Ben10 & Digimon Tamers
Heroes and Humanity
Part 02: Humanity and Heroes
Another Myself – Chapter 90 Part 2
Originally Written: Sunday, October 08, 2017 1146M to Tuesday, October 9, 2017 ~ 200AM; Tuesday, October 10, 2017 ~600PM to Wednesday, October 11, 2017 1220AM
Song: Susumu Hirasawa - Narshisas Jiben Kara Kita Hito; Anubis - Osiris Houtei ~Epilogue~
. . . . .
Albedo ducked behind some crates, hiding behind a rickety old building. Renamon lay unconscious in the street in front of him. Rika tended to her, every bit the pissed off bitch his Swamps kept saying she was. She glared at the Tennysons and Albedo Prime, muttering curses and complaints. She clenched her digivice tightly in her hand.
He shielded his head with his arms and hands in this small cramped space. He could go out there and fight, but he'd most likely die doing so. At least, it felt as though that would be the end result. For all the unhinged monster Albedo Prime in this Ultimate form appeared, he was quite formidable.
The loud shock from one of Albedo Prime's eye energy beams rang out through the area. He openly shuddered. He decided that this was certainly not a suitable hiding place. He peeked from between the crates.
Even tired, and in his weaker rookie form, Monodramon somehow gave Albedo Prime a run for his money. Albedo supposed it helped that Swamps, Frigga and Fridge were somehow capable of holding their own against the four alternate Tennysons. They shouted at them in unbridled rage, attacking them with a fury that Albedo knew would soon become their weakness.
Frigga and Fridge's tag team ice attacks were forces to be reckoned with. If the zombie Ben hadn't been transformed into an alien, Frankenstrike, his frozen form would have been the end of his not-life. Hugh, in a stunning display, had picked up the zombie Frankenstrike, and threw him into an orange clad Appoplexian (Rath). Ice shards flew in just about every direction as the Vaxasaurian shouted at them, "Give him back!", without any sign of a stutter.
Either Albedo Prime seemed entirely deaf and unseeing, or he was ignoring them on purpose, for he didn't react to their words. Albedo could not tell, but it unnerved him all the same. Their words were kind, completely in Albedo Prime's favor, just not with these Tennyson's. From the way they attacked them, it left Albedo wondering if they hated Tennyson just as much as Albedo Prime did. The black haired Ben's Nosedeenian (Buzzshock) form seemed to have a permanent hairdo of fire, courtesy of this world's Swamps.
Albedo climbed from behind the crates and quickly circled around the objects.
Swamps hadn't even flinched when the last Tennyson transformed into Gutrot circled around him. Gutrot shot gas with well aimed strikes that corroded and ate away at whatever it came into contact with. Swamps merely laughed like a maniac and launched fire at the alien. A few times the fire hit Gutrot in the face. Albedo had to wonder if that Tennyson had even wanted to do this from the way they fought.
'Ben Tennyson detected.'
Albedo jerked and pulled at his shirt sleeves. He didn't think he could properly handle this many Tennyson's in a single area.
"Took you long enough!" Rika shouted as a blue energy whip shot out towards Gutrot. The blue shined brightly enough to easily be seen through the cloud of gases.
The gases didn't seem to affect the energy whip. Ryo flicked and pulled the whip secured to his digivice. Gutrot fell to his knees, gasping and sputtering, as the whip cut off his air.
He took many quick steps backward. He did not like the equally dark, haunted look in Ryo's blue eyes, nor his stance. If that whip was a knife...
A brown feathered alien resembling a cross between a chicken and a hawk drop kicked the alternate Rath with precision. "Get lost!"
He stayed around long enough to watch this Earth's Rook fire off a shot of that odd Plumber gun of his. Then he took off running. His insides gnawed at him as he ran. Frigga sang a sharp harsh high pitched trilling note. He heard Albedo Prime call him a coward in his mind. He pressed himself up against the wall of a building. He slid down to a sitting position and curled up into himself. He realized long ago what Eon was trying to do, and he tried not to let it affect him. The logical thing to do was not let Eon's tactics affect him, but this human cage made it so difficult. There were times he felt like no part of himself he remembered being remained, and all that was left was this mess of human teenage rebellion emotion.
No way in this state would anyone hand him an Omnitrix. Who gave Albedo Prime an Omnitrix in the state he was in anyway? How did anyone not notice? Did no one besides the psychos truly care?
He heard footsteps and turned his head. Albedo Prime's form had apparently timed out. Somehow he had managed to stay in his alien form for a much longer time than Albedo thought possible. He wondered how Albedo Prime managed to modify his Omnitrix to make it so. The materials to do so were rare and extremely hard to get. He watched the small boy breathe heavily as he leaned against the same building he had.
He moved to his knees. "Why?"
The boy looked at him. He held an arm around his short thin torso.
"What's the point in all this?"
"I spent like ten minutes explaining it to you. Are you really so slow minded? This is utterly unacceptable." The boy rolled his eyes.
"They're risking their lives for you. Fridge, Swamps and Hugh. They even dragged Frigga with them."
"Need I remind you that they brought my actions to Tennyson's unwarranted attention in the first place? I would not be stuck on this backwater rock if it wasn't for them."
"If we are truly anything like the other, someone had to tell you that." He quickly replied.
The boy's form stiffened.
"In the very beginning, you blamed Tennyson. I know because that's exactly what I did." Albedo held out his hands. "They wanted you to stay with them. They consider you their friend. Even if it was for your own gain, you were one of the few to acknowledge them with something more than a passing glance and disrespect."
"They are not mine. No self respecting Galvan would have such acquaintances."
"They're not Blukic and Driba." Albedo snapped. He watched the boy shudder. Even saying their names made him want to throw up. "They're fine individuals."
Albedo Prime stared at him as though he lost his mind.
He thought, wondering what words to say next. He decided to take a leap of faith. "They are what made the difference between myself and you. I'm certain of it."
Albedo Prime snarled at him, clenching his fists.
He knew it was a bold claim that would gather just that reaction. He took his time, judging his words. "Who got you out of prison? When the guards were mocking and laughing at you for those nights and days you spent huddled in the corner?"
His eyes widened, and then he glared at Albedo. His chubby cheeks flushed red. "I...They-"
"Stop it. Yes you did." Albedo shook his head. "Yes, they did. They thought you were playing around. Being dramatic. They called us pathetic and weak and cowardly. They said we deserved this hell. That we put ourselves in it. That no one would punish them for how they acted because no one gave two shits about us. They told us if we ever doubted their words all we had to do was pay attention to those who took time out of their lives to visit 'the shit stains of the building'. They shoved us around. They eagerly and easily abused their power and authority." He spoke softly resisting the urge of anger he wanted to display. "So, while they were mocking you, who decided you were of use? Who proved them the slightest bit wrong?"
The boy fell silent for a while, but eventually he spoke. "A Zaroffian Hunter named Kyber."
Albedo's eyes widened, "The great bounty hunter? The simpleton who thinks wearing the bones of those he's killed is an appropriate fashion choice?"
"That would be him. Not so great, since Tennyson as a lowly Neumina defeated him, I suppose." He spat and folded his arms.
"I see...," Albedo thought for a few moments. "Fridge, Swamps and Hugh broke me out." Albedo spoke.
Albedo Prime looked at him wide eyed. "Did they really?"
"They did. They became criminals for me. They are still wanted actually. The crimes are petty and small, but they keep adding up more and more on top of the previous offenses. They're throwing away their lives for me, and I can't seem to figure out how to make them quit it. I'm sure your trio and Frigga would do the same for you. Just, not alongside them." Albedo looked at the nearby alley. He blinked quickly, his vision going blurry. He felt tears gathering in his eyes. "Those Tennyson's are no help to you."
"What happened to them?" Albedo Prime's arms hung at his sides, lifeless and limp.
Albedo smiled softly, "Too many spoilers make the universe kill to fix itself."
"Hmph." He started to look away, but stopped, wide eyes focused on something behind him.
Albedo turned around. Jenrya stood behind him, modified guns raised. His silver eyes looked unsure as his fingers tapped against the side of one of the guns, occasionally going for the trigger. He looked weary, the barest hints of bags under his eyes. He saw the tension in the muscles in the way he stood. Stiff, yet strong enough to bring him this far.
He heard soft footsteps behind him. He quickly raised his hands, "No!" One hand faced Jenrya, palm facing towards the tamer. The other hand gripped Albedo Prime's wrist. "Don't..."
Jenrya shook his head, "This is a terrible idea."
"I-if you didn't take a chance on me..."
"I don't need your saving." Albedo Prime snapped. Hugh screamed loudly once more. The trio flinched at the cross between a battle cry and cry of anguish. Shortly after someone crashed into something painful. Their scream was almost heart wrenching, but Albedo couldn't bring himself to feel sorry for anyone named Ben Tennyson.
"No, you don't." Albedo turned around. "But if you go back out there, you're going to get your ass kicked." Albedo Prime glared at him. "Stop it. Cease these mini tantrums. I know it's hard to think in that wretched human body with that brain that truly feels as though it is sucking out every bit of intelligence you own, but you are not a ten year old. You are definitely not a ten year old Ben Tennyson."
The boy puffed up his chest, huffing, and clenching his fists.
"You haven't slept in days. Improper sleep in weeks at least. Go." Albedo let go of his hand.
"What are you..?" The boy rubbed his wrist lightly as he looked at him.
"Run. While they are preoccupied, go find somewhere you can rest, and think. Properly." He spoke firmly, attempting to find the voice he used when he was teaching. "You're no good to anyone like this, least of all yourself." he looked back at Jenrya.
"You can't run from Eon."
Albedo heard the slightest undertones of someone not insane in the tone of his voice. He nearly smiled.
Jenrya lowered his arms, his guns aiming at the ground.
"No, you cannot, but it is a chance you need to take. You need to sleep. It would be a shame if one with such a great mind lost it." He looked at the black sidewalk in front of Jenrya. He felt the boy's arm shake in his grasp. "If they ask, we lost sight of him."
Jenrya looked at him with wide eyes.
"Please..."
Jenrya looked as though he wanted to say something, but decided against it. He nodded. "Okay. I can't get into any more trouble than I already have." He smiled sheepishly.
"You are odd." Albedo Prime commented.
Albedo turned around. "I get that a lot."
"Huh." The child took a few steps away from him.
Albedo nodded. "Just try." He whispered, hoping only the boy heard him. "The safest place you know of that you can easily reach."
"Perhaps not as stupid as I initially thought." He nodded to him.
"I told you, for as long as I'm here, I will assist you and only you. I am not one to break my word."
Albedo Prime took off running with quiet footsteps.
Albedo sighed as Jenrya walked up to him. Jenrya knelt next to him. He heard Frigga sing a harsh, beautiful prayer in the olden language. Albedo shivered and covered his ears. He hoped he never got the chance to hear his Fridge sing such a hymn.
Jenrya wrapped his arms around him. "I'm sorry I got away from you."
He shook his head.
"I won't let him touch you. Any of them."
He closed his eyes. The words were kind, but far outside the scope of what was possible for Jenrya to do. "Don't..." he breathed a shuddering breath, "don't make promises you can't keep. It's unbecoming."