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.

89. A Lost Omnitrix

SZ: Closing in on the finale of this arc.

GT: Makoto fainted, guys.

SZ:...hoo boy she is not gonna survive this world.

GT: Nope. *sees empty driver's seat* …Z0, where's the pig?

SZ: Pig? What pig?

GT: The one that's been driving the RV for this crazy trip.

Z0: *kicks door in while holding a pig under my arm* I got the pig! *Ping oinks and sneezes a grenade at the others* Also he's a Grenade launcher…Don't ask how he ain't telling *Pink oinks a few times* Hmm…no wait he says he will…but GT has to say sorry for insulting his sense of direction.

GT: NEVAH!

SZ: 0-0…looks at the readers*we don't own anything aside from original content.*puts on army helmet*and now I hop into the bunker!

Z0: Things are about to get flipped upside down this time. *Pig chases GT while spitting grenades at him*

---

The team of young heroes groaned as they felt a little drained from all their world hoping. For some this was their second such journey and…they were still drained from the first one.

"Mou…where the heck is this Evil X anyways…?" Makoto groaned as she rested her head on the table, "Every world we went to…it was an evil version of Ben or Eon there in his place…"

"Hah…even with the limited power over that form…he's really annoying." Ben groaned.

"Very annoying," Lambda added with a pout as her cheeks puffed up.

"But given all those we stopped and all the Ben's we saved up ot this point, he'll most likely get desperate," Tsubaki spoke up

"Maybe, but even then, how can we fight him, he is using one of Ben's strongest forms." Noel added, "I think if it weren't for the fact he has very little or bad control, we'd all be…well…"

"Nonexistent!" Makoto complained, "Mou…Ben-Kun, why can't you control your God-like Alien?"

"Its not that easy…I'm not really turning into a new form so much as I'm entering the cockpit for something." Ben complained, "But my Co-Pilots are super violent and super pacifistic…and don't want to do anything but argue…I was only able to get a few moments of cooperation by snapping at them so bad they gave me a time out, or appealing to their natures…but I doubt it will work this time…they are kinda smart in their own ways…"

"Super pacifistic?" Noel tilted her head.

"Doesn't like violence or likes to fight," Mai pointed out.

"Ahh."

"...can't you just…oh I don't know, ask them to let you take full control while they discuss their little debates to themselves?" Makoto asked.

"I doubt that will work…the entire point of Celestialsapiens is…they don't do anything cause they spend eternity arguing…" Ben sighed, "Even when we went to the place they live in…they didn't do anything till someone tried to touch the baby…or Paradox showed up…"

"Baby?" Noel and Lambda blinked.

"Picture Alien X…now picture a little baby version of that." Ben sighed.

"...that oddly sounds adorable," Noel whispered.

"Star child…" Lambda added.

"So we're basically back to square one," Mai sighed.

"I mean…what would be his next move?" Makoto asked, "Or rather is there any trail to sniff out?"

"Possibly…" Tsubaki muttered before looking at Maximillian, "Sir?"

"Hmm…that might work," Maximillian muttered, "Glitch, run any scans for spots X-Tinction may have been."

"Processing," Glitch replied, "There is one that may be a match close to our current location." Makoto and Ben opened their mouths, "It is not the Chimera Su Genesis Ben Tennyson." both closed their mouths.

"I swear, it's like all the Bens I meet that learn of that one they all get curious," Maximilian muttered.

"We at least have a location," Tsubaki sighed a bit, "That's better than anything else."

"Agreed," Maximilian replied, "What's the universe, Glitch?"

"R-63."

"...Find another," Maximilian ordered, adopting a flat expression.

"...What's wrong with that universe?" Mai asked.

"You don't wanna know."

"A universe a Grandpa Max doesn't want to go to…" Makoto muttered, "...Must be one without his favorite ingredients."

"No, no. It has those," Maximilian replied, "I just avoid it out of…er…how awkward it is."

"Awkward?" Lambda repeated, "...Ah. No music probably."

"You are not being a bard in real life," Mai sighed.

"Silence, Dark Queen Ima."

"Never gonna let that go, are you…?"

"Never when you mock the bard."

"Are there any other spots?" Tsubaki pondered.

"Yes…but I am unsure if you will want that one," Glitch responded.

"Why? What's so b-"

"R-34."

"...R-63 it is," was the response of most of the girls.

Ben raised a brow, "Why are you all…?"

"Ben, sweetie, love of my life, my Emerald Hero, best boyfriend ever…Don't ask questions you're not ready to hear the answer to," Makoto advised.

"Just the implications the girls are giving off is making me want to steer clear of it," Skurd admitted.

"I am lost as well," Lambda admitted.

"We'll tell you later when we go home, Lachan," Noel replied, patting her sister's head.

"...Mmm," Lambda pouted a bit at that.

"Well…guess we have no choice then," Maximillian sighed a bit, "To Universe R-63 then. Just a heads up…try not to be weirded out."

"There is one other…" Glitch noted.

"Oh thank every single multiversal deity…" Maximilian muttered under his breath before asking aloud, "What's the other?"

"Universe ZX-7.7.06-7.12.07-ZXA."

"One of the Border Universes," Maximilian recognized.

"Border Universes?" Ben repeated.

"Think of the Multiverse as a series of trees with each tree representing one universe, like there's a tree made of the universes of Sumo Slammers or a tree of Universes focused on you, Ben," Maximilian explained, "Sometimes, these trees will have branches that reach out and tangle with others. When we call something a 'Border Universe,' we mean that these universes tend to be one of those long reaching 'branches' that intertwine with the 'branch' of another 'tree.' Yours is one of those."

"Really now? Neat," Ben grinned, "So what's this Ben like?"

"Unknown. We do not normally go to them unless Alien X-Tinction has already arrived to one, so I currently have no data," Glitch replied.

"No data?" Makoto repeated, "Sounds mysterious."

"Hmm…Ben, why don't you, Tsubaki, and Makoto handle Universe R-63? The rest of us can handle ZX-7.7.06-7.12.07-ZXA," Maximilian offered.

"You really don't want to go to this Universe R-63 place, huh?"

"I'd rather go vegetarian than go there."

"Whoa now! Okay, serious Grandpa here," Ben noted, his eyes wide in surprise, "Now I have got to go there just to find out why."

"I'll make sure Glitch makes you a Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster after you come back. You're gonna need it…" Maximilian muttered.

---

"AHH~!" Heatblast screamed as they flew through the air and crashed into the ground, grunting as they skipped along the ground a bit, "Ahh…jeez Doc Animo…not holding back today, are we?" they muttered as they stood up, showing that rather than his regular appearance, this one was more…feminine in appearance with a ponytail made of fire flowing behind their head.

"Silence, Tennyson!" An older woman that looked…way too much like a female Animo with an actual scalp and not an exposed brain in a jar snapped as they rode on top of a large mutated frog, "You shall rue the day you've messed with my scheme!"

"Yeah, well…I was enjoying a nice smoothie before you and your latest mutant project came barging in and started attacking," Heatblast retorted as she got up, "And guess what…you're going back into your little cell so you can get back to making your little dolls."

"You leave my precious babies out of this!" Animo snapped, pointing a finger at her as much smaller mutated frogs hopped into the area, "Get her, my pretties!"

"Alright. Guess we're doing this then…" Heatblast muttered before aiming her hands at the ground, twin jets of fire propelling her up as she dodged the incoming frogs, "Ha! You m-" she yelped when she narrowly avoided some gunky spit aimed at her, "Did…Did they just spit at me?!"

"Correction! They spat acid at you!" Animo laughed as a nearby tree that had been hit began to melt and smoke, "Got the idea from the Dilophosaurus from the first Jurassic Park movie….even if it was scientifically inaccurate!"

"Hey, I like a dinosaur movie as much as any gal. Don't see me complaining about it," Heatblast retorted as she dodged another spray of acidic spit, "Also…Uh, hello? Nobody watches the Jurassic Park movies for accuracy."

"At every turn you do nothing but insult and annoy me!"

"It's kind of my thing, plus you make it so easy."

"D'oh~!" Animo seethed before her giant mutated frog's tongue lashed out, smacking Heatblast out of hte air as she crashed, "Ha! Not so quippy now, are you Tenny..!" she began before her creature groaned out as the tip of its tongue was burnt, "Oh! OH my poor baby…!" she gasped as she shot down, gently rubbing the frog's tongue, "Oh no worry. Mommy is here…"

"Ngh…you've been up a lot lately, haven't you?" Heatblast groaned as she got up, "So what are you even after this time, a petty revenge scheme…or do you have a new bioweapon that's gonna turn everyone into like bunnies or alligators?"

"Oh nonsense!" Animo huffed, "...I am planning on turning people into Jackalopes and one of the key ingredients happened to be at Mrs. Smoothie."

"Your evil machinations shall end here and now." Heatblast frowned with a rather serious tone, probably more then needed.

"Not if you are doused by my Poison frogs spit!" Animo laughed as the smaller mutant frogs began to build up their spit.

"Oh yeah? Well can douse me…." Heatblast began before she tapped the Omnitrix symbol on her chest, engulfing her in green light as NRG took her place, "But not NRG!"

"You're an oven…" Animo blinked.

"Well it's an oven suit, but you can't douse a heat source hidden under a suit nothing can break!" NRG cheered as the frogs spat at her…with their acidic spit just sliding down and off her armor, "That means you can't do anything!"

"BLAST IT!" Animo snapped before the larger mutant frog groaned, "Oh I know baby. That Jennifer is such a bully."

"Oh I'm the bully?" NRG asked in an offended tone, "I'm not the one who sent a giant mutated frog into Mrs. Smoothie…while trying to enjoy their new Berrysploxion flavor!"

"Well I wouldn't have to if you weren't there in the first place!" Animo argued.

"Okay I get it. I see your point, but counterpoint…" NRG paused before simply pointing at Animo, "You're a bad guy."

"Well that doesn't mean I'm always the one at fault…"

"Yes it does! By default anything bad is your fault! You tried to raise an army of zombie dinosaurs, you mutated my Grandma, and let's not begin on whatever you were doing in the Null Void…which…how and why!?"

"I am a genius! You should know not to leave me alone with a beast I could tame!"

"I didn't even leave you there!" NRG complained, "I don't know how you got there…or how while in there…you got…uncomfortably hot…" she shivered, "Thank you, whoever listens. That side effect wore off fast…"

"Enough! My pretties, prepare t-" Animo began as she raised a hand...only to yelp when a bolo rope wrapped around her as she fell to the ground, "D'oh!"

"I apologize, but it was getting...uncomfortable," a voice spoke as a female Revonigander walked in, wearing an outfit similar to Rook's as their hair was done up into a single ponytail.

"...you distracted me again, didn't you?" Animo deadpanned at NRG.

"Honestly doc, you just make it too easy," NRG shook her head.

"Curse you, Jen Tennyson! Curse you and your meddlesome ways!" Animo snapped as the Revonigander picked her up.

"Yeah, yeah, save it for the supervillain bookclub in prison." NRG waved.

"I hear the next meetings shall have scones," the female Revonigander added.

"Ooh~ Scones?" Animo beamed a bit, her personality taking a 180 as she was carried off to the Proto-TRUK, "Haven't had one in a while…"

"Call down your pets, and we will discuss it out," the Revonigander stated.

"Rook…it's 'We will talk.'" NRG sighed.

"We will talk about what?" Rook blinked.

"...I swear you do this on purpose sometimes…" NRG sighed as the Omnitrix timed out, engulfing them in red light as they changed into…well basically a female Ben. Only her hair was a bit longer and held into a ponytail by a green scrunchie, wore a black shirt underneath an opened green jacket, a dark-green jean skirt held by a lime-green belt, and a pair of jet black and white sneakers, "But anyways doc..call of your frogs, or else."

"Or else what?"

"You don't get scones…and your stuffed animal privileges are taken away~" she smirked, earning a dramatic gasp from the older woman.

"You wouldn't dare! Madam Eagle is due for a wing transplant tomorrow!"

"Then call off the frogs~" the girl grinned.

"...D'oh fine," Animo pouted before whistling, "Froggies, it's time to go~!"

"See…We can be civil now and again. Just stop picking gross slimy animals will ya? …Can't you attack me with a giant mutant hamster? Or a Capybara? Those are just big cute hamsters," Jen smirked.

"...I tried," Animo pouted as the frogs gathered around her, "They were all out of hamsters at the pet store."

"Duh, everyone…" the girl began before her Omnitrix began beeping, "Oh, hold that thought," she held a finger up as she pressed it on her watch, "Hello?"

=Ah good. I caught you in time= an older woman's voice spoke up =Jen, I received reports that the Rust Bucket was seen recently near your location=

"So? We drive it everywhere, grandma."

=But here's the thing…the Rust Bucket is parked in the hanger right now needing repairs=

"...Ahh. I just wanted a smoothie~" Jen quietly whined to herself, "Alright, Grandma…I'll go check it out. Besides…probably nothing too big," she stated before looking at Rook, "You good taking Animo back to her cell?"

"Hopefully, it will not take me long," she nodded in response as she moved Animo to inside the Proto-TRUK, "Do not be afraid to call me for backup in case things go north."

"South, Rook...things go south."

"Ah…That still does not make sense." Rook replied.

"Don't worry. You're close," Jen smiled as she began to walk off, 'Still…A lookalike Rust Bucket…is Millie trying to make a copy of it again, or is it something else? …Better not be another Vilgax trap.'

-linebreak-

"...Okay….Everything seems normal so far," Ben muttered as he pulled the car out of the Rust Bucket, "Doesn't seem all that different."

"Trust me, kiddo. You'll see soon enough," Maximilian stated.

"I don't see what's so wrong…This looks exactly like home…minus probably us and others…" Makoto muttered.

"I have a feeling that there is a good reason why Maximilian is so…disturbed…" Noel muttered.

"There is," Maximilian replied, "This place is just freaky and…no…just…just no. Now you girls better prepare. I have no idea what this other world is going to be like. It may be freaky."

"I am prepared for the freakiest of freaky things," Lambda spoke up with a nod, "I also have a pillow for sister in case she can't take the freaky." She held up a small pillow with a cartoon mink on it.

"Aw~! Is that a caricature of Mari?" Noel asked.

"Yes. It's a gift for her, but showing you doesn't ruin the surprise," Lambda nodded, "Since technically it's not your gift." she shrugged, "Also…I may have borrowed this pillow while bored…"

"Hey…" Maximilian recognized the pillow.

"Sorry…" Lambda sheepishly fluffed the pillow.

"You…have a lot of artistic talents…" Mai blinked.

"I like to create…and sing," Lambda smiled a bit.

"Y-" Mai began before she spotted something, "...Hey…doesn't that police officer look like Officer Sanchez?"

"Hmm?" the others blinked as they turned, seeing a female police officer handling some traffic.

"...Now that you say it…her hair is the same color," Makoto muttered as she held her chin, "Even has that same birthmark on her right cheek, too."

"Ano…I think I saw Mr. Baumann driving by just now," Noel muttered as she saw a car driving by, "...or rather…Mrs. Baumann?"

"..." Lambda blinked slowly as she pulled her phone out and pulled up Google, "...Wilma Harangue…multiple results found."

"...Oh, I think I'm starting to understand," Ben realized, his eyes widening.

"I am, too," Skurd spoke in a bit of mirth, "This is a universe…where genders are swapped for certain individuals."

"Eeyup…welcome to R-63…the genderbent universe," Maximilian sighed.

"So that means here Ben is…" Makoto began.

"...Makoto, you're drooling and your nose is bleeding," Tsubaki sighed.

"Absolutely not, Makoto. No way, no how," Ben denied, blushing.

"I can't get the image out of my head!" Makoto exclaimed…while using a tissue to try and wipe away the drool and blood dripping from her nose.

"You get those thoughts out of your head, woman!" Ben barked.

"I know you're trying to be commanding…but it's not helping my mindset…" Makoto giggled.

"We are done talking about this…" Ben replied flatly.

"Agreed," Tsubaki deadpanned as she smacked Makoto upside the head with her paper fan.

"Ite!"

"For now, let's try and find this world's Ben before X-Tinction or whoever else he's sending finds him…er, her," Tsubaki muttered.

"I still need a minute to process how weird this will be…" Ben muttered.

"I told you things would get weird," Maximilian sighed before quickly driving off, "Good luck!"

"A Genderbent universe never crossed my mind, Grandpa!" Ben snapped, not so much at him but just to let the confusion vent out somehow.

"Maybe you should take a walk or something…" Makoto muttered, holding her hands up in defense as she stepped back from the panting brunette.

"...Good idea," Ben sighed as he began to walk off, "I might as well find the Mr. Smoothy's of this universe…hopefully they'll have a flavor I-" Ben began before he ended up bumping into something, "Gh?!"

"Gh?!" Jen grunted as she staggered back, "Hey, buddy! Watch where….you're…." she trailed off as she looked up….at the same time Ben just did, "..."

"..."

"...You're a…male me with bad bed hair?"

"...I could say the same about you," Ben slowly countered, a deadpan look on his face, 'Even the girl me?! That's it! I am getting a haircut when we go home!'

"Hey…don't mock the ponytail. Besides I make it work. What's your e-" Jen began before she noticed the Omnitrix actually confirming her statement she declared from shock to actually true, "...Okay, I am either having an existential crisis right now…or Animo's pet frog hit me harder than I thought as Heatblast."

"More like multiversal situation," Ben explained, "Ben Tennyson."

"...Jen," she replied as she began to calm down a bit, "Jen Tennyson."

"...Is it wrong she's exactly what I imagine a female Ben would look like? Boob size and all?" Makoto blurted out…before Tsubaki smacked her again, "Ite!"

"Behave yourself!" Tsubaki hissed.

"Owie…" Makoto grumbled.

"...so uh...Who're the girls with ya?" Jen asked once she noticed Makoto and Tsubaki, "...oh lord you're not a version of me with a harem, are you?"

"Nope."

"Oh thank god. That's emotional baggage I do not need….but seriously who're the girls?"

"The redhead is Tsubaki Yayoi and the adorable squirrel girl is my girlfriend Makoto Nanaya," Ben summed up quickly.

"...Huh…Love the ears," Jen noted.

"I know, right? The way they just twitch at times especially when she's being adorable is just…" Ben agreed.

"Okay~! Let's move on before I faint from the images in my head!" Makoto sheepishly spoke…with a heavy blush on her face.

"Agreed," Tsubaki sighed.

"So what brings you here…uh, other me?" Jen asked Ben as she crossed her arms.

"Simply put, madam, there's an Evil Celestialsapien after your Omnitrix," Skurd spoke up.

"...Wait, what?" Jen blinked at that, "...and did that booger just speak?"

"I am a Slimebiote, thank you very much!"

"...Can we talk this over at Mrs. Smoothy's? I need to get back to that new Berryxplosion…and I find it helps calm my nerves after bombshells like this."

"Berryxplosion?" Ben repeated.

"Strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, cranberries, blackberries, grapes-yes they count as berries-, and goji berries."

"...And just like that, I am intrigued," Ben noted.

"I said the exact same thing when I saw the commercial!" Jen beamed, "Oh! We gotta trade stories while we chat. Just finished dealing with Animo just now…oh wait. Your Animo's a dude?"

"Yup."

"...He screams 'Curse you Tennyson! Curse you and your meddlesome ways!' whenever he loses?"

"Yup…yours has their brain exposed?"

"No, and ew~"

"Hey, I gotta look at mine's!"

"And they went from weirded out to being instantly friends," Tsubaki sighed with a drop of sweat going down the back of her head.

"Well…they are the same person…just one chromosome is different…" Makoto pointed out, "And I find that…very hot…"

---

"Blast it. They already met," Eon...or rather this universe's Eon muttered as they paced about, wearing a dark hot pink version of Eon's clock while wearing a dark purple tinted helmet, "Was hoping they wouldn't…not after how the other mes lost to them…still…" she paused as she began to further pace around the rooftop she was hiding on, "What am I to do? I can't turn them against one another…I can't ask for his help. He'd no sooner erase me if I tried and come up empty handed…hmm…Now how to deal with two Tennysons…?"

No matter the version, Eon knew how..tenacious Ben was, regardless of what version of him exists in the multiverse. But one thing they do know…was that all versions of Ben had their fair share of enemies. Animo, the Forever Knights, Khyber…Vilgax….that last name alone started forming an idea in the female Eon's head.

"Oh…Oh-hoh-hoh…I've never met this one yet," Eon noted, rubbing her hands together.

---

"Glitch, you got anything for us yet?" Maximilian asked, the Rust Bucket emerging from the 'highway.'

"I believe so," Glitch replied, "The year is 23XX and there are two dominant species on the planet: Humans and Reploids."

"Reploids?" Noel repeated.

"Think robots that are so human-like that you wouldn't be able to tell the difference from a human," Glitch explained, "With how advanced robotics are here, humans have been upgraded with machinery inside of them to live longer while Reploids have a 'death counter' installed into them from their moment of creation. The only way to tell a Reploid from a Human is that Reploids have a marking on their body, often on the forehead."

"...Is Ben one of these…Reploids?" Noel asked.

"Negative," Glitch replied, "I've managed to lock on to the Omnitrix signature, but…something is wrong."

"Were we too late?" Mai asked, concern in her tone.

"No. The signature feels…broken, so to speak," Glitch replied, "As if it hasn't been used in years. Longer than any other Ben has gone without using it, even."

"...Is it still on him then?" Mai pondered.

"It wouldn't give a signature if it wasn't bonded to him," Glitch replied, "I have taken the liberty to program the traits that will allow you to blend into the populace here into the changing room. It is honestly simple: everyone just has casings over their ears that function as them."

"?" Lambda tilted her head before going in first, coming out in her normal attire…but a pair of white blocky casings over her ears with black antennae shaped like miniscule rabbit ears and a red triangle on her forehead, "...Will remember later to 3D print."

"This seems simple enough…and cute in its own way." Noel nodded.

"This is honestly new to me," Maximilian admitted as Noel went in and came out with the same things Lambda had, "Seems you two are posing as Reploids given that mark you two have on your foreheads."

"Be thankful the disguise isn't a full thing," Glitch noted, "Bodysuits are often the actual skin here."

"Say what?" Mai asked, stepping out with just the white ear pieces.

"It's optional from what I have gathered."

"..."

"Lambda Eleven Vermillion, you are not replacing your skin with whatever they use for bodysuits here," Noel scolded.

"I wasn't thinking that," Lambda denied.

"Mmm…"

"Can you direct us to him, Glitch?" Mai asked.

"Indeed."

---

"Hey…Giro…"

A young man of eighteen stood before a gravestone. It was settled upon a large cliffside, overlooking an expansive forest…the greenery intermingled with machinery as if they were all techno-organic in nature. The gentle breeze blew the long knee-length brown hair the young man sported as he adjusted the zipped open blue jacket with gold detailing on the collar he wore over a black bodysuit. He sported a pair of large baggy white pants with silver clips on the sides, gold bands on his wrists with white armor over his fingers, and armored blue and black shoes. He knelt down and laid a bouquet of flowers before the grave, a sad look in his emerald green eyes.

"Hard to believe it's been four years now…" he noted, "I'm sorry I don't have Model Z with me. He's still missing…along with the other Biometals that had been on the Ouroboros." he clenched his fist, a determined look on his face, "We'll find them, no matter how long it takes. Especially Model Z." he shook his head, "Anything you want to add, Model X?"

[Vent has a girlfriend]

"MODEL X! N-No, I don't!" the man barked, his face lightning up.

[She's a Hunter]

"Oh come on, man!" Vent snapped, looking at his pant's pocket, before sighing and running a hand through his hair, "We're just friends, okay?"

[That kiss sure didn't seem like it…nor what happened in bed after the fifth date…]

"Just friends," Vent repeated himself before looking out at the distance, the lights of a city amongst the forest, "...People sure do bounce back from things like Slither Inc's collapse and Master Albert's Ouroboros collapsing into the ocean." he looked back at the grave, "Hard to believe it's been eight years since you took me in. I miss you every day, Giro." he turned from it towards a blue and white futuristic motorcycle, "Hopefully when we come back, I'll have Model Z or one of the other Biometals with me."

[Or his girlfriend]

"Just a friend who is a girl!" Vent snapped, "Do you have to word it like that, Model X?"

His pocket rustled before a blue and white rectangular object floated out of it, a red crystal near the center of it, a white piece keeping it from behind in the direct center [Considering she's gotten you to open up more about yourself in a short time is doing wonders for her and yourself, Vent. I don't see why you can't just…]

"You know well why I shouldn't," Vent huffed before blinking, "An engine? All the way out here?"

[I don't sense Mechanilloid activity. Be cautious, Vent] Model X advised as it went back into Vent's pocket…as the Rust Bucket turned a corner.

"?!" Vent tensed as his eyes widened, "No way…"

"The signal's coming from all the way out here," a voice spoke up before the door opened and Maximilian stepped out.

"?!"

"Are you sure he's in this location?" a voice asked as Mai stepped out.

"Glitch has yet to fail in finding them," Maximilian replied, "I trust him with my life."

"...G-Grandpa?" Vent asked.

"Hm?" Maximilian turned to Vent, "...Ben?"

"That…was fast…" Mai muttered, 'He's Ben?! What the…how the…?'

"...We should have our Ben grow his out," Lambda whispered to Noel, the two sisters peeking out the window.

"I don't think he'd go for that, Lachan," Noel quietly replied before Vent hugged Maximilian, the young man trembling.

"..." Maximilian returned the hug, feeling his shirt getting wet.

---

"Wait, so your Millie…er, Billy turned you and your Rook into kids with that stupid age ray of theirs?" Jen asked, she and the others sitting at an all too familiar smoothie shop as they sat at a circular booth.

"Eeyup…" Ben nodded, "It was super weird…"

"Ugh~ Tell me about it," Jen groaned.

"I have pictures," Makoto grinned as she took her phone out.

"Seriously?" Ben asked in disbelief.

"What? You were adorable as a kid."

"Hey. I was cool, not cute," both Ben and Jen argued in unison.

"Besides, you didn't have to deal with Prince Atreus and her overemotional mother," Jen stated.

"Wait wait, let me guess…the Incurseans?" Ben asked, "You're not gonna believe this…but we got them too!" he laughed, fully recognizing the pattern and just rolling with it.

"No way!" Jen laughed before pausing, "...you have a Rook?"

"He is currently back home keeping a lookout for the creep who started this whole adventure with super cool and gritty Grandpa Maximilian." Ben smiled, "He's not my Grandpa from my home dimension, he's from a different one." he explained, "But…I mean…he's still Grandpa to me. Though for you I imagine…it's Grandma given the pattern."

"Right in one go," Jen nodded with a small smile, "Grandma Maxinne's always been there for me and Sven…and inadvertently Helen."

"Wait…is Sven your cousin you've somehow shared a birthday with, and never could stop fighting with when you were ten, to the point people didn't even believe you were related? But is also your most trusted partner who always has your back? Cause in my world…we call that person Gwen." Ben chuckled.

"Yep. And…I wanna say Hank…"

"Kevin. Kevin Ethan Levin."

"Nice. I'm guessing Kevin was a jerk who got a little power crazy as a kid with soaking energy from the Omnitrix, mutated into a hybrid of all your original ten aliens, got stuck in the Null Void, then came back human and making a layer of armor over them with any material they touch. Oh, and dating said cousin while having become your best buddy?"

"Bingo. No kids they're taking care of in College?"

"Nope. Yours do?"

"Two kids sharing one body that are learning Magic from the cousin and I think the boy of the two is picking up things from the best buddy in terms of mechanics."

"...It's awesome using their car as a weapon."

"Oh yeah," Ben chuckled.

"Hence your nickname: the Vehicle Destroyer," Makoto spoke, taking a sip of her smoothie.

"I've learned to live with it." Ben sighed, "Mostly 'cause I do feel bad when it happens to Mr. Bauman…never Kevin though…"

"Same. So glad I have Clockwork to repair her car if it gets damaged," Jen noted before blinking a few times when Ben groaned and hit his head on the table, "Uh…?"

"Don't use it around us," Makoto warned, "Chronosapiens do not mix with looking at us girls."

"For context she didn't add, we are displaced from time and space. The time part is why Chronosapiens get a sort of…nausea effect upon looking at us," Tsubaki sighed.

"It makes Ben barf time portals…We got so many games from the future," Makoto nodded.

"And back when it hit harder…oftentimes portals that would…teleport us here," Tsubaki added, "Makoto was the first to get sent back in time due to reasons…Clockwork would often make portals that summoned some of us, until a moment where Ben use Alien X to repair the universe using 'spare parts' from ours…so now it's like our worlds were always one world the whole time."

"Right," Jen nodded, "So…about the Evil Alien-X you said that's after me…"

"So far he's just been sending lackey's, ranging from tons of Eon variants to actual evil versions of…me…us…" Ben muttered, "I fought a Zombified version of myself…stuff is weird. And honestly sometimes the Alternate me's I meet…are just radically different."

"We met a version of Ben who's Japanese, named Ban, and comes from a clan of Ninja~" Makoto smiled.

"He was not a fan of ninja culture ironically…" Ben added.

"We've also met a Knight Ben and a Pirate Ben," Tsubaki added, "...Lambda kept comparing him to someone called 'Captain Jack Sparrow.'"

"Ah man…that sounds so much better than a cyberpunk Eon…" Makoto complained before sighing, "We were just relaxing at home after that long adventure before Evil-X stormed in and tried to take my boyfriend's watch…now we're dealing with alternate universes and the nonsense that is alternate versions of my boyfriend that are evil, manipulated, or need help like the zombie one."

"Not cool," Jen frowned before rolling her sleeve up, revealing her own Omnitrix, "And that jerk wants mine as well?"

"Pretty much," Skurd stated, "And knowing the coward…like we said, he could send either an evil Ben…or another copy of Eon."

"He doesn't have as much control over Alien X as you'd think, so a friend of mine who is like kryptonite to anything tech really messed him up by frying a few of them." Ben added, "Given how it's worked for me and I imagine you…I think he's using all the Omnitrix as a means of getting more votes for what Alien X can do."

"Wouldn't that self defeat himself?" Jen asked, "I mean if he wants more votes…he's got a lot of Serena and Bellicus to argue with."

"Not really," Tsubaki spoke.

"...Huh?" everyone looked at her.

"I've been reading all I can about that transformation of yours, you two, moreso with what Grandpa Maximilian has in his Rustbucket and that Glitch has in the database. There is only one pair of Serena and Bellicus," Tsubaki explained, "All versions of you two have the same Serena and Bellicus because Alien X lives outside of space and time, simultaneously everywhere and nowhere. When you turn into Alien X, you end up in a 'debate dimension' within Alien X, hence why you've never met another version of yourself." she tapped her cheek, "...Oddly, anytime an Albedo has an Alien X form, his are called 'Kursika' and 'Annikus' respectively."

"...huh…" Ben rubbed his chin.

"Ya learn something new everyday," Jen muttered, scratching her cheek in thought.

"But from what we noticed last time, this Evil X…doesn't have a Serena," Tsubaki stated, "No empathy or anything…just the need to destroy all those in his way to get the Omnitrix."

"Even other Bens…" Makoto added before looking down sadly, "Including the ones they loved…"

"That's horrible!" Jen scowled, "Ohh…if this Evil X jerk comes here, Imma thump him with Way Big!"

"Oh, I love the way she thinks," Makoto grinned, "Oh! Double Way Big thumping!"

"And possibly destroy the entire city in the process?" Tsubaki deadpanned.

"...You sure she's not your version of my cousin pretending to be another girl?" Jen asked, she and Ben trading deadpan expressions.

"Sadly, no. I've had that checked several times," Ben replied.

"You've what?!" Tsubaki exclaimed.

"Uh oh," Ben whispered before tensing when Tsubaki pulled out the paper fan, "...run."

"What?" Jen blinked.

"RUN!" Ben shouted as he bolted out of there…before rushing back for his smoothie and ran back out.

"Get back here, you!" Tsubaki snapped as she leapt over everyone and ran after him.

"...Wow," Jen blinked a few times, "Wait…why did she not hit me with that?"

"Eh, all you did was a backfired insult. She doesn't mind getting compared to Gwen since they're both pretty responsible redheads," Makoto noted, "Ben…well…yeah, I've done it as well with him. At this point, it's pretty much an inside joke. We make more of a weird family than a group of friends. Tsubaki and Ben are like siblings, the responsible older one and the immature younger one. Noellie and Lambda are the adorable twin sisters with a love for cute things and have a lot of pets. Kajun's the science geek while Mai's the awkward sister with a neat trick she's embarrassed by. Jin's the awkward boyfriend of the older sister that doesn't wanna admit he respects Ben…It's actually funny most times."

"Huh….neat," Jen muttered before her Omnitrix beeped, prompting her to answer it, "Hello?"

=Jen, is everything okay?= Rook's voice asked.

"Yeah. Just another interesting adventure is all," Jen shrugged.

=Interesting how?=

"Alternate universes, male versions of me,Evil Celestialsapien after my watch, ect."

=...I will tell Magister Tennyson to keep a close eye out=

"You are improving slowly but surely, young padawan." Jen nodded with a smirk.

=That escapes me…but it feels as though you are once again making fun of me…=

"Eh. More a compliment really," Jen shrugged, "But still, thanks. I'll call ya if I need backup."

=Can do=

"...Doesn't get slang?" Makoto guessed once Rook hung up.

"She's trying," Jen replied.

"We had to buy ours a few books on slang for him to get it," Tsubaki advised as she walked back over, a grumbling Ben followed behind her as he rubbed his head, "The one with the best deals is on 4th and Evans."

"Ooh~ I know that spot," Jen noted before whispering to them, "There's actually a hidden comic book store in the alleyway between the chinese restaurant and the book store."

"How is it I'm just now learning about this?" Ben questioned as he sat down.

"Eh. Gossip between me and Helen when she and Sven…" Jen began before pausing, "..."

"...wh-" Makoto began before her tail and ears suddenly shot up, "?!"

"...Makoto, how close?" Ben asked as he stood up.

"Wh-" Jen began before a large pair of hands grabbed both her and Ben, "?!"

"Oh jeez!" Ben screamed as he and Jen were suddenly dragged through the wall and tossed right into the nearby park.

"Ow…" Jen groaned, "Well I guess today is a Two-for-One type of day…"

"Man I hate those…" Ben grumbled, "Which makes sense technically we are the same…"

"Tennyson…"

"?!" Both Tennyson's shot up as they stood ready, tensing slightly as a large figure began to approach them, moving out of the smoke cloud to reveal themselves…as Vilgax. Or rather…this world's version of Vilgax given the feminine features on them, "Vilgax/Kilvax." the two blinked ant looked at each other, "Vilgax/Kilvax?"

"You are Ben and Jen…one letter difference…how is this surprising you!?" Skurd complained, forming Tetremand arms as he dragged Ben and Jen away, "I already know that this thing is bad news, don't let that thing blast you!"

"Skurd y-" Ben began before an energy blast hit the ground near them, making Skurd tense as he stopped dragging the two, "?!"

"Naughty naughty…" Eon teased as she walked over, wagging a finger in a scolding manner as faint traces of energy came off it.

"Oh great…Eon too?" Jen groaned as she and Ben got up, "What are you even doing here? Shouldn't you be fighting Professor Paradox right about now?"

"Charming…" Eon rolled her eyes behind her visor, "No no. I'm merely here for your Watch, Jennifer…mostly for my new associate."

"Big shocker. Kilvax wants me watch," Jen muttered.

"Ah ah ah. It's not your watch I promised her," eon shook her head before pointing at Ben, "It's his."

"At first I didn't want to work with this manipulative wrench, but the moment she mentioned another version of you, Tennyson…" Vilvax paused as her eyes glowed menacingly, "I figured taking his rather than yours would be a fair trade…once I pry it from his cold, lifeless body."

"HYA!" Makoto shouted as she jumped at her from the side..only for Kilvax to grab her fist as she hung in the air, "...eh heh….oh this was a horrible idEAAAAAAA~!" she screamed as Kilvax tossed her into a nearby car, "...I'm okay…ow…"

"Hmm?" Ben sat up at that, "That is my girlfriend…Now I need to fight for real."

"Then by all means…" Kilvax began before using her arms to deflect Mai's spear and Lambda's Ancient Flails, "Fight me, boy!"

"This is so weird…but…hey…me and my world's version of Vilgax once fought so hard, we tore apart an entire prison ship…so if you are anything like him…I should break a sweat," Ben spoke as he held up the Omnitrix, "Skurd, dial up the Power House Playlist for me, will ya?"

"Ooh~ Goodie, we get to have some fun!" Skurd clapped two little pseudopods as a third did as he was asked, "I do so love the flavors of these selections~"

"The what…?" Tsubaki blinked as she helped Makoto up.

"A project! We gathered all the best combat aliens into one playlist!" Skurd declared.

"You know…so no matter what I get…it's useful for the moment. The list is always changing as I get new aliens." Ben explained as the Omnitrix flashed, "And Hero time~" he slapped the dial once it popped up and Cestus banged his fists together, "Oh, this will be quite fun."

"I've never seen an alien like this," Kilvax noted, raising a brow.

"Hmph. This proud Echidna warrior comes from beyond your universe," Cestus replied, "To fight me…" he smirked as he pointed a fist at Kilvax, "...is to admit this: you are unskilled…" Kilvax narrowed her eyes, Cestus returning the narrowing with his own, "...untrained…" she clenched her fists as she shifted into a charging stance while he spread his arms out while raising his fists up, calling upon his power, "...and unworthy!"

"Where does he come up with these declarations in some forms?" Skurd muttered to himself before both Kilvax and Cestus charged at one another, their fists soon clashing as it resulted in a massive shockwave that shot through the area, short-circuiting the various electronics in the area.

Both growled before throwing a punch at the other once more. Both roared as they swung another, parrying one-another once more. Soon, their arms became nothing but blurs, small shockwaves coming off their collisions. Kilvax's eyes began to glow red before Cestus stopped punching and curled up into a ball that zipped behind her via between her legs. She spun around and received an uppercut, sending her high into the air and making the glow vanish from her eyes. Before she could get too high, the echidna grabbed her leg by the ankle and slammed her down into the ground. He jumped to deliver a punch to her gut only for her right arm to turn into tentacles that she used to whip him away and crash into a hot dog cart. A moment passed before he got up, his face slathered in chili, the top of his head spotting two buns, and two hot dogs in his eyes.

"Okay…I am mad now," Cestus calmly stated as the hot dogs dropped from his face and let his annoyed look be shown to the alien warlord, "Girls, assist in my counterpart of this universe. I am going to be very destructive and enjoy the takoyaki I make from her severed tentacles."

"...Good idea," Tsubaki whispered just as Jen jumped up next to them to avoid an energy blast from Eon.

"Oh please…gather as many as you need. It won't matter any difference," Eon stated as she formed an energy ball in her opened hand, "Just give me the Omnitrix, Jennifer, and I'll spare you the pain."

"Sorry, but no way no how!" Jen replied as she finished searching for the Alien she wanted, "It's Hero Time!" she declared as she pressed down on the Omnitrix, engulfing her in green light as she changed into Chromastone.

"Well they are both the same person still…" Makoto muttered as she readied her gauntlets.

"True…" Tsubaki muttered, pulling Excalibur out, 'I wonder how the others are handling their Ben…'

---

"Do you…remember that day? When I first unlocked Master Control?"

"Niagara Falls, right?" Maximilian noted, Mai and Noel at the table as Vent was sitting on the lower bed in the back, "Yeah. Vilgax and Kevin teamed up to get the Omnitrix from you only for Gwen to get caught by them and all of them ending up in the Null Void. You went in to chase while I had to stay and maintain the portal."

Vent nodded, "I managed to get Gwen out of there. But…when I went to follow, I saw the device spark before things went bright to me. Next thing I know, I was waking up a week later in an Innerpeace city…several centuries later."

"The Null Void Projector must have short-circuited, changing the exit from Earth to another one," Maximilian noted.

Vent nodded, "Whatever happened, all I knew was…well…I-I didn't remember. Not until I was fourteen. Total amnesia. Not even my name was mine to remember, so the man who took me in named me 'Vent.'"

"It's kind of close to Ben. B and V can sound alike…" Noel noted, "Not sure where the T factors in…but…"

"We get the point," Mai muttered.

"Well Ben's name sense tends to be…bluntly simple…" Lambda spoke up.

"Hey…The name was from Giro. I didn't come up with it," Vent frowned, "So…what's with the girls?" He then pointed at Lambda, who was poking his arm, "And can you please get this one to stop poking me?"

"It's really your skin?"

"Yes. It's tougher, insulated, and doesn't scrape when I skid."

"Oh, these girls are the companions, friends, borderline adoptive siblings of the Ben from another dimension who is helping me hunt down an evil Celestialsapien…which…you never found out about?" Maximilian pointed to Vent.

"A what?" Vent asked, raising a brow, "Is that some sorta Pseudoroid or Mechanilloid?"

"Alien God," the girls all replied, making Vent almost double over.

"He can turn into that?!" Vent gawked, "I could turn into that?"

"Yeah, but…it's kind of a lemon most times," Lambda replied, "It has extra voices in its head…and they need to vote on even moving…our Ben's words…" she explained how the wording was decided to simply explain to others.

"Seriously?" Vent asked.

[Sounds like when you can't decide on what to eat and had all of us choose for you] Model X noted.

"?" Lambda and Noel looked around.

"Who said that?" Noel asked.

"Who said what?" Maximilian asked.

"I…thought I heard a voice," Noel replied.

"Same," Lambda noted.

"I didn't hear anything either…" Mai spoke, "And weird stuff normally happens to me…"

'They can hear Model X?' Vent pondered.

"B…Vent, have you used the Omnitrix lately?"

"..." Vent held up his left arm and unclasped the gold band on it, letting it fall off…exposing an Omnitrix with the faceplate of it shattered.

"?! It's…broken?" Maximilian asked in honest surprise, looking closer at it.

"Has been the entire time I've been here," Vent replied, "You can imagine as a kid with amnesia…a clunky watch that doesn't come off…kinda freaked me out." he explained, "It…took me a bit to realize it wasn't coming off…"

"How many rocks?" Lambda asked bluntly/knowingly.

"Fifteen," Vent replied, "And that's not going into my operation to enhance my body due to my delivery job I took up. They broke almost all the surgical tools before they admitted defeat and worked around it."

"Delivery job?" Mai blinked.

"I think Ben told me about his dad breaking all his expensive tools trying the same thing on his old Omnitrix…" Noel spoke up.

"Old?"

"Yours is the prototype," Lambda explained.

"Seriously? That explains all the issues I had as a kid," Vent noted.

"No…no…" Noel shook her head slowly, "Uhm…Actually, Azmuth…the creator, says that's because you kept hitting it hard with your big fingers. The Controls are meant for delicate Greymater hands."

"Greymatter…Now that's a name I haven't heard in eight years now," Vent chuckled.

"Hmm…It doesn't look like much is damaged. I could easily fix it up and…"

"Um…No thank you, Grandpa."

"...Huh?" everyone looked at Vent in confusion.

"I'm alright if it doesn't get fixed," Vent replied, "It's just a watch. Broken, but it's just not something I need to be myself." 'And I have no idea if Model X would still work if I used it…'

"R-Really?" Maximilian asked in surprise, "But you used to enjoy being able to 'Go Hero' when you were a kid."

"Yeah…but…I'm not a kid anymore," Vent pointed out, a small sad smile on his face, "Grandpa…I…have a whole life here, and I had half of it without even knowing what the heck this thing used to be." he chuckled, "I mean, in the back of my head, I always wondered what it'd be like to go back to those old days…but…I'm not that Ben anymore. I'm both Ben and Vent, and…for better or worse, this place is my weird home. So I sort of…grew out of this thing, weird to say as it is."

'A Ben…that doesn't want to turn into aliens?' Noel pondered, as mature as it sounded, the prospect just felt so weird given how use she was to the normal variety of Ben, and the one from her home dimension.

[Was really hoping you'd agree. Was always curious about some of these forms you'd talk about] Model X noted.

"In there," Lambda pointed at Vent's pocket on his lower pant leg.

"The strange voice again…" Noel noted, she paused as a thought came to her, "It sounds…so weird."

"...Well…That's kind of another reason why I'd rather not get this working again," Vent sheepishly noted before Model X floated out of it, "This is Biometal Model X. You could say he's my 'new Omnitrix.'"

"A floating piece of metal?" Mai pondered.

[And you are a young woman with blue hair] Model X pointed the obvious out as Lambda poked him [Please stop that, Ms. Vermillion. I get that enough from Prairie.]

"If we're unlucky, you'll see what I mean by it," Vent noted, grabbing Model X before a beeping went off from his earpieces, "One moment." he brought two fingers to his left 'ear,' "Vent. …" he jumped up, "What?"

"What's wrong?" Mai asked as Vent narrowed his eyes.

"Understood, Prairie. I'm heading there now," Vent confirmed before looking at the group, "Trouble. Area D's under attack."

"Area…D?" Noel repeated as Vent jumped out of the RV and made his way to his motorcycle.

"The nearby highway," Vent replied as he got on his motorcycle, "From what the Guardians gathered, it's some sort of dinosaur-based Pseudoroid in appearance from the surveillance footage."

"Well you can take away the alien…but Ben will still be Ben at his core," Noel replied.

"Not going to try to make us stay away?" Maximilian asked.

"Considering your replacement arm is packing some decent firepower and there seems to be more to these girls than meets the eyes? I could use the backup," Vent replied, Maximilian blinking a few times in surprise at how he had actually noticed, "Try and keep up with me. I know a shortcut there." he tossed up Model X and caught it, "Model X! MegaMerge!"

[Biolink Established. Meta-Encapsulated Granule Awareness System Online] Model X declared.

A flash of light went off, revealing Vent's outfit had altered. His jacket was thicker while his pants were replaced with white armor that sported two red orbs on his crotch armor with separated white armor on his upper legs with his lower legs covered in blue armored boots. His right lower arm/hand were engulfed in a bulky blue blaster of sorts with a gold ring for the barrel while his left lower arm was covered in a bulky blue armor with a gold front piece and red gem. His head was covered in a blue armor with white detailing and a red triangular rounded gem on the forehead of it.

"Whoa~" Mai awed, "What are you?"

"Like I said…I'm a delivery man," Vent replied as he got on his bike, "And the package today? The defeat for the Pseudoroid attacking Area D." he smirked, "But if you want to be precise? I'm a Mega Man who will protect everyone! The Blue Mega Man, Mega Man Model X!"

With that, he sped off on his bike. Moments later, the Rust Bucket quickly sped off after Vent.

---

A deep bellow echoed across the highway as a car soared through the air and crashed into a truck, an explosion destroying both vehicles upon impact. The citizens had long since fled, yet the one wrecking the area could care less. As they hefted up another truck, the air seemed to heat up…before pain erupted on their back. With a roar, they dropped the truck as the burning plasma that had hit them hissed. They spun around and red eyes narrowed on seeing Vent, who looked at them in surprise. The figure was a large humanoid dinosaur with four-fingered hands that had black fingernails, a muscular build, red eyes…and a red Omnitrix symbol on their chest.

"Well…That's new," Vent noted.

[I don't sense a Biometal signature on them. They're not a Pseudoroid] X noted.

"...Well now…" the dinosaur-like being spoke, a bit of a British accent in their tone, "Ben Tennyson?"

"?!" Vent tensed, "What's it to you, Mr. Big, tall, and ugly?"

"You're not like any other Tennyson I've ever met…what is with this…look?" the Dinosaur-like being asked in amusement.

"I'm kinda having a strange day…should…should I know you? 'Cause I never beat up anything this ugly before…" Vent spoke up, "You must be another weird visitor 'cause I'm not the Tennyson you're looking for. Have you tried the world where they can afford to fit your triple wide butt?"

The dinosaur chuckled, "Oh, but you are. Hand over the Omnimatrix."

"Oh? That's why you're here… Hahaha!" he laughed as he smacked the handles of his bike a few times, "Oh…dude…you are going to be so disappointed…" he kept giggling.

The Dinosaur-like being growled before throwing a red car resembling a high-tech ferrari at Vent, who responded with aiming his blaster at it and firing a magenta blast of plasma that destroyed it. He narrowed his eyes at the beast.

"I should warn you that I'm also not someone you should take lightly," Vent advised, "Even if you look like you've got an Omnitrix of your own."

"Oh…This isn't an Omnitrix," he replied, gesturing to the emblem on his torso, "This…is an Ultimatrix."

"..." Vent looked around a few times, "Okay…and…does that make it special? Dude, I haven't used mine in eight years…I have no frame of reference for how cool that's supposed to be."

"Not for…Well, this should be all the easier then," he sneered.

He turned the emblem on his torso ninety degrees before the core slid out. He pushed it back in and a wave of red energy washed over him. His skin turned green as a black armored shell formed on his back, silver spikes jutting out around it. The end of his tail grew a backgammon as metal covered his knuckles. A black helmet with horns of the sides covered his head as four spikes emerged from the emblem in an 'X' formation.

"The form you saw before was a Vaxasaurian that you called Humungousaur. And this?" he held his hands up and the fingers retracted…turning his arms into gun-like shapes, "This is Ultimate Humungosaur!"

With that, he unleashed a barrage of missiles that looked to be made of bones. Vent's eyes widened before quickly driving his bike about. Each time a missile hit the ground, a large explosion erupted, sending up chunks of highway and car parts about.

"Okay…so turn into a dinosaur…make Dinosaur more buff, nastier…and shoot missiles…What!?" Vent shouted, "Man…that actually does sound kinda cool!"

[Focus, Vent!]

"Right, right!" Vent assured, swerving to avoid a truck that had been thrown by the tail of Ultimate Hungousaur before turning around and heading straight for the evolved Vaxasaurian.

His Buster began to glow before a pair of orange orbs of light began to circle in him an 'X' formation. He spun his bike and slid underneath Ultimate Humungousaur. The evolved Vaxasaurian spun around only for a much larger cyan plasma shot to hit him in the face, going off in a large explosion.

"How do ya like that?" Vent asked…before the smoke dissipated and revealed hardly any damage, "...Oh…Well…That's not good for me."

[And us without Model F…] X gulped as Ultimate Humungosaur aimed his arms at them once more [DODGE!]

"Can all me's from other realities do this!?" Vent shouted as he began driving away again.

Further back, the Rust Bucket drove to a halt and Maximilian looked out with a frown, managing to see the red of the emblem, "Albedo."

"Al…bedo? As in the Galvan that turned into a copy of Ben and then into a photo-negative version of him?" Mai asked, remembering the stories their Ben talked about.

"Nega Ben…" Lambda blurted how she remembered it, most likely something Ben himself encouraged for a laugh should she ever meet Albedo.

"Exactly…and it looks like this one has his Ultimatrix still," Maximilian replied.

"So that's what Ultimate Humungousaur looked like," Noel noted, gulping nervously.

"...I expected it to be Red for him…" Lambda blinked.

"I…no…me, too," Mai sighed.

"Focus," Maximilian reminded.

"I can multitask," Lambda argued, "This is just a good coping mechanism for Sister's bouts of panic with ugly things."

"It helps a deal, yes," Noel nodded with a very nervous expression on her face.

"...Right," Maximilian nodded, "Any of you know how to get Ben to switch forms on the Omnitrix?"

"Normally, it's smacking the emblem right in the direct middle," Mai recalled.

"Yes, that's right," Noel confirmed, "He told us that's the exact spot to get him back to being human in case of an emergency and he couldn't reach his Omnitrix to do so. Any other spot and he turns into a different alien."

"That explains Whampire to FourArms when I was aiming for Upgrade…" Maximilian muttered to himself.

"Wait, who's…?" Mai began.

"Get his attention occupied," Maximilian ordered, "Go for the emblem to change him into his human form. If you can, relay the information to Vent."

"Yes, sir!" The girls saluted.

"Gwah!" Vent screamed as he was sent flying from his bike and crashed into a truck, caving it in on impact, "Ugh…sonuva…"

"Hmph. You using the Omnitrix would have given a much better struggle. Why not use it?" Ultimate Humungousaur questioned.

"Couldn't even…if I wanted…" Vent replied, panting as he glanced at a bar in the corner of his eyes, showing a mostly empty gauge with only two bars left, 'One more blow…and that's my end…Heh…Just when I got some solace of my old life, too…' Ultimate Humungousaur reeled his fist back, 'Guess I'm gonna see you sooner than expected, Giro…Sorry, Prairie…Sorry, Ashe…' he closed his eyes, 'Guess it's….' A rocket exploded in the Ultimate Alien's face, making Vent open his eyes in time to see an anchor of all things slam into Ultimate Humungousaur's face, making him stumble back, "?! Wh…?" The Ancient Flail grabbed his Buster arm before pulling him over to Lambda, "Whoa! Uh…"

[Where did you get that armor? Are you…a Mega Man?] Model X asked as Vent started charging his buster.

"Iie…Murakumo," Lambda replied as she held her free arm out, letting a hard light copy of his Mega Buster form on her arm, "And a lover of music…"

"Wh-" Ultimate Humungousaur began before a pair of fully charged shots hit him square in the face, making him grunt out as he was sent crashing into the floor back first.

"...Lot of power…" Lambda whispered before the hardlight copy vanished, "...still one time only for projectile weapons."

"Yeah. It needs to be strong to deal with Mavericks and other Mega Men," Vent spoke as he pulled out a blue canister with a stylized black 'E' on it that he drank from.

"Ah…Magic drink?" Lambda asked, seeing the damage to his armor vanishing.

"Energized nanomachines," Vent replied, "E-Drinks have been around for centuries."

"Tch…Insignificant worms…!" Ultimate Humungousaur growled as he forced himself up, "You dare strike the great Albedo?!"

"We dare!" Mai replied, throwing her anchor once more.

Ultimate Humungousaur prepared to swat it only for several shots to hit him near his eyes, making him close them and let the anchor slam into his face, making him stumble back and trip on the wreckage of a bus. Maximilian and Noel nodded at one another, smoke coming from the barrels of their guns before the hardlight copy Lambda had vanished once more.

[Hmm…Copying the powers of others…feels nostalgic to me for some reason] X noted.

"Hmm?" Vent blinked at that before Ultimate Humungousaur shot up.

"HOW ARE YOU BEATING ME?!" he snapped as a vein popped on his forehead, "I am an Ultimate Vaxasaurian! You all should be trembling before me!"

"We train with our Ben and his many forms," Mai countered as she grabbed her anchor swinging it as it switched back into a spear.

"You are just an armored Humungousaur…or a Grimlock in his T-Rex Mode," Noel compared, "Oh, and blue punch buggy."

"Blue what?" Ultimate Humungousaur asked before a blue car resembling a Volkswagon Beetle slammed into his face, blowing up in it.

"Nice throw, Funkfreed!" Noel cheered.

"Paon~!"

"Huh…Haven't seen an elephant in years," Vent admitted, blinking a few times.

"Vent," Maximilian spoke as he ran over, "You alright, son?"

"Yeah. I'm good," Vent assured, "Guy hits hard, though. Especially all those missiles."

"We need to hit him in the direct center of his Ultimatrix," Maximilian explained, "It will force him out of the transformation immediately."

"Wait…that's a thing?" Vent asked.

"It is with most models. Even that thing he has," Maximilian nodded.

"...That sounds like a horrible Design flaw!" Vent shouted, "It's literally a target on his chest! At least when I was a kid it always swapped around to different parts of my body!"

"Well…" Mai muttered, "If a Ben is good at using his Aliens…actually that is easier said than done."

"And he's supposed to be me?" Vent pointed at the Ultimate Vaxasaurian that was trying to hit Funkfreed with his bone missiles, only for the elephant to switch to a half state to zip around to avoid the attack.

"Actually, he's a Galvan-the species name for what you called Greymatter-that made an Omnitrix of his own, but got turned into you because you are the standard template for the Omnitrix, and then turned colors when yours and his got stuck to one another," Maximilian summed up, "But he tends to use his head more than combining brains and brawn like other versions of you tend to develop. He often just uses the instincts of the aliens he turns into instead of improvising."

"All knowledge…no skill." Lambda summed up, "Bens we meet tend to learn tricks even the actual species he turns into didn't know possible."

"Well, I have always been good at thinking outside the box," Vent noted as he looked around the area and nodded, "Got it. Grandpa, have those girls keep his focus trained on them. Lambda, when I give the signal, you throw me with those flails at him. Once he's turned back to human, I'm punching him in the face."

"And your reason for that last bit?" Maximilian asked.

"He wrecked my motorcycle. I've managed to keep it undamaged to the extent I needed to replace it ever since Giro and I built it for my fourteenth birthday," Vent frowned, "Plus, you see how many vehicles that have been wrecked?! I'm going to be taking the blame for this and I hate misaimed blame…"

"...You sure he's a Ben?" Lambda asked, "He is not a vehicle destroyer."

"I'm a what in other universes?" Vent deadpanned at that.

[We can discuss that later. Stopping the giant dinosaur alien's rampage comes first] X reminded [Plus, why are you surprised? You're dating a vehicle destroyer]

"I need details!" Noel demanded, shifting Bolverk into a machine gun that she unloaded on Ultimate Humungousaur's left leg, making the behemoth grunt.

"Friend! She's a girl who's a friend!" Vent argued.

[That you've been on six dates with when you two run into one another]

"Focus!" Vent barked, his cheeks pink, "Take us up, Lambda."

"Affirmative," Lambda complied, wrapping her flail around his waist before flying high up.

"What in the multiverse are you women?!" Ultimate Humungousaur snapped, slamming his tail and swinging it along the ground, sending out wrecked vehicles at them, only for the girls to start using them as platforms to jump along until Noel threw Funkfreed in his sword form at the Evolved Vaxasaurian with Mai following with her spear, forcing him to lean to dodge before Funkfreed shifted to full elephant to grab his arm, "A pachyderm that transforms into a blade?"

"Other way around!" Noel replied, shooting at his eyes and making him roar at her, "YIPE!"

"Wait for it…" Vent spoke as he and Lambda watched the shooters fire at Ultimate Humungousaur while Mai and Funkfreed kept throwing either her spear/anchor or car parts, "Wait for it…" finally, Ultimate Humungousaur leaned his head back and let out a loud roar of rage, "NOW!"

Lambda's eyes narrowed behind her visor before she spun around at high speed and swung, letting Vent fly straight towards Ultimate Humungousaur as a blue blur. The Evolved Vaxasaurian prepared to slam his fists down on Funkfreed only for the blur to collide with his chest, causing a red flash of light to go off…and revealing an Albedo in his place with Vent having his hand stretched out, the pointer finger aimed.

"...So you're supposed to look like me?" Vent asked after a moment, "...Man, my hair looks stupid in other universes."

"You think I enjoy looking like this?" Albedo replied, scowling as the insult snapped him out of his surprise.

"You think I enjoy listening to you?" Vent argued before taking Albedo by surprise with a punch to his jaw that sent him falling to the ground and passing out after the impact and well placed punch rattling his head, "Wow. Can't even take a punch. Yeah, I think I got the better end of the deal."

"To be fair, our Ben can take a lot of pain before passing out. Mostly to his spine." Lambda added.

"Wait, wha…?"

"Hugs of death from a girl who can bend metal like paper," Lambda explained.

[Vent's got plenty of experience of that]

"Model X," Vent seethed under his breath.

"Well at least your body is enhanced somewhat. Our Ben is just a fairly normal athletic doofus," Lambda smiled, "And ours can actually pick up on hints from his girlfriend."

"She's learned to be really sassy…" Mai chuckled.

"It's concerning." Noel added.

"...You are never going to meet Ashe as long as I live," Vent deadpanned, "She'd be a horrible influence." he looked at the highway and sighed, shaking his head at the various piles of wreckage, "Seriously…why is it always this highway that gets attacked?"

"Always?" Lambda asked.

"In the biggest attacks, yeah," Vent replied, "It just got finished being rebuilt after the brat who stole Model L went on a rampage and flooded the place." he adopted a somber look, "And it's also where Giro…" he shook his head before looking at Maximilian, "So what do we do with the guy?"

"Well, tie him up, make sure he can't use the Ultimatrix, and try not to let him die," Maximilian noted, "The Omnitrix and Ultimatrix have a system that will turn the user into an alien if they receive a fatal injury. Often they take on a form that can regenerate or phase through things. Paradox often shows up to take them away."

"Older gentleman, often wearing a labcoat? Enjoys gumballs?" Vent asked.

"Yes?" Noel replied.

"The day before I met Model X, he ordered ten crates of gumballs of different flavors," Vent recalled, "Still, better…" he turned to Albedo only to see the last bits of a red slime going into a grate and no sign of Albedo, "..."

"You punched him too hard," Lambda noted.

"I think I just realized that myself, yeah," Vent replied with a grimace while dropping his MegaMerge, "Well…going to need all of you to come with me then."

"Huh?" Noel pondered before a shadow came over them, making everyone look up to see a giant blue floating base.

"Meet my home and the base of the Guardians; the Guardian Base," Vent smirked.

---

"Hup!" Cestus pulled a street light out of the ground and used it to bash Kilvax away and through a building, "You forgot this!" he flipped it around and tossed it like a javelin, once more hitting the alternate counterpart to his Nemesis sending her flying out the building, "Huzzah!"

"Gah!" Heatblast yelped as she rolled out of the way of a temporal beam from Eon, "I hate time powers…"

"Try using Diamondhead. We've learned that the crystals of a Petrosapien are immune to the effects of a time manipulator," Tsubaki advised as she sliced through another time beam from Eon.

"Oh come on!" Eon complained, "Did you have to tell her that?!"

"Of course!" Makoto replied, throwing a street light at her, only for Eon to blast it into dust.

"...Huh. Good to know," Heatblast muttered before tapping the Omnitrix symbol on her chest, engulfing her greenlight as a more female variant of Diamondhead took her place just as Eon shot a beam at her…only for nothing to happen, "Ha! Not so tough now!"

"D'oh…blast you!" Eon seethed before summoning a barrier to block Tsubaki's sword, only for it to pierce right through as she jumped back, "?! What in the…? What is that blade?"

"Excalibur."

"The blade of Queen Arturia or the blade of King Arthur?" Eon asked.

"Arthur. Though I'm guessing it's Arturia here."

"Hahaha…everyone important is a girl in this dimension~" Makoto giggled.

"Aw yeah! Girls rule and boys drool!" Diamondhead laughed as she fired a barrage of crystals at Eon, forcing her to dodge only to be met with a lariat from Makoto.

"I resemble that remark!" Cestus shouted, ignoring a streetlight slamming on his head, "Hmm?" He grabbed the streetlight before lifting it and Kilvax before slamming both into the ground, "Much better, I was in the midst of airing a grievance."

"Grr…you are such a nuisance…!" Kilvax growled as her eyes glowed menacingly angry.

"My power makes all realize their own weakness!" Cestus laughed, "Do not feel bad. In my world, my squid faced nemesis is much more powerful! We often fight to the death and leave entire cities shattered!"

"We are not letting you become a City Destroyer!" Makoto called out.

"Only because my beloved life partner says so…otherwise…" Cestus muttered.

"No! You are going to stop having those thoughts!" Tsubaki snapped.

"NEVAH!"

"Oh, they are just too cute," Diamondhead giggled, forming a shield of crystals to block another time beam from Eon that tried to hit Makoto.

"Will you stop goofing around?!" Makoto complained to Cestus, "Also thanks!" she turned to Diamondhead.

"What…I'm more used to the feeling of life and death on the brink…unbridled rage as I see the nemesis who haunted my dreams as a child…frankly, seeing a female version makes me want to giggle," Cestus replied bluntly.

"I forget this form is not as serious as it presents itself…" Makoto muttered rubbing her chin in contemplation, "It's actually kinda goofy…powerful…but goofy."

"I am not goofy. I am…complex."

"You stole goats from a petting zoo to make a chariot," Makoto argued.

"I'll have you know, Noel and Lambda loved them," he crossed his arms before swinging around to block a punch from Kilvax, "So it was not a total loss!" he punched her away, sending her through several buildings, "Haha! 5 Buildings! New record!"

"No! No new record! Why is there a record?!" Tsubaki snapped before deflecting a beam from Eon with her sword.

"Hey, what's wrong with a little competition?"

"Everytime you destroy a building, I am confiscating one of your rarest Sumo Slammer cards for a year!" Tsubaki declared, "And Makoto has to wear a chastity belt for a month for each!"

"WHAT?!"

"EVIL!" Cestus declared.

"SUPER EVIL!" Makoto snapped.

"DO NOT ARGUE WITH ME!" Tsubaki snapped so loudly it knocked the two on their backs.

"...I do believe she's reached her limit with your tomfoolery…" Skurd whispered.

"...Did Tsubaki just pull off Haoshoku Haki?" Makoto blinked slowly.

"No…That was pure anger…" Cestus groaned, "I should know…me and Kevin were on the receiving end from Gwen once…"

"If it were that, my dear…we'd all be knocked out," Skurd pointed out before forming a shield made of Darukania's back that blocked a punch from Kilvax, "And we are still fighting, I need remind you!"

"I can do both! Who do you think I am!?" Cestus shouted, getting back to his feet.

"Then fight, fool! Fight!"

"I know what to do!" he shouted running and slamming headfirst into Kilvax sending her flying, "It's not I who is so evil as to try and make me hold back in a battle!"

"Wha…Are you blaming me!?" Tsubaki shouted.

"No…" Cestus blinked.

"You remember one time he punched the ground it cracked for like several blocks, right?" Makoto pointed out as she held Eon in a very tight headlock, "The fact this entire block isn't a flattened mess is him holding back…"

"...Fair…point…" Tsubaki muttered

"What sorta hijinks has my other self been up to in your world?" Diamondhead asked, blinking a few times.

"That is a day and a half sort of story." Makoto muttered as she used her tail to 'punch' Eon in her helmet-clad face multiple times, "But suffice to say my version has been through the crazier adventures because our dimension borders on a lot of others…so we have some weird overlap."

"Whoa~" Diamonhead awed.

"Restrain her with your crystals, please," Tsubaki ordered, "She can't age them to dust, so they're perfect handcuffs for a time manipulator."

"Got it, boss lady," Diamondhead joked before slamming her hand on the ground, causing a pillar of crystal to shoot up underneath Eon before the top parted a bit, forming into a pair of cuffs as they slammed onto her wrist before she could do anything.

"Ah! S-Seriously?!" Eon gasped.

"Well that's one down…" Tsubaki sighed.

"And a scary one to go!" Makoto finished.

"Makoto…"

"What? My tail is stiff just like when I first met the male version!" Makoto defended, pointing at her tail that was sticking straight up with the fur stiff and puffed out.

"It's a danger sensor?" Diamondhead blinked.

"I'm half animal. We have huge survival instincts when something akin to an apex predator is nearby!" Makoto explained.

"The only one who is an Apex anything is I!" Cestus cheered before a car slammed down on him, "Haha! That only mildly hurt!"

"You're even more annoying than Jen," Kilvax growled.

"Well, he is a boy," Skurd noted, "I've noticed that most females tend to have a better head on their shoulder than men…well…unless you're a Tetramand."

"That was not advice…" Tsubaki looked to Diamondhead.

"I wasn't thinking that…" she responded.

"Yes, you were."

"Yeah, I was…" she admitted, slumping.

"How does he normally end these again?" Makoto asked.

"From the various reports I've read, the few times Ben's defeated Vilgax in direct confrontation and not simply escaping…he's used either Diamondhead once, the Sword of Ascalon once, but the two more notable times were with Way Big," Tsubaki recalled.

"Oh, those times…" Diamondhead giggled, "I blew up her army with my first time using the form and then I threw her into space after she bit my hand. Then the second time, she turned as big as me as Way Big and I still threw her into space! I shoulda named that form 'Peacemaker,' because ain't nothin' saying 'peace making' like a giant that can shoot cosmic rays at you if you make me mad." she frowned, "I've been forbidden from using Way Big at certain times, but I know you two can guess why."

"Yeah, no. That is a universal disaster just waiting to happen," Makoto noted, shaking her head.

"Agreed," Tsubaki sighed, "Still…" she looked at Diamondhead, "Think that would work here?"

"Maybe. But.." Diamondhead paused as she took a deep breath, "Hoo is Grandma Maxi gonna be angry if she learned I used Way Big without proper clearance…but it's Kilvax so…"

"She probably warrants a big gun like that," Makoto offered, "At least back in our dimension, Vilgax sure is. It's even part of training for new Plumbers to stay clear of that battlefield since the last time my Ben and Vilgax fought…they demolished a spaceship that was supposed to act as a megamax jail just for the former…he got really angry…"

"The other me that's a boy or the boy Kilvax?" Diamondhead asked.

"...yes…" Makoto replied.

"I won't lie…I was never intimidated by Ben…until that moment…" Tsubaki added, a small shudder going down her spine as she recalled the utter rage and fury in Ben's expression in his alien forms in that brawl.

"Yeah…old Calamari face is kinda…the one Nemesis that can get me really upset too." Diamondhead chuckled sheepishly, "What with the way we always fought…it's just instinct to go all out sometimes…"

"You seem calm now…" Makoto noted.

"Cause the Boy Me is fighting her, and kicking butt, if your guy's version is so much trouble, I think I'm fine with my version," she added.

"Good to know," Makoto nodded, "Now hurry up and toss her like a baseball!"

"Eh, more of a soccer gal," Diamondhead shrugged.

"...Ohh~! You're gonna kick her into space?" Makoto asked.

"...Huh…Never thought of that before," Diamondhead noted, rubbing her chin in thought.

'And for a moment, I forgot she was an alternate Ben,' Tsubaki thought, facepalming.

"RAGH!" Kilvax growled as she and Cestus punched at each other, the resulting shockwave sending the two back, "...Not bad…I will be sure to tear your Omnitrix from your bloodied corpse once I destroy you!"

"Hearing that in a woman's voice…will surely give me nightmares for weeks to come," Cestus snorted as he bashed his fists together, red electricity crackling off them; but, just as they were about to charge, the area grew darker, "Hm?"

"..." Skurd stretched himself to look over Cestus's shoulder and his eyes widened, "Well…My boy, I think we should bow out of this matter."

"What?! Why?" Cestus demanded before Skurd made a FourArms arm grow out of his shoulder and make him turn his head, "Oh…That is a sound decision, my slime-based companion."

"Oh not again…" Kilvax groaned.

"Tactical Retreat!" Cestus ran away with amazing speed before picking up Makoto and carrying her away.

"Wha…hey!" Tsubaki shouted as she ran after them.

"Girlfriend privilege!" Makoto giggled before looking back at Kilvax…as she looked up at a female Way Big, "And nice to see an Ultrawoman. Crossing that one off the Bucket List."

"I need to see this bucket list one day. I sometimes worry what you have on there, my love," Cestus spoke up.

"If I were to say 'no'…"

"More worried!"

"Trust me…you've cleared about a fifth of what she had on what she had in the military academy," Tsubaki noted.

"A fifth?!"

"We lived in a dystopian future…I have a long list of things!" Makoto defended.

"Why do I get the feeling we'll have been married and have our second child by the time we clear more than half?" Cestus muttered.

"That's 'cause it's very possible!" Makoto replied, "Oh, and I talked her into a fun idea!"

"Fun idea? What do you…?" Cestus began before Way Big reeled her leg back and swung it hard, slamming into Kilvax and sending her flying with a sonic boom, "...I could have kicked him into space? Why didn't I think of that?!"

"Not on Earth," Tsubaki ordered.

"Yes, Bossy Sister-like lady!" Cestus meeped before he timed out, "Well at least you lasted for all the important parts!" he sighed as he grunted and adjusted to hold Makoto in his arms in a bridal carry.

"Well aren't you a gentleman," Makoto teased as Way Big changed back into Jen and walked over to them.

"Well…This has been a day so far and it's not even three," Jen noted before looking over at Eon as she was trying to pull herself out of the cuffs, "So…what do we do with her?"

"Oh, that's easy," Makoto replied, "Professor Paradox."

"Yeah, he normally shows up by now," Ben noted.

"No. Professor Paradox," Makoto pointed with her tail at Tsubaki.

"Gumball?" the familiar Professor Paradox to the Omni Team offered, making Tsubaki jump.

"What the…P-Professor? When did you go from girl to guy?" Jen gawked.

"Ah, you refer to the me of this universe. She's busy at the moment trying to pacify several elder time beings," Paradox explained, "Or was that later and she's handling temporal dragons that are trying to devour the entirety of 1982?"

"How are you not busy right now?" Ben asked.

"Oh trust me, kids, I have a long list of work to get back to after this adventure. But we Paradoxes are all of one mind so to speak, so we are pitching in and helping one another," he chuckled, "Ah…You don't want to know the poor fellow stuck with my shift dealing with the Time Demon."

"Well glad to have your help," Ben sighed.

"It's what I do, Ben. But don't worry, this one I can put with the others in eternal time out. Doesn't mean another one won't show up, so sorry about that, young Jennifer," he looked to the gender swapped counterpart, "You might sadly get one of the, as Future Ben and Makoto call them, Skeletor looking ones."

"I totally coined that," Makoto smiled.

"Oh that is going to suck," Jen grimaced, "But…" she grinned, "I'll be alright. Got a good partner here to help me with it."

"You got it handled. We're just here for a quick visit to deal with our own stuff." Makoto added.

"If you're anything like this one…" Tsubaki pointed to Ben.

"I know your secrets…" Ben frowned.

"...We don't have to worry about you," Tsubaki finished with a roll of her eyes, "Why are you still carrying Makoto?"

"...What? This is our thing…" the couple responded in unison.

"Ah young love," Paradox chuckled as he walked over to Eon, "I suppose you wouldn't do me a favor and not curse my existence?"

"I'll be thinking it," Eon grumbled.

"Well, I suppose that is the best I can get," Paradox noted, rolling his eyes, "Oh, and sorry for the sore wrists, you two."

"Huh? Sore wrists? What's he ta-aaaand he's gone," Makoto deadpanned, Paradox and Eon gone the moment they blinked.

"...Oh, I think I know why," Jen noted with a grimace.

"What do you mean, Jen?"

"I went Way Big without authorization…had to deal with Eon and Kilvax…and there is a genderbent me here," Jen supplied, "Grandma does not take things like this at half-speed."

"...Oh no…" Makoto paled.

"Jen, seriously. Please tell me it's not what I think it is," Ben begged.

"...You actually have paperwork for this?" Tsubaki asked.

"We have paperwork for everything," Jen replied, "Why do you think I've told you I am 'affiliated' and not 'a member of' the Plumbers? Sure, I don't get paid, but I don't have to do that much paperwork either."

"Babe…dope slap…" Ben groaned.

"Oh…I'm not going to do that," Makoto smiled.

"Why?" Ben asked, honestly surprised by that.

"Well for one? Super strength…And two? I don't want to get dropped on my tail," Makoto explained.

"It's almost too wholesome…" Jen muttered.

"Trust me. You get over it when you realize you have to live with them…" Tsubaki muttered, 'Still…maybe I should see if I can't implement some ideas from this universe back home…'

"Babe…I'm scared. Tsubaki's got her old Student Council Vice President expression on," Makoto gulped.

"We're not getting out of paperwork, are we?" Ben asked.

"We're doomed~" Makoto comically sobbed.

"Aw crud," Ben groaned.

"We shoulda gone with Grandpa Maximilian," both whined.

---

"Thank you…" Maximilian thanked, Lambda holding a finger under his nose.

"Someone must be talking about you, Mr. Tennyson," a young-looking woman in a pink uniform and long blond hair giggled before glancing over at the medical room where Vent was trying, and failing, to not get a shot from a purple-haired nurse, "Still…I'm amazed that broken watch on his wrist is actually something so powerful."

"Considering his age at the time, there's a lot he didn't know, Commander Prairie," Maximilian advocated, "Given his age now, it's likely this universe's Albedo proved Ben was still alive and they're trying to figure out how to find him." 'Possibly to help deal with the Highbreed…and given this is three years past the time they invaded…'

"Things have gotten strange," Vent sighed, "I didn't know how to explain at first…and I'm just as shocked that apparently…there's some type of God Alien in this thing."

"Don't ask…It's not even all that good," Lambda added the moment Prairie looked at them in surprise.

"What's important is to find where that other me is at," Vent frowned.

"Technically, he is, but he's not really," Mai pointed out, "Remember, he's a Galvan that made an Omnitrix, only to end up turned into you because you're the first one the Omnitrix bonded to."

"Greymatter, right," Vent nodded with a grimace, "I remember that I became a genius in that form. So one turning into me, but probably keeping that intelligence, is just asking for trouble. Especially here…and especially if he has Upgrade."

"Upgrade?" Prairie repeated, tilting her head.

"Think living slime that can cover machinery and upgrade it to do things far beyond its capabilities, Prairie," Vent summed up, "Like the standard Buster the troops are issued. Upgrade could make it triple-barreled, use less energy, and let it fly around or walk on its own. Maybe combine with four others to make a Buster Bot, even."

Prairie tensed on hearing that as the ramifications swirled in her head, "Mr. Tennyson…?"

"Since he has the Ultimatrix, it's likely he only has the roster his Ben has, meaning it's likely what Vent would've had at fifteen…which doesn't include Upgrade due to it recalibrating," Maximilian assured, causing both to sigh in relief.

"But his aliens can be super evolved into deadly actual killing machines," Lambda added, "According to how our Ben explained it…it makes the alien that goes Ultimate into something that can win a fight with another of the same species."

"Huh…You said it uses DNA to turn the user into aliens, right?" Prairie asked.

"Yes," Lambda confirmed.

"It's likely he's altering the DNA by running it through a worse case scenario, maybe one that is a civil war of sorts lasting for several generations to cause that kind of alteration to its form," Prairie noted, earning surprised looks from the visitors.

"Yeah, she has moments like this," Vent chuckled, "Her late sister was the genius that invented the Biometals, so it's not surprising some of it rubbed off on Prairie."

[Vent, are you sure we shouldn't accept the offer from your alternate Grandfather?] X asked [The powers from it could help]

"No, X. I'm alright with just what I have," Vent replied, "I've got you, for one. And we always have that…"

"Absolutely not, Vent," Prairie ordered sternly, "That is never seeing the light of day unless it's an end of the world scenario."

"That?" Noel repeated.

"Something that should never have been found," Prairie replied before shaking her head and smiling, "Still, I'll get the Guardians to put out an APB on Albedo thanks to these two doing such a great job of a sketch of him." she gestured to Noel and Lambda, who smiled at the praise, "I'll just go let Ashe know you're in the infirmary."

"Alright, that's fa…Wait. Ashe is here? Why?" Vent asked.

"She needed Fleuve to help with something," Prairie explained, giving the travelers a bow before leaving.

"...So what was that reaction?" Noel asked with a small amused smile.

"It's nothing."

[She's his girlfriend]

"She is a friend who just happens to be a girl, alright!"

"Technically due to how grammar works…that is a girl friend…just not used as one word," Lambda spoke up.

"Oh~! How did you two meet? Did you save her life or did she save yours?"

"...Actually…We thought the other was after Model W for nefarious purposes and tried to kill one another," Vent admitted, sheepishly rubbing the back of his head.

"Say what?!" Mai gawked.

"I thought she was a bad guy working with Prometheus and Pandora and she thought I was working with them!" Vent replied, "Luckily, the Model W we were fighting over ended up falling deeper down into the mine it was found in and the intervention of Model A copying me distracted us long enough to figure out neither of us were working with them or Albert."

[It's a rather complicated story…] X admitted.

"Oh~ Enemies turned lovers! I love that type of story!" Noel smiled with sparkling eyes.

"...She's a Shipper, isn't she?" Vent groaned.

"She has long lists…stories, poems, notes…and idea boards for friends to be shipped with others," Lambda revealed.

"...Wait, what?" Mai blinked.

"Ah! L-Lachan!" Noel panicked.

"No, we are not brushing that under the rug, Noel. Who is on the list…who's on the list?!" Mai panicked as she began walking after Noel who was chasing Lambda.

"...You sure do know how to pick up interesting kids. Huh, Grandpa?" Vent chuckled, watching the unfolding chaos.

"In all honesty, I was trying to get them to not come with me after X-Tinction," Maxmilian sighed, "But…it does feel good to have someone there. So what's the deal with this friend of yours?"

"Ashe? She's a Hunter. Oh! Hunters are people who explore and dig up old relics of the past," Vent explained, "Ashe…has a bit of a raw deal, so to speak, but it's not my place to fully tell. She is like me, though; a Mega Man. Her partner is called Model A and her power actually reminds me of when the Omnitrix was working, only she has Master Control unlocked from the start."

"Really now?"

"Yeah. Earlier this year, we worked together to end Albert's plans with the Model W, destroying it all," Vent noted, "She decided to go out on her own, seeing the world with Model A and finding new treasures. Me? I've been staying with the Guardians. They've honestly become a sort of big family for me. We ran into each other a few times in places, so we just started to hang out after my duties in the area were done with. One thing led to another and it's…"

The door slid open and a blur zipped past the trio of girls, making Noel spin around as Lambda and Mai fell over. Vent grunted as the blur collided with him, revealing it to be a young woman his age with her long silver hair pulled into a ponytail. She wore a navy blue bodysuit with an orange and white long-sleeved jacket, a white armored belt, and orange and white shoes. Completing it all was a magenta armored headband of sorts.

"Vent! Are you alright? Prairie showed up in the old man's lab and said you were in the infirmary after firing a giant dino guy that turned into you with a bad haircut!"

"I'm okay, Ashe. It wasn't all that bad," Vent assured, patting the top of her head, "We beat it, but he did get away sadly."

"Ugh, that sucks! What if he uses your looks to do all sorts of crimes? Gonna be a real pain in the ass clearing your name," she noted.

"Well he does look like a photonegative…" Noel muttered as the trio picked themselves up and just watched the scene, "Also, Aw~ I knew it."

"Hmm…this time I agree with Sister," Lambda noted to herself.

"Can you not…we don't need two crazy romantics…" Mai complained.

"Says the girl who's super power works by licking things…" Lambda muttered.

"She really is becoming more sassy…" Noel muttered.

"Hm? New recruits?" Ashe asked.

"Nope. Remember what I told you back in Area Sigma-42?"

"You mean how you came here?" Ashe questioned, earning a nod, "..." her eyes widened, "Are they…?"

"Yes and no," Vent replied, "The girls are from one universe and this version of my Grandpa is from another." He held up his broken Omnitrix, "That doppelganger is after this. Joke's on him, though, since it's broken and he doesn't know it."

"Boy he'll be mad when he learns that, huh?" Ashe grinned.

"I'll say," Vent chuckled.

[Huh…So that was a real story? Your watch really let you transform into real live aliens?!] A younger sounding voice asked before a small object resembling an 'A' hovered out of Ashe's jacket.

"Yep. The whole thing, Model A," Vent confirmed, "Not interested in having it fixed, though. I like who I am now."

[Aw…I wanted to see the ball alien] Model A whined.

[There's apparently an alien that could be considered a literal God] Model X noted.

"Seriously? An alien God?" Ashe asked in surprise.

[A reality warper at that]

"Whoa…Vent, what if…" she looked at Vent.

"From what they've said, too much hassle to use," Vent replied, "And like I said, I'm fine being myself. This was from when I was a kid and it's honestly better I don't have it. Maybe when I have a kid they can take it."

"Kid, huh…" Ashe noted, looking at the Omnitrix, "Well, I know they're gonna be responsible since they'll have a good dad."

"Thanks," Vent sheepishly rubbed the back of his head, "So…What did you need help with involving Fleuve?"

"Oh! That'd be a surprise," Ashe grinned.

"Still as silent on surprises as ever, huh?" Vent chuckled.

[Hey! Stop poking me, will ya?!] The two looked to see Lambda poking Model A.

"Ah…Adorable."

[Adora-I am not adorable! I'm Biometal Model A! I am a total BAMF!] Model A barked.

"Ah…Very adorable."

[Ashe~! She's calling me names~!] Model A whined.

[She can hear Biometals. Her sister as well] X pointed out.

[Shut the front door!]

"Just Lachan and I," Noel spoke up, "But…why is that?"

"It could be your DNA matches up with Albert's," Ashe noted with a frown, "Hopefully, you don't have a…er…what year are ya from?"

"2014," Lambda replied.

"Yeah…Hope you don't have a descendant named Albert in your time," Ashe frowned, "He was my great-great-grandpa and did a lot of shit to try to become a god and control the world's story."

"Story?"

"It's what I call life: a story that you write on your own terms," Ashe explained.

"Oh…" Noel nodded.

"Well it could also be the fact we are not normal…in the sense we were made within the means of science and not…parents," Lambda added.

"So you're Reploids?" Ashe tilted her head, "No judging here. I have an adopted uncle who's a pretty fun one. When a party breaks out, you know he's gonna have chopsticks up the nose and dancing with a face drawn on his belly."

"...Um…"

"A bit like one, yes," Lambda nodded.

"Nice," Ashe nodded, "Oh! I'm Ashe, by the way. Hunter extraordinaire and lover of the sweet, sweet Booty that comes from being one!"

"...Booty?" Noel repeated, tilting her head.

"She means treasure," Vent explained.

"Yep! It's tough work, but the rewards are worth it every time!" Ashe grinned, "Plus, if I just so happen to run into Mavericks, I get a nice workout with the Copy Mega Man, Mega Man Model A."

"...Wouldn't you be a Mega Woman?" Lambda asked, tilting her head.

"Eh, you'd think, but nope," Ashe shook her head.

"I mean we call ourselves Human…" Mai muttered, "I don't think everything has to be so specific."

"I…don't feel like you should be saying that…" Lambda muttered, earning the stink eye from the bluenette.

"I'm Noel Vermillion and that's my sister Lambda. The one giving her the stink eye is our friend Mai Natsume," Noel introduced.

"Nice," Ashe grinned.

"They can be pretty entertaining when you sit back and watch them for a while." Maximilian chuckled.

"We are funny…but I am the queen of sass," Lambda smiled.

"I don't know how I feel about you embracing this…where did you even learn this?" Noel asked.

"Ben…and TV," Lambda admitted.

"Of course…" Noel groaned.

"So where you planning to check out next?" Vent asked.

"Area H once Fleuve is done with what I've brought him," Ashe replied, "But first I'd rather lend a hand with this copycat of you."

"Here's a picture," Lambda showed her camera.

"..." Ashe blinked a few times before looking at Vent, "I prefer your hair a lot more than his. Seriously, looks like too much time with hair gel, not enough shampoo."

"I know, right?" Vent agreed.

"Kinda outdated, though," Ashe added.

"Hm? Outdated?" Lambda asked, looking at her phone as Ashe pulled out a small disc that displayed a holographic screen.

"This is the latest model," Ashe explained.

"Ohh~" Lambda awed.

"No," Noel scolded, "We are not causing issues with our time bringing future stuff to it."

"But it's an alternate…"

"It is still the future, so no."

"Phooey," Lambda pouted as she puffed her cheeks up.

"I like her. She's sassy," Ashe giggled.

[Just so long as she doesn't poke me…] Model A grumbled.

"M-maybe we should get back to the matter at hand," Mai spoke with a sheepish chuckle before an alarm went off.

"I didn't do it!" Ashe panicked on reflex as a speaker turned on.

=Alert! We have a Maverick Outbreak in Area H!=

"Go time," Vent spoke as he jumped off the medical bed and donned Model X.

"Talk about timing," Ashe groaned.

[Aw man…and I wanted to see the giant crane machine there without it being damaged more, too] Model A complained.

"A construction site?"

"No. An abandoned amusement park," Ashe explained, "It's rumored that the dolls in that giant crane machine there are all perfectly preserved after all this time."

"Where is the amusement park?!" Lambda and Noel asked, suddenly in her face.

"Oh great they are determined…" Mai groaned.

"Excuse me?" Vent asked.

"They love stuffed animals," Maximilian explained, shaking his head in fondness and exasperation, "So long as you don't mess with them, you're pretty much safe from them beaning you with weapons or pillows."

"Never mess with the adorable floofys," Noel and Lambda spoke in unison before they high-fived each other.

"If there was ever any doubt you two are sisters…it's been squashed," Mai shook her head.

"There's a teleport down the hallway," Vent informed, "Been a while since I last used one of the relay points for that place."

"Let's go, Sister!" the two were already leaving the room.

"...wow," Ashe slowly blinked at that.

[Don't let her take me, Ashe…] Model A whimpered, moving closer to Ashe.

"I'll catch up with you, Vent," Ashe spoke.

"Hm? Really?"

"Yeah. I really need to get what Fleuve is fixing before I head out there," Ashe replied.

"If you're sure," Vent nodded, "Grandpa?"

"I'll stay behind," Maximilian replied, "I'm good at fighting, but I'm aching a bit from the near hit one of the missiles' explosions did." Vent nodded before running out, leaving just the two in the medical ward, "...So…you're the 'girl who's just a friend,' huh?"

[...I am so glad we didn't go] Model A snickered as Ashe went pale.

---

Four beams of light shot down from the sky, reforming into Vent, Mai, Noel, and Lambda…before Mai and Noel covered their mouths and ran to a pair of bushes. Vent winced on hearing their last meal coming up as Lambda donned her armor.

"Yeah…First time teleporting does that," Vent noted, sheepishly rubbing the back of his head.

"This is nothing new to me. I used to live with a crazy scientist cat lady," Lambda spoke up.

"...Okay…" Vent blinked a few times.

=Vent. The one controlling the Mavericks appears to be broadcasting from Area H-4= Prairie informed.

"Understood," Vent scowled, "Always that place…"

"Hm?"

"Before Giro adopted me, I was here with some other orphans on a paid trip by Slither Inc," Vent explained, "Mavericks attacked the place and slaughtered almost everyone here, the Pseudoroid Purprill taking the caretaker's life before me when she hid me in Area H-4."

"Ah…" Lambda nodded before blocking several plasma shots with her wings, "Threat located." she looked to see several humanoid figures in purple and magenta armor with a single optic for faces in purple and magenta helmets and several hardhats with one revealing a tiny figure beneath the helmet peeking out, "...What are the tiny ones in hardhats?"

"Mets," Vent replied.

"...Want one."

"Sorry. They're programmed to attack all lifeforms."

"...Phooey again," Lambda pouted before firing her 'wings' at the Mavericks, slicing into their bodies as Vent dashed at them, delivering several shots that tore through them.

"Ugh…Groundbridge, that was not…" Mai grumbled before deploying her spear in its anchor mode and blocked several plasma shots with it, "Yikes! So those are Mavericks?"

"Yep," Vent replied, moving behind some rubble to fire at them, "Keep moving! We need to get to the other side of the park!"

"Seriously?!" Mai gawked.

"Makes sense," Noel sighed, summoning Bolverk and began to shoot at the humanoid Mavericks before spotting one Met peeking out of its helmet, "...Awwww~! Kawaii!"

"It's programmed to kill humans and Reploids that aren't Mavericks!" Vent spoke up.

"WHAT?!" Noel exclaimed, "But…But it's so tiny and cute and-and-and…oooh…! Whoever made them like that, I do not like them! I'm so sorry for this, you adorable little things!"

"They really like cute things, huh?"

"Don't be surprised if all the stuffed dolls here are gone," Mai sighed, throwing her spear and impaling several Mavericks before bouncing off a Met's helmet, "Huh?"

"Yeah…Those helmets? Pretty much indestructible," Vent sighed, "You gotta wait for them to peek out to flip them over."

"How cruel…" Lambda frowned as she grabbed a Met with her Ancient Flail and threw it into a dumpster, "Don't leave that, little cute thing."

[They're going to apologize everytime they hit a Met, aren't they?]

"You don't complain when Prairie does," Vent pointed out, "Just think of them as her little sisters."

"Sorry little one!" Noel smacked another Met into the same dumpster.

"Sorry!" Lambda used her Ancient Flail to toss more Mets into the dumpster.

"...At least it's not those two that like to put down an empty Met helmet," Vent muttered to himself, "...Annoying little jerks."

=You're still upset over that?= Ashe asked over the comm.

"Says the girl who used every single A-Trans she had to try and destroy it…only to find out said 'Met' was an empty helmet afterwards."

=D'oh!=

"Sor…" Lambda began apologizing when the helmet she grabbed was empty, "...My helmet now. Make a Met doll later."

"She does this," Mai sighed, "We were a bad influence during our last dimensional journey…Long story, but two worlds involved interacting with pirates."

"Say no more," Vent rolled his eyes as he shot a Maverick that tried to sneak attack Mai, "Now let's go!"

---

Albedo leaned against a slide resembling a cartoon elephant, frowning as he looked at the sky, "...No, I am not holding back against him. …There's a complication. This world's Tennyson is unlike any other! …No, he's not a Saiyan. …No, he's…no, he does not use his Omnimatrix, but a suit of blue armor with a blaster on his right arm. …Keep them in this world for a bit longer? Very well. This world does have some rather…fascinating technology. The level of integration of the organic and the technologic is unheard of in my universe for Earthlings…then again from the stories I've heard, they squandered such a gift for such petty reasons…and their own creations turned rogue on them…Honestly, this is why humanity is such a failing species." a steel door nearby hissed before opening up with half going upwards and the other going into the ground, allowing the four to enter, "Ah. I was wondering what took you so long. I expected more from you, Ben Tennyson. Or do you prefer the name that Reploid Girouette gave to you? 'Vent,' was it?"

"You're the one controlling all these Mavericks?" Vent asked.

"It was rather simple, really. An hour was more than enough to figure out the right signals these machines respond to. Then was a simple matter of reproducing the signal through my Ultimatrix," Albedo noted, holding up the red gauntlet on his left arm.

"So…like you can't do anything without that, right?" Vent asked with a deadpan expression.

"Wha…what does that mean?"

"I mean I remember being able to do a lot more when I turned into Greymatter…and if you're one of his kind but with my face…you seem kinda lame if you need that to do stuff…Me turning Greymatter was sometimes enough to actually save the day," Vent went on, "Wait, don't tell me…you're actually kind of a dumb Greymatter."

"Dumb? I was able to recreate the Omnitrix in under a year and then merely a month to recreate it once more and then enhance it into a device far superior!" Albedo replied.

"You know…rush projects tend to turn out really bad…" Vent pointed out, "Isn't that why you're stuck looking like me?" he stated, making Albedo actually shut up at his point there, "Yeah, you can be as smart as you want…but you're not very wise, huh?"

"...Then we shall see," Albedo narrowed his eyes as he turned into Echo-Echo.

"Okay…So you turned into a shrimp? What's-why are you three covering your ears?" Vent asked before Echo-Echo answered for him by splitting into twelve of himself and unleashed a sonic blast, knocking them all away from him, "GAH! Okay…He duplicates and uses sonic attacks…"

[Really wish we had Model H to control the air…]

"It's a good thing I can somehow still hear you…" Vent groaned, "Man…that seems useful…"

"It's something our Ben likes to use for multi-tasking," Mai explained as she helped him up, "...Well Echo-Echo, Ditto, XLR8, or FastTrack."

"I have no idea who three of those are," Vent reminded, "All I know are Heatblast, Greymatter, Diamondhead, Ghostfreak, Ripjaws, Stinkfly, FourArms, Wildmutt, Upgrade, XLR8, Cannonbolt, and Wildvine."

"...Right. Ditto is like this guy, but replace sound powers with the power to share damage with one another. FastTrack is a speedster like XLR8 but more humanoid and furry," Mai summed up.

[...I am so glad you never tried to name me] Model X admitted.

"Oh shut up, Model X," Vent grumbled, "I was ten."

=That's not all= Echo-Echo noted before turning his Ultimatrix and pushed the core in once more, causing him to transform into an adult-sized version of Echo-Echo in blue and gunmetal with sound discs all over him =Ultimate Echo-Echo=

"Oh no," Noel squeaked.

"What's this do?" Vent asked.

"He nearly killed Kevin when he was in a hyper mutated state with just this form," Noel explained.

"Hyper mutated?! Look, if you have any copies of his adventures, I will gladly trade for them just so I can be prepared for shenanigans like this coming out of the wazoo!"

"Oh trust us. We love story time," Lambda spoke, "But this is a form our Ben proudly called one of his strongest transformations…period."

"Given we've seen what him fighting seriously can do…we believe it," Mai added.

"How Bad is that?" Vent asked.

"Remember Vilgax…a stronger version of him and our Ben fought so hard a space ship almost as big as a city went kaboom…" Mai explained.

[No offense, but maybe you should ask for the watch to be fixed…given this butt kicking…I'm pretty sure you are weaker compared to the you who kept using the watch…]

"...I trust in you, X. Always have," Vent replied, "Even if I'm weaker, I'd rather just be myself and trust in my friends to make up for what I can't do. It's how we beat Serpent and how Albert and Ouroboros were defeated and destroyed." he narrowed his eyes at Ultimate Echo-Echo, "He may look like another me, but he's not that guy. He doesn't know how we think."

"I'm not sure if he's being stubborn or he really has a lot of faith in Model X," Noel whispered to Mai.

"Really hoping there's more to this thing that has him rely more on the Biometal than trying to fix his Omnitrix," Mai whispered back as they readied to fight the Evolved Sonorosian.

---

"It's done!" a short older man in blue robes and a helmet called as he entered the command center.

"What's done?" Prairie asked as Ashe grinned.

"Great! We just confirmation that they've encountered who's running the attack!" Ashe beamed as she accepted a small parcel from him, "Wish me and Model A luck getting this to him!"

"Be careful out there. If you encounter Albedo, be careful of his Ultimate forms," Maximilian advised, "And if you can get him back into human, there's a rectangular button on it that will eject the Ultimatrix from his wrist."

"You got it!" Ashe grinned with a wink as she ran out and down the hallway, "MEGAMERGE!"

[Biolink Established! MEGA System Online!] Model A declared.

In a flash of light, Ashe's outfit changed into a white and gunmetal armor, most of it resembling Vent's but with the jacket replaced with a bulky set of torso armor that produced a pair of red cables from the back like a scarf and a pointed helmet resembling Model A.

'Hang on, Vent…We're coming to help!' Ashe thought, narrowing her eyes as she ran.

---

"I swear, I'm going to get carpal tunnel from doing paperwork…" Ben grumbled, rubbing his wrist as he, Makoto, Tsubaki, and Jen sat at Mrs. Smoothy's.

"I know…" Jen grumbled, "All that paperwork is a hassle…"

"Well, if it means Ben doesn't destroy as much stuff, I'd gladly incorporate it into the Plumbers in our universe," Tsubaki noted.

"Please don't!" Ben and Makoto begged.

"Please no! It was bad enough you had me and the girls do an all nighter for the upcoming exam back at the Academy…for 5 days straight!" Makoto added.

"I will if you two destroy an entire block again," Tsubaki warned.

"Fine, if you wanna play petty, you can fight Vilgax next time he shows up. I'm sure you'll do great against the guy who still gives me nightmares," Ben offered.

"That's not funny…" Tsubaki replied sheepishly.

"He's not joking," Makoto pointed out, "The fact he admits he still has nightmares of him, should be proof of how dangerous Tako-face is."

"If it's Vilgax the next time that happens, I'll make an exception," Tsubaki sighed.

"I thought so," Ben grinned a bit.

"Never try to outplay the boy when a big threat is involved…it'll result in defeat," Skurd added.

"And shall we shake on the agreement?"

"HUh? Oh, sure," Ben replied, shaking her hand.

"Great. So the next time you destroy a block and it doesn't involve VIlgax, the paperwork will be instituted," Tsubaki noted once the handshake ended.

"...Wait. What?"

"...Ohh, I understand. My boy, she said 'If it's Vilgax the next time that happens, I'll make an exception,'" Skurd pointed out, "You didn't get her to agree to not implementing it; it's merely delayed."

"Aw man~" Ben groaned.

"But there are loopholes you can do. You can't destroy a block; but what about a street?" Jen pointed out.

"..." Tsubaki inhaled deeply before walking over to a streetlight and banged her head on it.

"Nice," Ben chuckled, sharing a high five with Jen.

"Always look for a loophole," Jen smirked, "So what happens next?"

"Normally, when everything's done, we tend to use the car and get back to the multiverse and regroup with Grandpa Maximilian and the others," Ben replied, "Will admit that I can kinda get his wanting to avoid coming here, but it's also pretty cool."

"I'll say. This is going to be one for the biography," Jen admitted.

"Tell me about it…my memoirs are going to be a pain to write up one day…" Ben muttered.

"Really regretting that photographic memory, you two?" Skurd asked.

"A blessing and curse," Ben sighed.

"Your laziness when it comes to schoolwork is the curse…" Tsubaki muttered.

"...Oh shoot. When was the last time I went to school?" Jen pondered under her breath.

"...You haven't tested out of it?" Ben asked, "Greymatter or Brainstorm could easily get you out of it in five minutes flat."

"He should know. Tsubaki lost a bet because of it," Makoto grinned.

"Oh thank the Celestialsapiens…" Jen sighed in relief.

"Well, all but one," Makoto noted, reaching for her smoothie when her tail shot straight up, "?!"

"Makoto?" Ben asked in concern.

"Kilvax isn't back already, is she?" Jen asked.

"...no…." Makoto whispered, a horrified look of realization on her face as she slowly looked over at Ben and TSubaki, "Guys….he's here…"

"...Oh dear," Skrud whispered once Tsubaki and Ben realized what the squirrel girl meant.

"Uh guys? What's…" Jen began before…within a matter of seconds…before anyone could get a chance to react…X-Tinction was already before the group as he grabbed onto her Omnitrix arm, "Ahh!"

"NO!" Ben exclaimed before X-Tinction waved a hand and the trio were frozen in a block of ice from the neck down.

"Chill…" X-Tinction spoke, a dark chuckle reverberating from him as he turned his back to them…exposing a line of Omnitrixes down his spike with three on each shoulder.

"?!" the trio tensed.

"So many…" Tsubaki gasped.

"Hope you enjoyed the many distractions I sent your way. It made my job…so much easier," X-Tinction stated as Jen kept kicking at him in her attempt to free herself

"This was just some wild chase to keep us busy!?" Ben grit his teeth.

"There are some worlds not even I find worth the effort. Either the Omnitrix is too odd or different to work compatibility…or the Ben would be a hassle even for me."

"Even a hassle for you…but you picked a fight with my Ben like it was nothing!" Makoto complained.

"I misjudged those border worlds…a mistake I won't make with my next trip like Albedo is now."

"Albedo? …You sent an Albedo after the Ben Grandpa Maximilian and the others are with?" Ben asked.

"So easy to manipulate. Merely telling him that the Tennyson there will be an easy victory and that he may keep the Omnitrix to cure his state was all it took," X-Tinction shook his head, completely unphased by all of Jen's kicks, "And speaking of the Omnitrix…" he paused as he slowly looked at this world's Ben, "I believe you have something that rightfully belongs to me."

"As…if, ya creep!" Jen snapped. before pushing her feet against the hand and pulling her hand out, "Yes! Now to…" she looked down at her wrist…seeing no Omnitrix, "?!"

"Looking for this?" X-Tinction asked, holding up her Omnitrix before it sank into his hand and a new emblem emerged on his right knee.

"Gh…" Ben grunted as Skurd already morphed into Pyronite form and covered Ben's arm, letting him finally break free, "Alright, I'm finally getting sick and tired of all this."

"As am I! I just want to go home and watch my stockpile of Telenovelas!" Skurd declared as he slapped the Omnitrix for Ben, changing him into ReBoot.

Before X-Tinction could properly react, he was blasted away and sent through several buildings. The evil Celestialsapien growled as he teleported back only to be tackled away. Both vanished as they heard what seemed to be multiple explosions and shockwaves in the sky above them. The two then appeared above them, the cloud that had been there being dispersed by their sudden appearance with ReBoot sporting a digital shield and mace, using them to block a punch while retaliating only for the other hand to catch. ReBoot narrowed his eyes before several digital hands with clubbing weapons formed and swung at X-Tinction…only to be caught by several hands that emerged from the Celestialsapien's body.

"That's new…" Makoto noted, her eyes wider than before, "Guess having all those in him is making it stronger…"

"How…just how many Ben's did he take those Omnitrixes from?" Tsubaki asked in equal shock.

"...Enough," was X-Tinction's response, making the two girls tense before he caught ReBoot's blade with his hand, "And yet it's still not enough…I must have more. Your Omnitrix…" he narrowed his eyes as he pulled ReBoot closer to him, "Relinquish it…It's rightfully mine…!"

=Go ahead…That is, if you think you're smart enough to actually do it…= ReBoot laughed as the Omnitrix on his torso turned into data and vanished =Right now it's data, and I'm changing its algorithm a lot of times…so prove you actually got that omnipotence to take it~= he challenged, =Of course if you could…you could snap your fingers and take it, right? So…why the hold up? Come on man, Seconds are like hours to me…=

"Grrr…I…"

=You can't…otherwise why would you go to the trouble of using your hands? You just don't got the imagination to rock that kind of power, huh?= ReBoot taunted, =How did I figure that out? Well simple…you only counter my tricks after I do them. You are copying the weird stuff I do. Plus there is a few seconds between you seeing something and replicating it. You gotta understand what I did to do it yourself, so let's test that. Figure out the data algorithm for my Omnitrix?=

"You dare?!"

=I dare what? Stare a jerk in the eyes and challenge them to try? Dude…I'm Ben Tennyson, that's normal for me=

X-Tinction narrowed his eyes. He held his hand out and moved it in an oval shape. He pushed and the oval he traced shot at ReBoot…who froze up as his body started to glitch. The Omnitrix reformed and X-Tinction shot to grab it, only for Skurd to engulf it and form the protective Celestialsapien shielding. He snarled as he glared at Skurd.

"Very well. If I cannot obtain yours yet, then why should I wait to deal with the other who destroyed several of mine?" X-Tinction snarled before, in a flash of cosmic light, he vanished.

ReBoot stammered and spluttered as he crashed down before the girls. A green flash went off and Ben gasped out while holding the side of his head with one hand.

"Ugh…He set all my 1s to 0s!" Ben explained to the surprised looks.

"I forgot that form of yours is practically a Digimon…" Makoto muttered.

"Only difference being I can't Warp Digivolve into a Mega," Ben pointed out before looking at Jen, who was focused on her empty wrist, "...Jen." his counterpart looked at Ben as he adopted a determined expression, "I promise you, I will get your Omnitrix back."

"...I'm trusting you," Jen replied, looking up at Ben with tears in her eyes.

Ben nodded before turning into Heatblast and melting the ice on Tsubaki and Makoto, "To the car…now."

"Here's hoping the others are doing alright and can move it quickly," Tsubaki noted.

---

"GAH!" Vent screamed as he crashed through a rusted swing set before, in a flash, his armor vanished, leaving him to fall to the floor, "Guh…"

=Hmm…A pity= Ultimate Echo-Echo noted, floating over towards Vent, passing a downed Noel and Mai while Lambda struggled to get up from the slide she was embedded in, her armor littered in cracks =I expected more from you from the heroics spoken of you. I will admit, your tenacity seems to be just as strong as the Ben Tennyson I am acquainted with which allowed you to last longer than the others. But…you just can't overcome perfection such as my Utlimatrix. And now to claim my…= he looked up at Vent's wrist, the gold cuff broken to expose the broken Omnitrix =...prize?= he knelt down, looking closer at you =You…You've broken it?=

"Uh…well more of an accident if I'm being blunt…but yeah…it's broken. You kinda wasted your time…you know you seem to have a bad knack of that. Dude…do you ever stop and think out anything…? You're no better than me when I was 10…"

Ultimate Echo-Echo narrowed his eyes, allowing a disc to pop off the side of his head and float over Vent's face =I am a Galvan. We always think things out. The repairs will be simple enough to perform. You, however, will be unneeded=

"Dude…let me give you some hard truths…You put all this pride in your IQ…but you blame me for your mistake?" Vent chuckled, "Face it, you messed up, you rushed it, you built a faulty copy and the consequences of your mistake is my face. You don't need to be smart…you're just too stubborn and selfish to take accountability for your actions. Really, you should look like a younger me…'cause you come off as just a brat…who never got that pat on the shoulder from the guy you looked at like a Dad."

=You…= he seethed as his anger boiled over, likely due to how much that hit the nail on the head deep down.

"Also…" Vent coughed, "You know Ben…I'm Vent…and I have something you don't."

=And that is…?=

"A girlfriend that can transform into a giant crocodile Pseudoroid with ice for fangs," Vent grinned as a shadow came over them.

Ultimate Echo-Echo turned upon hearing a deep, rumbling growl with a metallic undertone to it. The owner was a behemoth of a machine-like creature resembling a crocodile made of shades of blue and white with glowing red panels along its collar. Its arms ended in claws made of ice while its fangs were indeed large chunks of the material as well. Glowing red eyes were returned in kind. The Ultimate Sonorosian raised a hand to attack when the crocodile snatched the arm and began to slam him repeatedly about before throwing him hard through a wall. It roared before, in a flash, was replaced with Ashe in her armored state.

"Vent!" Ashe exclaimed as she ran over to him, "You alright?"

"Ugh…my ears are ringing and I'm dizzy as hell…but…I'm a lot better now," Vent smiled.

[I can't leave you and X alone for five minutes without you getting into trouble]

"?!" Vent's eyes widened as Ashe pulled out the parcel and opened it, allowing a red Biometal to float out, "M-Model Z…?"

[We spent a whole month swimming as Chronoforce and Thetis to find him under the sea] Model A explained.

[Seriously, X. I leave you with the job of keeping an eye out for the kid and he nearly ends up with his head gone from a sonic concussive blast]

[To be fair, this day has been a rather long, confusing one to me. On the plus side, I finally met a version of his grandfather. Just as accurate as he told us] X noted before the rubble of the wall exploded.

[Yeah, yeah, yeah. That's great and all, but we still have the weird guy there to deal with!] Model A pointed out before a disc flew over…and duplicated into a large ring [Oh…That's not good, is it?]

"Actually…it is," Vent smirked, managing to stand up fully, "Feels almost like…back when we first did this, huh?"

[Best go help the girls get up, Ashe] Model Z warned [With how long it's been since we did this, it may get a little…explosive]

"Right," Ashe nodded, a burst of air going off beneath her feet as she shot off towards the girls.

=You think a little red object is going to help you?= Ultimate Echo-Echo demanded.

"Hey…this 'little red object' was a gift from a man I'm glad to call a father," Vent replied as Model X floated up to beside Model Z, "Now…" he narrowed his eyes as he smirked, "Model X!" he snatched the Biometal with his left hand, making the red gems on it light up, "Model Z!" he grabbed the other, letting the green gems light before pulling back his arms, "Here we go!" he brought them ahead, crossing his arms over one another, "DOUBLE MEGAMERGE!"

[Biolink Established. MEGA System Online]

The discs surrounding Vent prepared to fire before they started sparking. Ultimate Echo-Echo stepped back as a pillar of light engulfed Vent. Within it, Vent closed his eyes as data erupted from the two BIometals that now hovered over the palms of his hands. Ultimate Echo-Echo's eyes widened as the area itself trembled even as the pillar pulsed, destroying the discs. He narrowed his eyes while raising an arm up, seeing a figure within the light as it began dimming slowly. At first, it looked to him as if Vent had donned his blue armor, yet…all the blue had been replaced with a brilliant red. His buster was gone, replaced with a copy of his left arm's armor with all the red crystals now green. His helmet had changed, becoming angular with 'jet blades' emerging from the sides of his head with two red horns rising up. The center of his helmet was black with a large green arrow-shaped gem in it. A circuit pattern lit up in the gem before red Tron lines lit up on his black bodysuit as his hair shot out in a set of six 'blades', now a rich golden blond color. The light dimmed as the crystals on his body lit up. As his hair settled, he held a hand out and data swirled before it, transforming into a white handle. He flicked it…and a blade of plasma in the shape of a triangle erupted from it.

=What the…? Wh-What are you?=

"I am the Ultimate Mega Man. Mega Man Model ZX!" Vent…Mega Man declared.

=Ultimate Mega Man? You dare insult my Ultimatrix with calling yourself an…= Ultimate Echo-Echo began before Mega Man was behind him =?!= he choked out before the right half of his body slid backwards as his left half remained =Wh-What…?=

"Guess that Ultimatrix isn't all that it's cracked up to be," Mega Man calmly noted as sparks began to crackle off Ultimate Echo-Echo, "Why not go back to the drawing board and not rush next time?"

=This…This is…G-GHRAAAAAAAAAAH!-!-!-!= Ultimate Echo-Echo screeched as he exploded, the smoke dissipating to reveal a collapsed Albedo…his Ultimate cleaved in two by his arm.

"I'll be honest, that was not intended…but I'm also not complaining," Mega Man chuckled, seeing the damaged device which was his handiwork.

"Whoo! That's my man right there!" Ashe grinned, helping up a slack-jawed Mai.

"I…I guess he really doesn't need it, huh?" Noel noted.

"Why are all Ben's scary when serious?" Lambda asked.

[No idea, but it sure is awesome when he gets serious!] Model A noted.

"Hm?" Lambda blinked, seeing a small sphere of data above Albedo before it floated over to Ashe and entered the 'bolt' on her helmet, "What was that?"

"That is a little Booty that Model A gets," Ashe grinned before, in a flash, Ultimate Echo-Echo was in her place.

"Wha?!" Mai gawked before she changed back to Ashe, who grimaced.

"Ugh…Felt like I was living sound inside of a suit," Ashe noted.

"Hai, that's how Echo-Echo works," Lambda nodded, "They are silicone based, not carbon."

"Huh…The more ya know, right?" Ashe grinned as Mega Man walked over, dragging the knocked out Albedo by his leg while holding up the broken Ultimatrix.

"No one minds if I broke it, right?" Mega Man asked.

"Meh…Ben breaks lots of important stuff. We're over it," Noel shrugged, "Though you seem to be something of an Omnitrix Destroyer~" she giggled.

"Looks like it since I refuse to be a Vehicle Destroyer."

"I'm sorry; a what now?" Ashe asked in amusement.

"To be fair…our Ben turned his original Omnitrix into a glorified grenade…so…slicing one in half…hardly the worst move a Ben has ever done," Mai added, "But he also threatened his Albedo with a voice command to make his Omnitrix blow up on him…so…make of that what you will…"

"Bens are dangerous if backed into a corner," Lambda simplified the moral of the tale.

"And don't you forget it," Vent winked.

"So what do we do with the dummy here?" Ashe gestured to Albedo.

"Hmm…we don't have space in the trunk do we?" Lambda asked.

"No…" Noel shook her head, "Well, normally, when we defeat an Evil or Bad Ben…we just wait for…"

"Hello~" Paradox sang standing behind them.

"Sweet Cyber Elves!" Ashe yelped, jumping up and landing in Mega Man's arms.

"Oh, hey Professor," Mega Man greeted.

"Ah, Vent, a delight to see you again," Paradox greeted.

"Wait…you know him?" Mai blinked.

"Vent has been something of a…well, I don't have a proper term besides 'Pet Project,' but that sounds horrible and drastically undercuts our friendship," Paradox muttered.

"Meh…I've had worse ways to explain how things work," Mega Man shrugged, "Sides, I know what you mean."

"Well thank you, my boy. You see, girls, Vent here is something of a unique anomaly among Bens. Even for the one of my home dimensions, IE your Ben," Paradox explained, "I keep an eye on him because I've never seen such an event as what led to his adventure. I took it upon myself to watch over him…and report to his family that he is doing splendidly." he smiled as he put a hand on Mega Man's shoulder.

"That and he orders several crates of gumballs a-and wait, what?"

[Seems your family where you originally came from knows you're still alive] X noted.

[Did his mother faint when she heard what he did at fourteen?]

"A few times, mainly with Purprill and then going against Serpent himself. Your grandfather's been quite impressed in all honesty," Paradox explained, "Honestly, it's been difficult, mostly because I'm often asked why I don't bring you back…but…"

"I'm needed here, right?" Mega Man asked.

"I'm sorry, my boy, but…yes. This is where you rise as a hero. This is where you specifically are needed. I wish it was as simple as asking if you want to go home or not," Paradox sighed sadly, "But…"

"There are rules, and we need to follow them, to keep the world and time safe?" he asked with a small knowing smile.

"Couldn't have said it better myself," Paradox confirmed.

[I'm lost here] Model A admitted.

"Professor Paradox is a time walker. He exists outside of time and knows a lot of the ins and outs of it," Mai explained.

"For example. You all look rather exhausted," Paradox noted, looking at the three girls before pointing at the intact door, "We'll come right out of that door, Vent, Ashe."

"Huh?" Ashe blinked before the door opened…and Paradox led a perfectly fine Noel, Lambda, and Mai out of it, the spots they had been before vacant, "Whoa~"

"Yes, it's a fabulous trick at parties," Paradox laughed at her reaction, "Always puts a good look of awe on everyone's face."

"So…What do I do with this?" Mega Man asked, offering the Ultimatrix.

"This actually has a bit of importance to the Ben this Albedo is connected to," Paradox noted, "Not to worry, however. Should be good as new and ready for him when I take Albedo back to his world. Though…glad you got some practice in for next Tuesday on dealing with him."

"I…maybe I'll just let it be a surprise," Mega Man sighed.

"Very good! You boys are simply wonderful at grasping how this works. Always have and will be my favorite companion," Paradox chuckled happily at his response.

"Wait…are you taking Ben away on an adventure?" Noel asked.

"That would imply we haven't before…" Paradox countered.

[And with that, my head hurts] Model A groaned.

"You don't get used to it," Lambda replied, "Time travel is…annoying. It's all Timey-wimey…"

"Hmm…Yes, those not used to it do tend to not handle it well," Paradox noted as he picked up Albedo, "Still, I am quite excited for what comes next from all of you. And best tell him sooner than later, Ashe. He won't figure it out on his own."

"Huh? Tell me what?" Mega Man pondered as everyone blinked and Paradox was gone with Albedo.

[...Can I go back into the ocean? The fish trying to eat me made more sense than what just happened] Model Z admitted.

"Probably best to just pretend it never happened," Lambda offered, "Like Sister does when a show makes her favorite ship break up for forced drama."

"I don't do that," Noel argued.

"You do…and then we run out of mint chocolate chip ice cream because you eat it all," Lambda pouted.

"I have no idea what you mean…" Noel pouted, looking away from her sister.

"See? Denial…always helps," Lambda turned back to where she heard Model Z's voice.

"No, we can't tell who's actually the eldest…" Mai answered the question their new friends may be pondering now.

"Right…" both nodded.

[I just have one last question] Model X spoke up.

"What's up, Model X?" Mega Man asked.

[When did we leave Area H?] X asked…making everyone pause and look around, realizing they were by the Rustbucket on the cliffside once more.

"...Timey-wimey nonsense?" Ashe guessed before her armor vanished and Model A clattered to the floor, "Model A?!"

[Murgle…]

"Aaand he's taken all he's got on that stuff," Ashe sighed as she picked up the Biometal with an amused smile, "I'll detox him later with his favorite cartoons."

=Vent…What just happened? Your signature says that you're in Area A now= Prairie noted.

"Uh…well…let's just say you wouldn't believe it even if you were there…And I was…and I still can't explain it with words, Prairie…" Mega Man stated, "Let's just say the mission is complete, day saved, and…yay?"

=Mmm…=

"And I have Model Z back now, too."

=HUH?! Wait…Flueve! That was Model Z you repaired?! Ah! You get back here and answer me right now and…=

"Distraction worked," Mega Man chuckled before a portal opened and he quickly deployed his sword again…before Ben's car drove out.

Ashe whistled slowly, "Well now…That looks badass."

"Ben!" Noel smiled and waved as the car came to a stop, letting Ben step out.

"You guys handle everything?" he asked.

"Yep!" Noel replied.

"Need to thank Danny for giving us that extra cube he got from an adventure he went on," Lambda noted, holding up a small metal cube, "No doll has been spared from getting a nice home."

"I'm gonna assume that means mission cleared, bad guy stopped, and Paradox gave Lambda a small headache?" Ben chuckled a little.

"Yep," Mega Man replied as he walked up to Ben.

"...Whoa," Ben blinked a few times, "So…you're me?"

"Yep," Mega Man replied, dropping Double MegaMerge, "Just call me Vent, alright?"

"Hey, I've always had ideas of changing my name as a kid," Ben chuckled, "But I imagine yours has a pretty good story behind it?"

"You could say that," Vent replied before spotting Ben's Omnitrix, "Huh…So that's the completed one? A lot less clunky than mine."

"Less broken, too," Ashe pointed out.

"Well, hey…look at that," Ben noticed, "Can I see? Feels nostalgic to see this old model."

"Sure thing. Just…don't try to repair it, ok?" Vent requested, showing it, "I'm fine with how it is."

"Well…I can understand that kinda," Ben smiled, "Believe it or not, when I was Eleven, I had mine taken off after a pretty messed up thing happened. I went four years without it…but…the world needed Ben Tennyson the hero back…" he looked it over, "Hang on…" he tapped something…and the old Omnitrix hissed and opened, letting it slide off Vent's wrist, "Don't worry, I'm not going to fix it. Couldn't even if I wanted to~" Ben chuckled as he looked it over.

"...Anyone ever tell you that you're the bane of medical officers all over this planet that have tried to remove that?" Vent joked.

"Hahaha…well, my Dad did complain about all his tools breaking on my old model," Ben chuckled, "But…no, this is just a trick I remembered from when I had mine taken off." he explained, "If I can…I don't like seeing the faceplate all cracked…if you don't mind me just fixing that much, could I?"

"Well…sure," Vent replied, giving a thumbs up, "Probably be a good thing to give to any kid I have later on."

"This thing is kind of important to us in all timelines after all," Ben chuckled as Skurd appeared and extended over Ben's hand to the other Omnitrix, turning into Upgrade-like slime…before retreating back and revealing a cosmetically perfect Omnitrix.

"You're quite welcome. And if you ever need to make it work…there's a cable that popped out of place," Skurd noted.

[Did that slime just talk?] X asked, the two Biometals floating above Vent's shoulders.

[That's it. Vent, throw me back in the ocean. I want to wake up sane again] Z ordered.

"Well this thing was always finicky…not shocked it's just one cable…" Ben chuckled, "Losing the faceplate alone made this thing create Fusion Forms."

"I try not to remember that day," Vent grimaced, "Couldn't look at grubs for months after my memories came back."

"Tell me about it…not to mention how bad it felt letting Animo do what he did…" Ben sighed.

"Is he still a pain?" Vent asked.

"He got worse. He's on a waiting list for skin graft for his head since his brain's exposed in a jar."

"Wow. Lot of adventures, huh?" Ashe grinned.

"Eh…that's just our luck," Ben looked to Vent as he gave him the Omnitrix, "As promised, won't turn on, but…at least it looks good as new on the outside."

"Thanks," Vent thanked, pocketing it instead of putting it back on.

"Hope you keep on writing an awesome Story," Ashe grinned.

"Huh?" Ben looked at the trio of girls.

"It's how she calls life," Noel summed up, "I like it."

"Oh~" Ben nodded, "Well I imagine you would, you write about my love life, you're practically an author already." he chuckled.

"Is she gonna?" Vent asked Ben.

"Oh, dude, chances are she's already got like three chapters on what she gleamed off your love life," Ben sighed, "I look forward to reading about it after my mission is finished." he cheered.

"Ah…of course…" Vent sighed, he then paused as he had a thought, "Hey…Ben, wait up?"

"Hmm?" Ben blinked.

"I have to ask…as a me who kept using the Watch…did you ever regret putting it back on?" Vent felt compelled to ask himself about this subject, feeling only a version of himself could give him the sort of answer that mattered.

"...Hmm…" Ben pondered, "Well since you're me…honestly, that's complicated…" he began, "Sure there have been a few times where having the Omnitrix made my life suck…it made school impossible, it made life in general kinda suck. Truth be told? When the world learned of my secret, I kinda hated it deep down. But I didn't want to show it 'cause…I'm Ben Tennyson, the Hero who kept saving the world from one problem after another. But with you…yeah I think maybe once or twice I had my doubts. The thing is, for every time I doubted…10 more reasons why I was sure it was the right choice popped into my head. Truth be told, I don't think I'd be happy if I kept being a normal kid. The idea of me not doing something to help…of sitting back and letting bad things happen, I would regret that way more."

Vent nodded, "I see…That honestly helps me a lot with some thoughts I've had for years now."

"Besides, Omnitrix or not, super powered armor or not…I think any Ben Tennyson…or Vent…will still be running in to be someone's hero," Ben smiled, "So however you do it, you're still a version of me. If anything, I think the fact you do it with our face is more awesome. Half of my best aliens are kinda ugly…cool and powerful…but ugly~"

"Yeah, some of them are kinda freaky looking, huh?" Vent chuckled.

"Right? I mean the first time we turned Wildmutt was so weird!" Ben laughed.

"Seeing by smelling was just so weird. Sure did get a laugh when Gwen tried to smack us with a branch, though," Vent chuckled, "Or when we got that cold after sneaking into that ice cream truck and our aliens got affected?"

"Hahaha! Right, Heatblast with ice powers! That was kinda cool, but god are aliens nasty when sick! We had a snot blast attack as Fourarms~"

"And the hives, don't forget those."

"Ugh…Couldn't even if I wanted to. Photographic memory sucks!"

"They look so happy remembering those old adventures," Noel noted as the two kept laughing like old friends meeting after a long time apart.

"Just remember that your Ben's old adventures were likely the only ones Vent had with that watch," Ashe noted as she leaned against the car…before blinking a few times on noticing Makoto, "...You have a squirrel tail and ears?"

"Yep," Makoto replied, "...You got an armor like him?"

"Sorta. Mine can turn me into folks I've fought," Ashe noted.

"That's your doofus?" Makoto smiled, pointing to Vent as he and Ben laughed hysterically at a memory.

"Yep. We tried to kill each other when we first met, but things went smooth after," Ashe shrugged, "And he's your goober?"

"Took us months of friction and the world being dominated by frog aliens…but we got there," Makoto smiled happily.

"Nice," Ashe grinned…before smirking, "Broken bed or couch?"

"Couch. Haven't broken a bed yet."

"Bed," Ashe shrugged.

"What are you two talking about?" Tsubaki demanded.

"Nothing!" both replied, looking away from her.

"Oi…" Tsubaki complained as she stared at the two.

"Why is she so intimidating?" Ashe asked.

"Right…?" Makoto comically cried in agreement.

Eventually, the talks soon died down and the two natives of the universe waved to the Rustbucket as it drove off back into the multiversal highway.

"Seems weird seeing you with ears like that," Ashe noted.

"I'll say," Vent agreed, "So…what did Paradox mean earlier? About me needing to be told bluntly about something?"

"Oh! Um…w-well…funny story there…" Ashe noted, scratching her cheek, "Um…You may have less waiting time to give that thing to your future kid and all that…I'm about three months in."

"Ah, I see," Vent nodded, looking out at where the Rustbucket had been.

[And cue the scream in Three…] X began.

[...Two…] Z added.

[...and One] A finished.

"You're WHAT?!" Vent screamed.

---

Z0: Well that was an interesting turn of events. Honestly when we conceived this chapter it was one singular world…but we kinda fell in love with the A Plot and B Plot dynamic.

GT: *tucking in SZ* Indeed. Originally, it was meant to be just Jen's world, but like Z0 said, we love doing an A Plot and B Plot dynamic. And for those curious 'Why Vent?' Well…it was honestly a suggestion I came up with after playing the Zero/ZX Legacy Collection in preparation for the Battle Network Legacy Collection coming out this April. Vent looked a lot like Ben to me.

Z0: Plus we've literally done way more…with less to build a story on. Trust me…some of our other fics were based off the slightest of idea sparks…and they often get much bigger than we expect…

GT: Case in point: our plans for DonBrothers. Which we will not reveal until we have enough chapters written!

Z0: Indeed, and to ensure it…*removes mask to reveal DonMomotaro* YAHAHAHAHAHA!

GT: Er…Please Read and Review, folks. You don't want the Don mad at ya for not doing it! Pig, pedal to the metal to the finale of this arc!

Z0: *bathroom door opens as the actual me walks out* What I miss…*sees the scene* I'm going back to the bathroom kingdom…