them what they wanted, power to do what they believe is just. While the King...he hid himself away to keep the horrible Ben 10 from coming for him...after all...you did promise to kill them that one time, didn't you?" he asked, making Ben flinch a little.

"I only said that 'cause they were hunting all the alien families in Bellwood," Ben argued.

"But you still threatened your fellow humans with murder via the Galaxy's greatest weapon," Forever argued back, "I just promised them...they'd never have to fear you again."

"What…" Ben asked.

"I mean...you did kinda let St. George die…" Forever added, "Is it any wonder why it took so long to see my Knights again? Oh...but don't worry, Ben...I know the kind of man you are. Good...caring...kind...and self sacrificing…" he chuckled, "Truth be told...you never would have ever killed a single human. It's just not in you...but they didn't know that. While I do is the issue for you." he snapped his finger as the bubble vanished, letting Ben and Makoto fall down. Forever swung his hand as his cape fell off, he held his hand out as his Ninja Knight took the vial of blood from him and slinked away, "And I can prove it." he held his hand up and challenged Ben to face him.

"...On one condetion," Ben spoke as he stood up, a serious look on his face, "You let my friends go...and they won't interfere."

"Wh-?!" Makoto began before Ben looked at her, as if saying something to her mentally, "...got it."

"Let them...go?" Forever tilted his head, "What am I stupid?"

"Where's your whole…"

"Oh please, don't say honor…" Forever cut him off, "That's not honor...it's blind stupidity." he added, "You're fighting for them, Ben! Why would I give you the prize first? I mean...what would stop your friends from attacking my Knights the moment I did?"

"Yeah!" the knights cheered in agreement with their leader.

"I'm not stupid, Ben...you can't make me play to your tune. You're playing to mine," he marched forward as he held his hand out and was handed a sword by his Ninja Knight, "You want one on one? Fine...but don't for a moment think...you're in control of anything here…"

Ben said nothing as Makoto quickly moved to the side, giving the two space to fight as they glared at one another, waiting for the other to strike. Forever ran forward as he swung just as Ben slammed the Omnitrix. Everyone cringed as the sound of two hard objects colliding filled the room. Forever and Diamondhead struggled with one another, steel blade meeting diamond-like sharped limb.

"Diamondhead...One of the first ten," Forever noted.

"And one of my best," Diamondhead grunted as they clashed several more times.

"We'll see," Forever spoke as he jumped back from Diamondhead's next swing, as the Petrosapian stumbled from his momentum, Forever dashed forward and swung his sword and struck Diamondhead, sending him skidding back along the ground, "Not bad for a prototype sword…" he mused, trawling it around before changing his stance as he held the sword upwards and to his right with both hands on it.

"Huh?" Makoto blinked, seeing his stance, "That's...Kenjutsu?"

"Wait, wha?" Diamondhead asked before flinching as Forever swung down with such force it slammed Diamondhead into the ground.

"Still not cutting through…" Forever sighed, "And here I hoped this new metal would be just fine on your mineral based skin."

"No...but that did hurt," Diamondhead grunted as he pushed himself up

"Well...then I'm making progress." Forever rushed and swung as the two clashed once again.

"Hey! Why is a Knight fighting like a Samurai!?" Makoto complained.

"Can't argue. Better technique." Forever spoke as he spun around Diamondhead and slashed him across his back.

"Gh!" Diamondhead grunted before spinning around and slamming a hand on the floor, making several spikes of diamond-like material shoot out of the ground at Forever, who backed away.

"..." Forever looked at the spikes and then his sword, he swung it and cut one of the spikes before he stabbed it and swung around to toss it back at Diamondhead.

Diamondhead held his hand up, stopping his crystal only to blink as Forever jumped off it as a platform and into the air. The Knight came down and swung down, striking Diamondhead's shoulder and forced him down to one knee. Diamondhead grunted as Forever looped his sword around and under his chin. Forever pulled his sword back before rearing back his free hand as it began glowing as he struck a punch that sent Diamondhead flying to the side.

Diamondhead grunted as he quickly rolled out of the way, dodging Forever's attempted stab before firing off more spikes at Forever, who quickly spun and deflected them as they fell to the floor. The crystalline alien narrowed his eyes before slamming both hands down on the floor, creating blocks of crystal that shot out at Forever.

Forever tapped his gauntlet as he crouched down. A Barrier formed around him that was able to deflect all of the crystals. He slowly stood back up as the smoke and dust settled. Diamondhead visibly gawked at the number of responses to all his abilities the Knight had set up in his suit.

"One drawback to you using certain forms so often," Forever noted, "People learn how to counter. So go ahead...use your heavy hitters on me. Feedback, Humungousaur, FourArms, Grimlock, even Way Big...there is no Alien you've turned into I cannot counter."

"...Tch...he's right…" Diamondhead whispered to himself as he changed back into Ben, 'He knows all about me..and all about the different Aliens I've transformed into, so he's got a counter for each one. He's probably even got a counter for Shock Rock by now…'

"Come on, Been...come on," Makoto whispered hopefully.

"...Okay, Omnitrix...you've given me new Aliens in the past before in situations like this…" Ben whispered as he looked down at the Omnitrix as he quickly looked through the roster before stopping on a question mark, "You better give me something good..something he probably doesn't know about."

He quickly tapped down on the Omnitrix, engulfing him in bright green light. Standing in Ben's place was a tall thin figure, taller than an average human height. While its thin, toned body seemed to be completely black, it was actually in the darkest of blues in color. It had three fingers on each hand, each one ending in a claw with three clawed toes on each foot, two pointing ahead and one pointing behind. While it appeared to have a scarf in the same dark blue, it was actually a part of its body, ending in spikes. Its head had a pair of bat wing-like extensions on the sides with a pair of solid green eyes. The Omnitrix emblem was situated on its torso, but the colors were muted.

"..." the alien blinked for a moment as he looked at himself, examining his body for a moment. One thing he took notice when he tried to say something...no words came out. Not a scream...not a sound at all. It was as if this Alien couldn't speak...at all.

"What...you can't talk?" Makoto asked, getting a rapid head nod from the alien, "Well, that's a new one...Wildmutt can do a Scooby Doo sometimes, but this...this is just freaky. An alien with no voice." Ben's new form began making all sorts of odd gestures, "Ah man. Babe...you're horrible at charades!" she complained as she tried to decipher what he was trying to say, "Uh...you think...this...guy...can...can't! Can't! Can't make...any...noise...like...a...creep...no! Ninja! Like a Ninja!" the Alien pointed to where his nose would be, "So what do we call it?!"

He shrugged before he was suddenly cut down from behind by Forever, making Makoto and the others tense. However...he just seemingly vanished...no. It was more like he left an after image in his place as it vanished from view, the real one hiding within the shadows...as if perfectly melding into them.

"That's...new…"

"Oh...it's like Sonic from One Punch Man…" Makoto realized, "He's a really...edgy shadowy ninja….OH! Shadow Edge!"

One of the After images turned to her and began gesturing with his hands once more.

"Hmm...you're right...a bit on the nose…" Makoto nodded as the other after images distracted Forever, while one focused on her, "On the bright side, you finally learned to multitask. You know you sucked at that…"

The Shadow Edge after image gave her a deadpanned look.

"Blast it...where are you?" Forever growled a bit as he looked around, "What are you…?"

"Wait...he doesn't know what Ben transformed into?" Ragna blinked.

=Interesting...he must've turned into a species no one has seen in the galaxy...= Steel noted =Then again, even my scanners aren't picking up on him…and he's right there=

"Wow…" Makoto awed, "It's kinda fun being your voice though. Hahaha...ha...you know, on second thought, I kinda miss hearing you say dumb stuff in that kinda adorable way you do." she sighed.

The Shadow Edge after image just shook his head a bit before he made a motion with his hands saying 'love ya too, babe' before vanishing when Forever blasted it.

"Blast it, Tennyson...come out and face me, coward!" Forever demanded as he kept firing at the after images, "Do you not care what happens once I set off the Pulse generator?! ...Or rather…" he aimed his sword at Makoto, "What happens to your girlfriend?"

Just as he was about to step forward, he suddenly felt a sharp pain on his side, making him grunt as he swung at Shadow Edge...only to hit an after image as his side was now bleeding. He attempted to turn before he tensed up a bit...feeling a massive sense of bloodlust right behind him, the spikes from his scarf-like extensions aimed directly at his neck as his eyes gave a cold glare.

"...Hmm. Guess you do have a cold side to you, Tennyson," Forever noted with a chuckle, "What are you waiting for then? ...Kill me. You have the advantage...so come on. Stoop to that level and prove it...prove that you truly are a killer."

"..." Shadow Edge said nothing as he reached out to Forever, making the others tense as it seemed he was about to take that step. However...he grabbed Forever's sword before tossing it up into the air, jumping high up before kicking it into a nearby console, causing the bindings and the barriers keeping Ragna and the others imprisoned to come undone and vanish respectively.

"God damn...tension…" Ragna grunted, "Never do that again, will ya?" he sighed to Shadow Edge as he shrugged, his eyes becoming less threatening and kinda dopey now.

=Come on, Max! Wakey-wakey!= Steel called.

"But mom, I don't want to swim in the train with the banana toilet!"

=...Can someone slap him silly? I would do it, but I don't have that much upper arm strength for a slap=

"...ano..." Noel whispered as she quickly grabbed Robotboy.

"Let me…" Ragna sighed, picking Max up before he began to shake and slap him, "OI! WAKE UP KID!"

"SNRK! Wh-?! I'm up! I'm up!" Max snorted as he finally woke up, "...uh...wh-what happened while I was knocked out…" he asked before spotting Shadow Edge, "...and given that I see a certain emblem on its chest, why does Ben look like something out of Vampire Hunter D?"

"That...Ragna, how's your hand?" Tsubaki asked as he was in the corner, holding it up in pain.

"I'll be good...god damn that suit is tough…" Ragna groaned.

"Well...we don't know what Ben is…" Tsubaki went back on topic.

"Nevermind that! Max, blow that machine up!" Makoto shouted.

"Okay…" Max replied calmly as he walked over to the tower, put his hands to it...and let it spark and sputter as it began exploding from the inside out, "Wait...what am I blowing up?"

=DNA scrambling machine…=

"WHAT?!" Max snapped.

"He's right," Tsubaki spoke, "And if we don't destroy it...it'll kill all alien, half-alien, and super-powered beings on the planet, including those connected to them...which means you and your mom will die if it goes off."

"...Got it," Max said as his eyes narrowed, "Steel, let's go Turbo Strength!"

"Oh no y-" Morton began before Max gained his heavy hitting form, now towering above him, "...oh bullocks."

"I'm not sure what they play in the UK besides Football as in what we call Soccer...so uh...Goal!" he shouted, punching Morton and sending him into the rest of the Knights, "And I am half sure that was a penalty for me…" he sighed as he turned back to the machine and began feeding it more and more Turbo energy, "I think I fried all the fragile parts that make it do science, so now...it's...uh...it's gonna go kaboom."

=Yeah, we should take a page out of that UK series and RUN!= Steel declared.

"Move!" Makoto shouted Shadow Ege begrudgingly grabbing the still KOed Harangue as they began to run from the heavily sparking Pulse Generator.

"You won this round, Tennyson...but I assure you…" Forever began as the red-armored knight helped carry him out to a secret exit, "You and your red haired friend have done more for me than you can imagine..."

"Running!" Max shouted, changing to flight mode as he grabbed their stuff and flew after the others.

=Technically flying, but still getting out of here!= Steel corrected.

=BOOM!=

---

"Mmm…" Robotboy pouted, his horns drooping a bit as the group was now back at HQ, "Robotboy failed...let friends get captured."

"It's okay...we didn't expect the ambush," Noel assured, gently rubbing his head a bit with a small smile, "Sides...this way nothing really happened to you."

"Let me out this instant!" Harangue demanded from his cell, "This is a violation of my rights and I can sue you for keeping me imprisoned!"

=Oh shut up=

"HOW DOES NO ONE HEAR THE VOICE!?"

"Could be all your hardships have caused your mental barriers to weaken enough that you're finally making contact with your repressed subconscious that is manifesting in a mental construct in the form of a voice that communicates with you," Kajun noted, "Or the multitude of setbacks, counters, reprimands, pressures from life, and a myriad of other ailments are now manifesting in a way that signifies that you are losing your mental capabilities and will soon be rendered incapable of performing even the most basic of tasks until you are able to mentally reconstruct yourself to a level of stable sanity."

"Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!" Harangue snapped, "Tennyson! When I get out, I'll sue you for everything you own and make it so you're NEVER seen in public again!"

"That I am afraid is impossible," Kajun added, "You were willing to cause and assist in a mass genocide on millions of innocent alien species, half-breed, and super powered individuals...and their families."

=She's right, you know. You really messed us over this time. I don't think we're ever gonna get back to our golden days anymore when there wasn't any grey in our hair and our car wasn't crushed by something we invested oodles of cash into that failed=

"HOW DOES NO ONE HEAR IT?!" Harangue snapped.

"Yeah...We're, uh, just gonna leave you in your cell. Enjoy your company on your left and right," Ben stated, quickly walking away.

"Wait, what?" Harangue pondered.

"Please tell me you're finished with that screaming. I'm in the middle of an operation over here," Animo noted on the cell to his left, carefully sewing a pair of plush eagle talons to the front legs of a wolf plush, "Honestly, you keep screaming and you'll lose your desert. It's Spaghetti Saturday, after all. Fresh homemade brownies."

"You're that animal guy Ben 10 made…"

"Made?! Oh please...don't give him so much credit. I would have still attacked the world with my wonderful animals...he's just the only one that can stop me!" he ranted, "Wait, what are you supposed to be...a mad librarian? That seems more Gwendolyn's territory."

"I am Harangue, a reporter Tennyson and his freak brigade ruined f-"

"Oh~! You're that fellow who sided with the Incurseans…" Animo recalled, "...I am not speaking to a man who willingly betrayed his own species."

"SPY! I WAS A SPY TO SABOTAGE THEM!"

"Keep telling yourself that," Makoto taunted.

"D'oh…!" Harangue groaned as they left.

"Now before anything else happens," Kajun noted...before grabbing Max and pulling him off, "You are trying out this weapon that we've made and have been trying to give you and I am not being denied my data any longer!"

"Ah...why is this my bit?!" Max complained, "If you're gonna make jokes, make them classy!" were the last words they could hear as he was dragged away.

"...Should...we h-" Jimmy began.

"We wouldn't recommend it," Ben and Makoto answered quickly.

"Hmm...the Forever Knights are getting more dangerous," Grandpa Max noted as he talked with Tsubaki, "And you said Forever took a sample of your blood?"

"Yes. But...before that, I blanked out after Harangue admitting he wanted the Pulse Generator to work," Tsubaki answered, a worried look on her face.

"Hmm…" Grandpa Max muttered, looking her over, "I'd like you to get a check up...just to be safe, okay." he sighed, patting her shoulder, "Don't worry, we'll figure this out. You're not alone here. I'm here...if for any reason, for anything...you want to talk, I'm here. And so are the rest of us. We're not just a team. With all we've been through, we're family here."

"...Hai. We're family," Tsubaki nodded with a small smile, looking over at her reflection on the wall, "I don't know how I was in the past before coming here...but I am no longer that person. I'm me...and I will never betray my friends...no. My family...and never let justice be misused for evils."

"You'll be fine, Kiddo…" Grandpa Max smiled, "Just take a break now and again," he tapped her head, "This...is a very fragile engine. It needs some time to just...rest and cool down. Take a day or two here and again. Learn to balance that passion...with a healthy bit of laziness." he smiled, "I can't go having my Right hand girl stalling on me. You kids...are like more of my kids. So...if this old coot is telling you take some time off...take some time off. I mean...I was only retired a few years before coming back here. I know all about the workaholic life."

"...I will," Tsubaki assured.

"Good...so effective tomorrow...it's vacation time for you," Grandpa Max smiled, "Don't worry, a couple of days won't make this place fall apart. I kept it running...pretty okay before you came and whipped it in shape. Besides...days go a lot easier when I let Ben and Makoto take the day off…"

"We heard that!" the couple shouted.

"You were meant to," Grandpa Max replied with an amused laugh.

---

Forever walked through a pair of sliding doors, "What we managed to siphon from what was left of the machine should give our...acquaintance Dredd a bit more time. A week alone is not enough to come up with a suitable plan."

"Soka," Relius noted, standing before a large glowing tube as a figure could be seen within it while the Izayoi rested nearby.

"How is she, doctor?" Forever asked.

"Growing by the moment," Relius replied, "The soul is quite fascinating. It's developing so quickly in a tangent with the body."

"Good," Forever smiled, "I saw something...worthwhile there."

"Oh?" Relius grinned a bit, turning his attention towards Forever, "Care to explain?"

"Seems part of the Izayoi's original owner showed up...a part of who she was before coming here," Forever explained, pulling out the vial containing Tsubaki's Blood, "And that...could come in really handy for us."

"Ahh...of course," Relius noted as he took the vial, "Who better to wield the Izayoi..than the 'owner' herself. Yes with this...we can have our subject ready within seconds."

"Oh? And what technology from your time will accomplish this?"

"...Now who said it involved technology?" Relius grinned as he held his hand out, a magic seal appearing on the glass tube as the vial began to float out of his hands.

The contents within began to slowly dissipate into particles as the green glowing liquid within the tube began to take on a more dark red color as it began to glow. At the same time, the Izayoi's 'eyes' began to glow in tandem as the figure within the tube began to grow, their hair growing longer as they went from a curled position to standing straight. The area began to rumble a bit as the machines began to spark around the two...until the figure within the tube opened their eyes, causing it to completely shatter as the room's floor was soon filled with the red liquid. A few moments of silence filled the room before the figure began to rise up...showing that she looked exactly like Tsubaki, only...her eyes were a deep crimson-red as her long hair that kept her modesty in check reached down to her lower back, part of it parted to reveal an intricate symbol on her back.

"Fantastic…" Forever spoke walking forward, "Such amazing knowledge...such amazing work…" he put his hand to the glass that wasn't shattered, "Welcome to the world...my...Camellia…"

"...Thank you…" she began before getting on one knee to bow, "I will forever serve you and the Forever Knights' cause...to bring justice on this corrupted world...my king."

"We have...much work to do," Forever chuckled as his visor flashed again.

---

"Hmm?" a figure raised a brow when a nearby computer turned on, "?! Sona...The Izayoi's been reactivated?" the figure pondered, Kokonoe's voice coming from them, "Tch...damn it. As if we didn't have enough problems as is…" she muttered before turning on a nearby communicator, "Tager, what's your current location?"

The owner of the voice was a slim young-looking woman with long pink hair set in a ponytail of sorts by a large yellow bow that left two long pink bangs on the sides of her face and two 'cat ears' made of the pink hair that somewhat covered the actual cat ears she had on her head. She had a white version of the Kaka cloak, but the sleeves were opened, letting her lower arms/hands stick out with a pair of large gold rings on her wrists. It parted above her navel, exposing it, her red pants that reached halfway down her lower legs, white sandals resembling cat paws, a black thong nearly fully exposed due to the red pants being unbuttoned and the belt loose, and a grey belt with a giant gold bell on it. Her amber/gold eyes were twitching from how long it was taking for a response...along with the two pink cat tails she had, both ending in pale tips.

=Examining the library on the base here, Kokonoe. Seems the elements were kind to some of the books since they had been far away from the windows= Tager noted =A pity the information's out of date by several decades. Their 'latest' book only speaks about the 'ongoing' World War II=

"Tch...whatever," she groaned, "Listen...change of plans. The Izayoi's been activated..meaning it won't be long until they arrive."

=Are you sure?= Tager asked.

"Of course I am! We need to up our time table…" Kokonoe muttered, "At best, next week is the best we'll be able to mobilize and get those girls here." she scowled, "And when I get my hands on that stupid bimbo, not only am I going to throttle her for an explanation on why she didn't contact us about anything she learned when I sent her to that destroyed city, but why she thinks it's a good idea to date someone in the past!"

---

GT: Well...We warned folks.

SZ: We did...and hoo boy.

Z0: *tank rams down the wall to the room GT and SZ are hiding in* Found ya! Ahahahaha...you can hide from me...but you can't hide from that amazing person.

SZ: *Rapidly screams like DBZA Krillin*

GT: …*falls over, revealing GT to be a wooden prop*

Z0: The funny thing is he thinks can outrun her...hahahaha...oh GT you silly boy...she's already right next to you.

*A Dalek lands on the tank with a note reading 'Please Read and Review folks while this guy Exterminates until the Doctor arrives'*

Z0: Okay see now that's just unfair...well while GT fails to outrun a fourth wall aware pink Pony, I...have to deal with this...while SZ keeps screaming his head off…

Dalek: =YOU WILL BE EXTERMINATED= *starts chasing Z0, who was dragging SZ away and dodging laser shots*

Z0: That's what you said last week! And the week before that! *puts on a Fez* But I am a Whovian of the highest order! You can't beat me even with an army! But I welcome you to try it! Cause I've got a companion...and I'm not afraid to use him! *holds up SZ like a gun*

SZ: *screams*LATER!