Omni Boys

by AUfan62

While fighting both Kevin and Vilgax at Niagara Falls both them and Ben get sucked into a portal created by the Null Void projector. Only it’s not the Null Void they land. They land in a world where Superheroes are just a bunch of corporate puppets and think they can do whatever they want. But no it’s a real Hero’s Time.

11. Chapter 11: Explosive Desert Duel

Guess who's back. (It's me I'm back) And back for a another chapter. I hope you like this, thank you all for your feedback on the previous chapter it means a lot.

I hope you enjoy this, and this may be a shocker but this story is gonna get even CRAZIER.

VNN

The headline of the Vought News Network read 'Terror attack at Vought' as Cameron Coleman opens with. "The things that can happen in less than 48 hours." Takes a small pause. "Now that world finally has a moment to breathe we can now take stock of the recent events. Welcome to Seven on Seven, your source of unbiased facts."

"What started out as Homelander informing us about the disappearance and/or loss of the much loved invisble hero and fellow member of the Seven Translucent turned into madness. The Shifter, the unknown vandel who has been harassing Vought and its heroes for months crashed the announcement and attacked our nations greastest Hereos." He says.

"The following battle devisated multipled properties, but even more shocking was the reveal that the Shifter was in fact a 10 year old child. Ben Tennyson, his real name apparently, was then taken into Voughts custody where he received medical attention while under the watchful eyes of Vought." He informs.

"Then even more shocking, The Seven were being treated as they were the ones in the wrong and actually accused of child abuse. Unbelievable." Coleman scoffs. "HE ATTACKED THEM." He annunciates. "And he never gave any sort of indication that he as a child, sure there were some hints with hindsight. But it's easy to be a Monday Morning Quarterback."

He then continues. "We then learn the cause of this childs war on Vought." Pulls up pictures of Butcher, Hughie, MM, Frenchie and Kimiko. "These individuals are the ones responsible for radicalizing a young adolescent mind, who was gifted with a remarkable power, into their personal weapon that they point any time they want." Let's that sink in. "And as deplorable as making a child fight their battles for them was. Turns out their hands still have blood on them. While Mr. Tennyson attacked the Seven, they infiltrated Vought Tower for some sort of sabotage and when it went wrong they murderously slaughtered not only several of Vought's security, but an entire floor of the companies best research team. Including one of Voughts brightest minds, Dr Isabella Validus brilliant wife to her late husband and mother to her young daughter Elena who is now missing."

Sighs. "I don't know what's worse, the fact they probably kidnapped a child or that the cutting edge research they were doing that could've helped tens of thousands at least is now just gone." He adds.

"As if that wasn't enough, Vought Tower was then under attack by the Chimera, the misshapened monster that attacked the city over a week ago." Coleman says, pulling up a still image Kevin from his first appearance the scoffs as he continues. "So the CIA held him for about a week, great job guys." He says with obvious sarcasm.

"And what did Ben Tennyson do to thank Vought for their patience, understanding and efforts to help him despite all he'd done?" He asks with a fake curious tone. "He chose to take advantage of the situation and turn Vought tower into a battle zone." He states incredulously. "Unbelievable!"

"Of course someone must've said things couldn't get worse cause they got worse. Because almost at the same time, people at a local carnival witnessed some kind of squid monster emerge from the water. We have footage of the creature introducing himself."

The footage then changes to Vilgax's introduction. "I am Vilgax, conquer of worlds, enslaver of species I have come here to retrieve an object that is rightfully mine. The Omnitrix. You may not know that name, but you'll surely you know the worthless worm that wields it. His name is Ben Tennyson, who uses the Omnitrix to transform into other species and try to defeat me."

"If you insignificant little pests value your worthless pathetic lives then you shall do nothing to interfere. Many have tried to vanquish me and have repeatedly failed. And TENNYSON if you're watching remember you cannot run, you cannot hide, if you don't reveal yourself soon I shall rip apart this miserable rock and its inhabitants bit... by excruciating bit until I find you."

Footage then cuts off as Vilgax crushed the phone.

The screen then goes back to Coleman. "This Vilgax character, then proceeded to brutally overpower young Tennyson while Chimera appeared to be part chicken, as he used the commotion to escape. Thankfully if Vilgax wanted to destroy the country and perhaps the world, he had to go through the Seven." A smaller screen then showed a few selected clips of them fighting, mainly the ones of the Seven getting hits in. "Though the greatest threat the world has even seen, our heroes were up to the challenege. Particularly The Deep, who used his powers to telepathically harm the monster, despite the overwhelming pain he had to cause to himself to do so." An then shows Deep receiving medical treatment and looking worse for the wear. "What a hero."

The screen now slowly zooms in on his face a bit. "Now we are left with many questions. Where is Tennyson? Where is Chimera? Who were those 'G3' people and are they an ally or an enemy? I can't answer those questions but I can gaurantee you two things. 1, our heroes at vought will continue to protect us all. And 2, we at Seven on Seven will be here, bringing you honest, unbiased facts."

Anika's Apartment

Ben, Elena and Kimiko are eating a delicious breakfast their somewhat terrified host prepared for them. While said host talks to her parents. "Don't worry I'm fine." She lies on the phone looking at her 'guests' as she listen to her parents response. "Yeah Mr. Edgar let us leave early that day off so we were lucky." Pauses for the response. "I love you too, goodbye." Hangs up and releases a breath she's been holding.

"Are you enjoying everything?" Anika says, trying to be polite. "I was actually really worried I wasn't gonna have food, luckily enough I bought groceries for the first time in a month a few days ago." She says.

"Yeah it's good." Ben answers a little dishearteningly.

"Something wrong?" Anika asks.

"Yeah, I'm in a another dimension, without my family, now I have to stop a bazillion dollar company who's main thing is super powered dweebs and to top it off the people who I thought were my friends lied to me about killing Translucent, one of whom released one of my worst enemies from prison." Ben speaks with frustration.

Anika just stays quiet and goes to sit on her couch. "What do we now?" Elena asks. They knew they couldn't hide here forever.

"Figure out a way to stop Vought I guess." Ben says plainly. "How do you stop a big company like that?" He asks.

"Take away all their money?" Elena shrugs.

"That's not gonna work." Anika chimes in, getting attention on her. "They'll just declare bankruptcy, and then rebrand everything. It's a tried and true tactic that's totally legal."

"We could say the truth about Compound V?" Ben suggests.

"What's that?" Anika questions.

"You don't know?" Ben replies. "I thought everyone in Vought would know."

"I'm just crime analytics." Anika reminds them, her job is to find and analyze crimes for supes and pass it up the chain of command.

"Won't work, without proof we might as well say the Earth is flat and Beyoncé is white." Elena dismisses.

Kimiko then makes some signs at Elena that neither Ben or Anika were familiar with. "What did she say?" Ben asks.

"She's suggesting getting we get information from someone high up in Vought." Elena translates then adds. "But that's gonna be tricky since a bunch of the executives are probably also in the dark about Compound V." She informs.

"Yeah those guys are all stocks and suits and banging with a secretary." Ben adds as he takes another bite. "What are they banging anyway?" He asks Anika.

"Uhhhh drums." She lamely lies.

"Sex actually." Elena answers. "We seriously need to give you a dictionary or something, it's like talking to an old dude."

"We're the same age." Ben reminds her.

"It's summer of 2008 in your universe." She reminds him. "I'm pretty sure you guys still have those boxy TV's or flip phones that only drug dealers here use."

"And yet we have alien technology and a government agency designed to fight them." Ben says. "Well had I think."

"Oh yeah the Plumbers, dumb name but it I guess for a secret organization that helps keep it secret." Elena says as she takes the dishes to the sink.

Eureka Moment

"MAEVE!" Ben exclaims jumping out of the chair, immediately everyone tense and Kimiko starts darting her eyes around. "Sorry I just had a big light bulb moment." Ben apologizes.

"What about Maeve?" Elena asks.

"She was acting really weird when I saw her." Ben says. "She like barely talked to me, or even looked at me directly." Ben states. "Plus when I transformed back during our fight she had this like stare."

"A stare?" Elena questions, and Kimiko raises an eyebrow.

"You know the state where she's like." Ben tries to explain then attempts mimic it. "Like she was sad or traumatized, like the old guy Private Ryan at the grave."

Kimiko then makes a sign and Elena translates. "Guilty?" Elena raises an eyebrow. "About what?"

"I don't know." Ben says. "Maybe something about Compound V, cause no way Annie knows."

"Yeah pretty sure she isn't taking Hughie's calls anymore." Elena added. "So what you wanna talk to her again?"

"Well anyone really." Ben states. "Where do they live?"

"Seven tower, it's part of their contracts or whatever." Elena says. "And when they do go out they're always followed by cameras and whatever."

"Well..." Anika speaks up getting some attention. "A few years back when I was just starting out Maeve missed an event so I had to track her down. Turns out she was with her secret Girlfriend." She informs.

"You think she might go there again?" Elena questions. After all it had been years.

"I forgot they put a chips in them." Ben states remembering that's what they were worried about when they had Translucent. When he was still alive.

"But we'd need a main Vought computer or server." Elena tells him, then has a moment of realization. "Wait she's a celebrity, and celebrities are always hounded by press or fans with camera's."

"You think someone posted where she is?" Ben asked. "Plus how do we know she'd even still be there, could be a phony photo for all we know, like that guys posting Fourarms punching a building to break it down." He points out.

Kimiko then waves to get their attention and points to Anika who is doing something on her computer. "Uhhhhhh." She drags on.

"No." Ben and Elena say, not wanting to put her in anymore unwilling danger.

"Well I'm just gonna go get some... stuff and be back in like 20 minutes." Anika says, putting her laptop on the coffee table with the screen on before leaving. "Goodbye." She walks out.

Ben raises an eyebrow before noticing her computer left purposely opened with the screen facing them. "What's that?" He asks, pointing to the laptop.

Elena goes over to it and see's it's asking to type the tracking chip frequency. And a specific set frequency was set, all that was left was to hit enter. "I have an idea, but first we need to do some quick cleaning." She says.

The Boys

At some old warehouses on the water the Boys and MM's family were waiting for Susan to come. Wraith was possessing Janine's body in order to be close by without exposing his body to the sun. Earlier in the day MM called her to move his family somewhere safe and Raynor gave them instructions to meet here with them, the V, especially Butcher.

"How much longer till they get here?" Hughie asks as he looks around for a sign of them.

"Please." Frenchie scoffs as he smokes a cigarette. "They're probably deciding the best way to kill Butcher. A sniper is too easy." He theorizes.

"They wouldn't do that, would they?" Hughie asks, a little worried about this whole situation.

"Petit Hughie." Frenchie says before adding. "These are the same mother fuckers that created the Taliban and probably created 9/11." He reasons.

Just then several vans begin to pull in. "I really hope your wrong." Hughie prays.

"Relax." Frenchie says. "They'll probably just kill Butcher, and if they don't his death will give us time to run." He tries, and fails to reassure.

As soon as the first van stops Raynor steps out, throwing he gun to the nearest agent. "Of course." Butcher sighs.

"You deserve this." MM says as he grabs Butchers arms to hold him.

As Raynor gets closer Butcher tries to speak. "Look Susan can I just say UMPF-" He was cut off Raynor began punching him in the face with all her might. She repeated this a few times before kneeing him in his crotch and chocking him.

As Butcher was getting closer to death by sophistication one of the agents stepped in. "Susan that's enough." A white dark haired male says, pulling her off him and letting Butcher recover. "You had your ten seconds, now step back."

"YOU FUCKING BRITISH PIECE OF FUCKING FUCK!" Raynor shouts at him, as two more agents come to hold her back. "I'LL FUCKING KILL YOU!"

"Look I'm sorry." Butcher apologizes.

"SORRY?!" Raynor exclaims as she tries to lunge forward but is stopped. "YOU THREATENED MY FAMILY! MY KIDS! IN OUR FUCKING HOME!"

"I had to get Benji outta there." Butcher tried to reason.

"YOU AND THAT LITTLE SHIT!" Raynor responds. "WHERE IS HE, WAS IT WORTH IT?!"

"Susan calm down." The agent from before says.

"Bad move." MM mutters under his breath.

"He's gone, him and the girls." Butcher informs. "Off doing fuck knows what."

"BIG SURPRISE!" Raynor says as she's still being held back. "ONCE HE FOUND OUT HE MUCH OF SCREW UP HE TOOK OFF. PROBABLY THE SAME AS YOUR WIFE!" She shouted.

Butcher clenches his fists and jaw as he lets Raynor have that.

Eventually Raynor calms down somewhat enough to do her job. "You assholes are so lucky. If it was up to me, I'd arrest you and lose the paperwork so that you get put in the worst shit holes we have." She says. "Here's the deal, you give us the Compound V, I'll keep your loved ones safe, we don't speak ever again and hopefully Butcher gets hit by a bus."

"Deal." Mother's Milk says as he holds out a vial of the blue liquid the gesturing to his family.

As Monique passes by she says in a low tone. "I don't wanna see you ever again." Though Janine/Wraith hears it.

As they head for the van Janine slips from their grip and goes to hug her father. Presumably for the last time. Seeing this MM crouches down and accepts the hug. "I love you daddy." She says with some tears in her eyes.

"I love you too baby." The father says and they pull away. "Be safe."

"Wraith says he'll never leave my side." Janine says, voicing his thoughts. "Just not to the bathroom, that'd be gross." She adds and they share a small laugh before they have to leave.

As the vans pull out MM walks away and heads towards Frenchie and Hughie. "How you doing?" Hughie asks.

"I just saw my Wife and kid leave in a CIA van with a Ghost inside one of them as their bodyguard." MM answers. "How do you fucking think I'm fucking doing?" With that Hughie shuts up.

"What do we do now?" Frenchie asks, throwing his cigarette on the ground and stomping it.

"Guess we wait." Butcher says.

"Oh so now you wanna wait." MM replies as they make their way back to the motel.

Vought

Stillwell is at her desk on her computer with some charts on it. She was also checking her phone for any messages about that paper scrap and ash she brought to a contact that works with paper forensics. Apparently the paper was made from a less flammable material so that combined with some other uncontrollable factors resulted in the ever so slight possibility they might reconstruct what it originally said. Or at least a part of it.

So far the message she received was that it was gonna take a while and that it would cost a pretty penny to do. As they have to utilize chemicals and AI to have any chance at recovering what was written. Which was fine with Stillwell she had until the next shareholders meeting. Which would've been next week, but thanks to all the chaos that happened it was pushed back. So hopefully that would be enough.

She was interrupted from her thoughts when Ashley came in. "What do you have for me?" Stillwell asks.

"Nothing." Ashley says with a frightful expression.

"Nothing." Stillwell says shocked. "How?"

"Well apart from the Seven's numbers getting a major boost there's nothing I can tell you." Ashley says. "All of our camera's and monitors were cut during the fight so we have nothing on file, and the building was almost empty so almost no witnesses. Those G3 guys swiped the helmet after Deep took it off." She lists.

"Who are those guys anyway?" Madelyn asks. "Secret Government agency, new branch, terrorist group?"

"Nobody knows." Ashley says. "They've never been seen before last night, and most of what we can get is from crappy cellphone angles. All street camera's were suddenly down the moment they stepped in. And that man Homelander spoke with wasn't making a fashion statement, other then the fact he's white with white hair we don't know anything about him." She informs.

"Did you try our top contacts, what did they say?" Stillwell asks, since one of them was able to give them a heads up about the Flight 37 Situation.

"They're gone." Ashley says, then quickly adds. "Sorry, they're not dead, just they either been shuffled around, lost their jobs or given a promotion to somewhere they can't help us." She informs.

"All of them?" Stillwell asks, Ashley just nods in reply. "Well what do the conspiracy theorists say? Long shot but they might give us something."

"I checked that too." Ashley says. "And they're all over. None of them agree on a fucking thing." Pauses as she pulls up some notes. "One thinks they're some secret terrorist group using time travel, another that they're some secret police to make sure America doesn't have a revolution, another that they were founded by George Washington as a secret army to control the day to day life and one guy says the whole thing was staged so the military can look good in the eyes of the public again." She lists off. "Saying it's a fucking madhouse is an understatement. Only thing they agree on was that this was the first time they've ever seen them."

Stillwell leans on her dest and rubs her temples. "What about Vilgax? No way they just disappeared."

"Actually they did." Ashley corrects. "We tried tracking them but after going over the water they disappeared from sight and later satellites. They're total ghosts."

"Fuck!" Stillwell exclaims in frustration.

"There's one more thing." Ashley continues. "One of our lab workers was still in house working on a project and saw Chimera take a case of... chemicals before he left." Ashley gulps, both of them knowing the chemicals in the lab were either Compound V or related to it.

Just then Madelyn's child, Teddy Stillwell, started crying.

Queen Maeve

Maeve was in her apartment at her bar chugging another bottle of cold vodka to add to the pile. She's covered in bruises from the fight with Vilgax and Ben and every step she takes is done with excruciating difficulty. She never felt like this... ever. 'Is this how normal people feel?' She thinks as she slowly makes her way to another part of the room, limping partially, to find something to smoke, snort, drink or whatever.

During this she trips on something, a discarded bottle or bong and she grabs onto a table to avoid falling. With a frustrated grunt she pounds the glass table, shattering it, causing several things to fall to the floor. These were mostly decorative pieces with the exception of one. She can't remember when she put that there, but then again in the last 24 hours she's been thrown against more buildings in real life more than all of her movies combined.

Picking it up she saw it was a photo of her and her ex-girlfriend Elena from a while back. One of the few times she felt like herself, she wasn't even in costume in this photo just regular clothes. Remembering where she lived Maeve got up and started walking, all while she was being tracked.

Deep

The Deep was in a recovery room of a hospital being checked on by a nurse. Fluttering his eyes open he see's a lovely Filipino woman in scrubs changing his IV. "Morning." She greets with a friendly smile as she continues her work. "How are you feeling?" She asks.

"Uhhhh." Deep groans. "Like my brain exploded." He answers.

"That feeling will pass. You lost a lot of blood." She says.

"Yeah." Deep relies then asks. "Everything ok...?" Gestures to his whole body.

"Oh of course you're fine, this was just a precaution in case you had a concussion." The nurse answers with a reassuring smile. "I mean you almost shattered your own skull." She adds.

"What?" Deep asked, still in a bit of daze. After seeing that Shifter had escaped Deep was escorted to a hospital to be checked out. And the doctors wanted him to spend the night.

"Look." The nurse says, pointing to a TV.

On it was CNN's Don Lemon in a shared screen with Professor Richard Brinkerhoff of Godolkin University. "So Professor." Don Lemon begins. "Can you explain to us what The Deep did during the fight with Vilgax and how he appeared to lose so much blood. Because it seemed to also effect this Vilgax character, though not to the same scale."

Brink took a moment to respond before saying. "Well I've taught many students here at God U, and studied many different abilities and what Deep did was, simple, brilliant and risky all at the same time."

"How so?" Lemon asks.

"Well..." Brink starts. "As many know he has the ability to telepathically communicate with sea creature, he can't make them do anything he has to ask and they can say no. But that alone established a mental link with Vilgax, who was at least part squid." Pause. "And if you pull up the image you'll see Deep wearing a helmet of sorts and an ear piece." A still image of the Deep wearing the helmet and ear piece comes up.

Brink continues. "And from what I understand these did two separate things, 1. Deepened the connection so one could feel the others pain. This case Vilgax's pain sensors were on the same wavelength with Deep's."

"And the second?"

"Well those pain sensors need to be triggered somehow, so the purpose of the other device was... in simple terms to make those pain sensors reach their max so Vilgax would feel it." He finishes.

"So Deep gave himself a headache that Vilgax also felt." Lemon simplifies.

"That's a very oversimplification, but yes." Brink nods.

"Now what were the risks in doing this? I know you said it was risky before." Lemon questions.

"Very much so, Deep actually got off very easy." Brink says.

"How do?" Was the response.

"Well first off the pain was excruciating... for example it would have been less... painful for him if Drummer Boy hit him with his most powerful attack at close range 10 times over." Brink starts. "And this was a constant pain, that torturers could only dream of inflicting. It's a miracle if he doesn't have any brain damage. But like we tell our students, both current and former, that being a hero is not about glory, it's about sacrifice... And Deep was willing to make the ultimate sacrifice last night, like a true hero."

Deep smiles at this enjoying the moment. "Sorry, but can I have your autograph?" The nurse questions holding out a pen paper for him with an awkward expression.

"Oh sure." Deep agrees, and slowly signs it as his head is still pounding like the worst hangover in history. "Son or daughter?" He asks.

"Nephew actually." She tells him then thanks him for the autograph before leaving.

A-Train

A-Train's car pulled up in front of his brothers house, slowly he stepped out wearing regular clothes and with his right arm in a sling. Turns out when he threw Maeve at Vilgax's leg he dislocated it. And while he could move the rest of his body as his wounds heal faster he still felt incredibly sore. "Look who it is trying to blend in with us common folk." A-Train's brother Nathan Franklin greeted as he stepped out of his house to greet him.

"Sup man." A-Train greets as they go in for a bro hug and as Franklin pats his brothers back. "Ah!" He grunts in pain.

"Oh man sorry, you good?" Franklin asks with the concern of a brother.

"Yeah yeah." A-Train tries to reassure as he hissed in pain. "Just every part of my body feels like it's going through a hangover. Can barely move."

"That why you borrowed Rihanna's driver?" Franklin jokes, getting a chuckle out of his brother. "But seriously you killed it last night."

"Nah man." A-Train tries to deny.

"Dude if it wasn't for you those other guys would've gotten the white smacked off of them." Franklin says. "Those aren't even my words, whole neighborhood is talking."

"Well who isn't talking about last night?" A-Train responds.

"Fair point." Franklin agrees as they head inside. "But still I know Mom is proud of you." A-Train just smiles at that and remembering Grey Matter's words about him being a key component in their survival. As they went in Franklin's kids started bombarding him with questions.

Starlight

Annie was in Bed in her room resting her... everything. Similar to the other members she was feeling sore all over her entire body, and any bruises were hard to discern from fighting Vilgax or when those G3 guys flattened the area just outside of the tower. At the moment she was looking at a picture of her and Hughie she took when they went bowling. Of course this phone was new since after fight with Ben the Vought techs told her that her phone was bugged so her photos and everything was transferred into a brand new one.

She didn't know what hurt worse, the pain from fighting Vilgax or finding out Hughie, the first genuine guy she ever liked in a long time, was part of some terrorist group or whatever. It would've easy to dismiss him as someone she should hate but it was all so confusing. He bugged her phone, but the techs told it had been turned off for a while. Not to mention he didn't even try to ask for any information. Closest was about Translucent, but that seemed more like a fan thing than a spy thing. Especially because he was dead. He also paid for his ticket to see Ezekiel at the Believe Expo instead of having her get some for him.

'Did he really like me or was he using me?' She asked herself before letting out a sigh. Which stung a little.

"Hello. Sweetie?" The voice of Donna January, Annie mother, spoke up as she entered the apartment.

"In here!" Annie tiredly called from her bed as she put her phone down.

"Oh sweetie how are you feeling?" The mother asked with concern as she put her carry on bag on the floor.

"Fine. Just sore." Annie tried to reassure her mother as she tried to shift her position, but hissed in pain. "Like really sore."

"Oh well you'll bounce back soon sweetie, don't worry." Donna said with full confidence as she sat down on the bed. "You were wonderful sweetheart."

"I don't feel like I did." Annie says.

"Are you kidding?" Donna replied. "Everyone saw you took all that power from Times Square and fire it at that horrible Vilgax." She reminds her. "You were a real star."

"Thanks mom." Annie replied smiling a bit.

"And my friends were so jealous when they found out my daughter was Starlight of the Seven." Donna added with a smile. "I mean I was worried after the whole Chimera fiasco, but that doesn't matter now. We're the talk of the town now, they're even making a documentary about your origin story. How exciting!" She says with a self absorbed smile.

"Oh." Annie says a little thrown off by what her mother was saying. Here she was sitting on her bed sore and with bruises all over after the toughest fight she'd ever been in and her mother can only talk about the fame.

Her mom then gets up and starts taking pictures. "What are you doing?" Annie asks.

"Oh well it's for when they want to do a full documentary on you." Donna says as she takes photos from different angles. "They'll want pictures of you recovering, too bad you don't have a cast or sling. Maybe we can color a black eye on your face."

"Mom." Annie tries to stop her.

"Oh one more thing, we have an interview later with this new guy." Her mom ignored. "I know it's last minute, but it's mandatory, and it's happening just downstairs. He's had some pretty big people on his show, Alexander was just on, your old boyfriend." And her mom continued.

Black Noir

Noir was in full costume in an ice bath just sitting in the freezing cold water, like an athlete after a tough practice or game. "That w-w-w-was a really tough battle huh?" A voice spoke to Black Noir and the dark themed supe turned his head to see a cartoon beaver talking to him.

"I could tell. You were n-n-n-never more scared in your entire l-l-ife." The beaver said to him. "But you pulled through." He reassures.

"You've been through t-t-t-tough times before." The beaver continues. "Soldier Boy is still gone. And Homelander is still your ally." He reminds him. "It may be a t-t-t-tough climb, but remember the mountains before we're just as hard." The beaver encourages getting a nod from Black Noir. "Let me ch-ch-ch-cheer you up. How about a joke?"

And if one were to walk in one would see Black Noir chuckling at nothing while looking at the wall.

Homelander

The leader of the Seven was watching multiple news outlets, who were all reporting about the fighting last night. All were reporting positively about him and his team. They did single out Deep a bit, but that's fine the little guppy could have his fifteen minutes. "What are you smiling at?" A voice spoke.

Homelander turned around and looked at a mirror. As expected there was his reflection, but it wasn't exactly him. Sure he was wearing the same outfit, with the same slicked back hair, but there were no bruisers on his face, which had a pissed off expression. "You think you're strong. Please, you got your handed to you twice."

"I won, BOTH times." The real Homelander spoke.

"You got lucky the first time." The mirror copy spoke. "And the second time you had help. A LOT of help in both cases. You were nothing more than a distraction so the others could save the day." The copy tells him. "You should've won without them."

"They need... me." The real one assures.

"To give them time. To wear 'em down maybe." The Mirror speaks. "But that's all, the Deep contributed more than you. The fucking fish guy! Do you know how insulting that is?"

"Well he was a fish." Homelander reasons.

"A fish that beat the fucking crap out of you like the goddamn pussy you are." The copy says. "The kid was right about you... John." He sneers

Homelander then shoots his heat vision at the mirror or shattering it. He then heads out of his room apartment.

G3 Secret Base

Commander Solomon was in his commander center going over data. "Double check and recheck everything. I want all weapons to be ready at a moments notice should the need arise." Solomon instructs a soldier on a comm link. The calls upon another soldier in the room. "I need a sit rep on Operation Shadow Veil."

"Yes sir." One soldier said, coming up to him. "Progressing smoothly sir. We've been flooding bits of conflicting information big and small all over the internet. It appears to be successful as their suspected locations haven't even reached within our sector." The soldier explains. "Though a few have theorized a possible location, specifically at sector SD in quadrant MR.

"Hmmmm." Solomon thinks over. "That's our oldest base. Evacuate it and all equipment and personnel." He sternly order. "I don't care if you to take apart the. equipment bolt by bolt. NOTHING gets discovered." He emphasizes. "And I want it done last year." He adds.

Scene Cut

In the chamber where Vilgax is being contained the two men in the room have one job. Scan the monitors to make sure the gas is flowing. A small light beeps, but it's so brief they do not detect it. That light signifies there's movement, and there was, a twitch of a finger.

Syria

A team of US troops was sent to eliminate an ISIS stronghold. But right after an explosion in it they are never heard from again. One soldier in intelligence was trying to discover why by looking at the helmet camera footage. As soon as he did he was shocked. "SIR!" He called out for his commanding officer.

With Edgar

Stan Edgar was with his daughter at a coffee place. It was awkward for both of them as neither of them talked. Not that it was new, after his wife/her mother died they just grieved in different ways that caused them to drift apart. So while he became the CEO of Vought in New York City she became a reporter in DC, changing her last name to her mother's so she wouldn't be seen as "Stan Edgar's Daughter."

She had come after his call just to make sure her father was ok. Regardless of their relationship they were still family. But after a few more pleasantries they parted ways.

With Maeve

The Seven member was in civilian clothes right outside the apartment building of her ex. It was amazing how even though she didn't wear a mask people still seemed to think she was someone else when she was out of costume. One person even cursed out when they bumped into her. She went inside, unaware she was being watched.

Rooftop

On a rooftop across the apartment building Maeve was going in three pairs of eyes were watching her. "Guess she did come back." Elena says as she uses the camera on her phone as makeshift binoculars to see her walking.

"Why?" Ben asked. "What's the point?"

"Probably to forget about what's making her feel guilty." Elena theorized.

Kimiko then makes some signs which Elena responds with. "Pretty sure she's killed people before, so people dying should be pretty common for her."

"Whatever it is it must be really bad." Ben adds. "But what's worse than someone dying?" He asks.

Soon they see Maeve go inside an apart a few floors up. "Really should've gotten some spy stuff." Ben laments.

"Well we're not MI6 or CIA." Elena says, then see's Kimiko signing. "No. We can't just break into the neighbors place, our cover might get blown." She reported.

Soon whatever discussion Maeve and her ex are having us out of window view so they don't know what's happening. "At least we have a possible lead." Ben says, then feels his phone vibrating, looking at the caller I.D he frowns in confusion. "Hello?"

"Kid it's me. Raynor." Susan says on the phone.

"Look lady if you want to arrest me-" Ben tries to say but gets cut off.

"I need your help. Now." Raynor says bluntly.

"If this is about Butcher you're on your own." Ben guesses.

"Believe me this shit is way worse. I know you know about Translucent and everything-." She tries to say.

"You knew too?" Ben exclaims in shock.

"Fuck." Raynor swears, not realizing he didn't know that she knew about Translucent's fate. "Look this is really fucked up. But I need you to come to my office NOW. It's life or death." She tells him.

"How bad?" Ben asks, hearing the panic in her tone.

"Like this will get those fucks at Vought into the military. You're our only chance to stop it. Please just please come here." Raynor pleaded.

"Ok." Ben agreed before hanging up. "We gotta go help Sussie." Ben tells the girls.

"What, why?" Elena asks not getting why they should abandon their best possible lead on... something.

"Raynor called asking for help." Ben simply says.

"And?" Elena responds, not understanding why.

"She said please." Ben informs then adds. "Twice." Elena and Kimiko then have a concerned look as Ben finishes with. "Yeah it seems real bad."

CIA

XLR8 runs in bringing Elena straight to Raynor's office, but takes off in a blur. "Where's the kid?" The deputy director asks.

"One second." Elena requests, holding up a finger feeling a little queasy. A few moments later XLR8 comes in with Kimiko then brings the trash so Elena could throw up in it. "When did I eat corn?" She asks before taking a few tissues to wipe her mouth.

In a flash of light Ben transforms back to his human self. "Have no fear, the hero is here." Ben says with a bit of dramatic flare. "What's the problem?" He then asks.

"Follow me." Raynor simply says.

Upper Level

They soon entered a sort of mission room that was dark save for computer screens at the table and large screen on the front wall. "Oooo must be really bad, we're in the restricted zone." Ben remarks as they entered.

"This is like computer geek heaven." Elena says then observes one worker on a slightly older machine. "Though it could use an update."

"I wish that's all I had to worry about." Raynor says then orders. "Pull up the video."

Kimiko then signs to Elena, who speaks. "Seriously what's going on?"

As POV footage from a camera of a US soldier in Syria is being showed Susan says. "It's easier to just show you." The footage seems to show a standard operation to capture an ISIS Captain in the area, until... Naqib (The Supe Terrorist, though not his real name, the translation is like Chief in one aspect and investigator in another.) takes on a hail of bullets before detonating himself and killing all the soldiers.

The instantly gasp in shock at this. Fortunately because of the explosion they don't witness too much as it's over in an instant and the footage goes black. "You see."

"What the?" Ben exclaims. "Who is this guy?"

"And how can he do that? Did Vought give him Compound V?" Elena adds, while Kimiko signs. "Do you know where he is?"

"He's a commander in ISIS, that's." Raynor begins.

"The terrorist group America created." Elena shoots.

"And as for the Compound V if Vought sent it we don't know." Raynor answers rather than get into a debate. "They have no ships or planes going into the area, they have brought relief aid in some neighboring countries but no way it was smuggled through the ground. Word spreads fast and none of their people leave their humanitarian aid camps."

"As far as the where." Raynor continues, instructing someone to pull up a map. "He's somewhere in the coastal mountains here." A map of Syria is pulled up with a circle around Al-Anṣariyyah. "Place is littered with terrorists who wanna fight the regime, Russia or us so he might rally support soon.

"So you want me to go in and stop him? Easy peasy." Ben says.

"It has to be done quietly." Raynor tells him. "No publicity, no video, no Facebook, no plane ticket, no flash when you teleport."

"Teleport? That's just stupid, have you seen me telport?" Ben scoffs.

"I haven't seen you turn into werewolf yet either, still not ruling it out." Raynor says. "So go there, bring him in and we'll find a place to stash him."

"Woah Woah Woah." Elena interjects. "Last time he brought a supe for random guys he was killed." She reminds.

"That's Butcher, I wanted to hold Translucent and get information from him, but Butcher thought otherwise." Raynor reasons. "Besides if the public see's this Vought will use it as fuel to light the fucking fire for them to put Homelander and his pals in the military." Pause. "Imagine Homelander out there, Tech Knight, Iron Cast, Behemoth, Jack from Jupiter, Whack Job, Blarney Cock, Dog Knott?" Listing off supes that have harmed and even killed people.

"I know you're trying to scare me..." Ben begins. "But I'm just feeling sorry for them, I mean who gives them these names." Ben adds. "My worst named Hero is Four Arms and it's still better than any of theirs."

"And you're a kid." Elena chimes in. "But you really wanna just give them...

"Naqib." A random worker with several pieces of comic memorabilia on his desk says without thinking.

"Naqib without a second thought?" Elena finishes.

Ben nods. "I trust her more than Butcher."

"Ok your call." Elena says. "Gonna need an English to Arab Translator, your fastest plane, and snacks."

"And some cool shades." Ben adds then continues in excitement. "Ooo ooo maybe some of those desert rag things so we can look like Lawrence of Arabia. And a megaphone."

"Megaphone?" Raynor raises an eyebrow.

"It's important." Ben simply replies. "Now which way to Syria?"

"Well it's thousands of miles away so..." Elena begins to say.

"No seriously which way is it?" Ben asked with full seriousness. "Cause I only got a C in geometry and we were only doing Europe... Is it part of Europe?"

Raynor sighs. "Just get to the Jet, and hurry cause tomorrow morning I meet Stillwell."

"Why?" Ben asks.

"Well originally it was to tell them how royally and unilaterally fucked they were and put them in their place. But this changes the ball game. And I can't cancel cause then they'll know something is up." Raynor explains.

"But doesn't it take like 12 hours to fly there?" Elena points out.

"11.78 hours." The same worker from before chimes in.

"Shut it Lyle!" Raynor orders.

"Can't you stall her, push back the meeting?" Ben suggested.

"And how do I do that?" Raynor says.

"I think I have an idea." Elena said before turning to Ben. "You have a lawyer right?"

"Lilly yeah. Why though?" Ben replies.

"Because you have a deal to make with the CIA." Elena exaggerates. "A deal that needs to be reviewed, examined, checked and negotiated a million times down to the last punctuation mark. And you need a lawyer to go through that long grueling process and tedious paperwork." Elena continues to emphasize looking at Raynor who nods.

"Am I missing something?" Ben asks.

Kimiko then signs at Elena with an eyeroll. 'Billions of people and he gets the super powered space watch.'

Scene Cut

Ben, Elena and Kimiko boarded the CIA plane and took off for the Middle East under the guise of a billionaire's trip to Kuwait. All while Raynor prayed to god she wasn't doing something stupid.

With A-Train

A-Train was back from visiting his brother and was heading back to his apartment. At normal speed. Currently he was on the Vought lobby floor, that was being repaired. Looking around he saw people doing their jobs as if it were any other day.

As A-Train was heading to the elevator he saw a working trying to bring a piece of equipment in. And at the same time a lab worker walked in front of him. Neither bumped into each other they were just in an awkward moment of getting in each others way for a few seconds.

But it stopped A-Train in his tracks for second as he remembered something from his fight with Upgrade.

Flashback

Once spread out the Seven then try to attack Shifter. With limited success.

Black Noir was knocked down by swing of a cannon when he tried to jump Upgrade-Optimus. Maeve's attack on his left flank was blocked, before she was blasted into a building. Starlight tried to fire her light blast at the same time he fired at her, resulting in an explosion that sent her back some distance. Before A-Train could even get back up, he was blasted to keep him down.

As A-Train was getting up before he was hit it, someone or something was in front Upgrade-Optimus for only the briefest of moments. Even A-Train didn't notice, and he was looking right at it.

Flashback over

"What the?" A-Train says in confusion.

"Something on your mind?" Stan Edgar asks, having just come in from his own outing.

"Um no just... remembering something." A-Train says as he leaves the building, despite having just entered it. Then turns back realizing that.

Flashback

A Train was trying to remember what, or who he saw but only remembers seeing black hair and a white coat. Though now he can remember his hand was on Upgrade-Optimus chest. But why?"

Desert

An American Fighter Jet was flying over a barren desert of Arizona. "This is Draco at the coordinates and reporting that nothing is here over." The pilot reports. He had been assigned this last minute because the cameras were down for routine maintenance, but a sensor reported something passing by it at high speed. No satellites were reported to be crashed or downed so that was eliminated, and no meteors or other space objects were reported to be passing by.

As the pilot was about to head back he saw something flicker on the ground. "Hold on sir I think I'm spotting something." He reported.

G3 Base

A masked G3 soldier who was tasked in with monitor the crash site via drones. "Commander Solomon a US aircraft seems to be circling around the crashed vessel." He reports to his superior officer.

"Lead it away with drones until either the pilot can get his camouflage equipment back online or our forces get there. Jam the plane's communications." Solomon orders. "It's critical we take the cargo."

At the crash site

The pilot, call sign Draco, was circling around the area where he saw that flicker. Soon enough he saw it again, but as he was about to report in he found only static. "Command do you read me over?" He asked, static was his response.

Just then machine gun fire was then heard as the pilot took evasive action. Nothing was on his radar and it definitely came for the air so he had to rely on his vision to find it. Soon he saw a white orb drone with guns on it. (Picture the drones from Oblivion)

"The fuck!" He exclaimed before receiving fire from two more drone. "SHIT!" He soon began taking evasive maneuvers to avoid being hit by the drones. As the drones started to chase him he adjusted his equipment and let them slowly gain on him before the pilot maneuvered his plane so it seemed to almost backflip. He also began firing 20mm bullets, hitting them and causing one to explode.

The drones quickly turned around and the pilot at to turn his aircraft on it's side in order not to crash into them.

G3

"Sir the pilot of the craft reported his craft fix, shall I recall the drone?" The G3 soldier questioned.

Commander Solomon was watching the fight and narrowed his eyes behind his goggles. "No, keep them engaged." He orders as he see's the pilot take down another drone by flying dangerously close to the rocky terrain. "I wanna see what this kid can do."

With the Pilot

Draco dived straight down and began spinning before pulling up and leveling out. He then made several hard turns by some Rocky outcrops until on of the drones crashed into one. He then started going up and did the maneuver he used earlier to backflip. Only this time the drone seemed to hit the breaks as it was still behind him.

"Fuck!" He curses as he tries to either force it to crash or get behind it. But the drone seems to have caught on. "Never thought I'd actually do this." The pilot says before shooting his plane straight up.

G3

"Sir can our drones go that high?" The soldier asks.

Solomon blankly stares at the screen displaying the drone's POV and the map of where they're fighting. "We're about to find out."

Back to the fight

Eventually both the plane and the drone get to a high enough altitude where their engines and mechanics simply can't go beyond. They proceed to fall towards the ground momentarily, but Draco's craft is now behind the drone which he soon takes care of. Unfortunately his plane is now in a free fall as he fails to restart the engines. "SHIT!" He says as his instruments start beep.

BEEP

BEEP

BEEP

BEEP

"Shut up I know I'm falling." He says as he desperately tries to prevent the planes crash. "Screw it." He says before he ejects himself out of the plane. The pilot then gets launched out and his parachute deploys slowing his descent and giving him the perfect view of his plane crashing. "Oh I so fucked." He groans.

Suddenly as new drone appears infront of him, scanning his face and name as it tries to identify him. "FUCK!" The pilot exclaims and pulls out his sidearm and fires until it's emptied, doing nothing but making a few scratches. The drone then flies away leaving the pilot stunned as he falls to the ground with a welcoming committee of Jeeps ready to escort him.

G3

Solomon reads the credentials of the pilot and says. "Bring him in."

With the pilot

"WHAT THE HELL CAPTAIN!" The commanding officer exclaims as the pilot exits the hero. "WHY WAS ONE OF MY F22's FLYING ALL OVER LIKE SOME OUTHOUSE FLY AFTER A BIG SHIT SHOW!" The commanding officer of the Air Force shouts.

"Sir I can explain." The pilot begins but before he can several blacked out cars show up and several men and women wearing suits, glasses, ear pieces and side arms step out and come over.

"Who the hell are you?" The commanding officer demands to know, with his southern twang.

"Dinah Madoni, Homeland Security." A women of Iranian heritage introduces and flips up a badge. "We were testing new drones in the area when your pilot came across and they began firing. My commanding officer wants us to bring him in for questioning." Then instructs gestures for her people to cuff the pilot.

"I wasn't aware of that fact." The Air Force commanding officer says.

"Well you're aware now. And we'll be taking Mr. Hayes into our custody." Madoni says.

"Now listen here cupcake-" The commanding officer begins to say but is cut off.

"Unless you want your wife in Kentucky, Georgia or wherever hick town you're from to know about the twenty-three year old Russian Girl, the twenty-two year old Vietnamese Girl and the nineteen year old Venezuelan Girl you pay to have them suck your baby carrot of a dick, then smack around you're gonna shut up and let me take him." Dinah Madoni threatens in a low tone so no one hears.

The commanding officer is stunned, but doesn't say anything. Madoni takes that as her cue that he has his permission. "By the way the Venezuelan is pregnant that's why you haven't heard from her. And if I find out you hurt another girl again I'll cut off your balls and feed them to you and put it online so everyone can see." She adds before leaving.

Scene Cut

Captain Hayes was blindfolded the moment he entered the van and was thrown as they made sharp turns. Until suddenly the blindfold was off and the door was open to reveal an underground garage of cars, keeps, trucks and... "Is that a Jet Pack."

"Experimental." Madoni says as she starts pulling him in. "Better pray he likes you, otherwise you'll never be seen again." She says as if it's a regular occurrence

"Wait for real?" He asks.

"Why do you think nobody's found D.B. Cooper... and why Kennedy's assassination was faked." She casually says.

"Wait what!" The Captain exclaims.

"She's lying." A new voice spoke up, Solomon as he stepped into the light. "Kennedy's assassination wasn't us." He informed. "As for D.B Cooper you're gonna have to wait for that one."

"This is where you gulp in fear." Madoni says, and sure enough he does.

"I take it you guys aren't Homeland Security." The pilot says.

"Just Madoni... for the day..." Solomon answers. "Yesterday she was NYPD keeping a bunch of reporters away from Vought. Day before that a colonel that found evidence of espionage in the Pentagon." He lists off.

"I'm gonna keep this short." Solomon continues. "I like you, I want you to fly with us. Decide now."

"Say what?" The pilot asks.

"Decide now or you'll make headlines that you died while in the custody of Homeland security while trying to escape under the grounds you were responsible for a chemical attack in a residential town." Solomon threatens.

"Woah Woah Woah!" The pilot exclaims. "I'm not gonna just blindly say yes, I'd like to know what I have to do."

"You passed the first step." Solomon says.

"What?" Hayes replies in a confused tone.

"He likes people who don't just jump at an answer, even when they're threatened." Madoni says.

"I saw how you took down our drones. Your skill could be useful to us, especially in these dangerous times. And you'd do more than just drill, you'd be defending your country against the worst kind of enemy... aliens." Solomon says. "If you say yes you'll never be able to tell anyone what you do, even after your death no one can find out. You'll most definitely be outgunned and outmatched, as we'll be hopelessly and hilariously outgunned against an invasion from space."

"If I say no?" Hayes asks in curiosity.

"Call your sister and find out." Solomon says, almost as if it's a threat.

Hayes then reaches for his phone which he realizes was not taken. "You hurt her so help me." He threatens as he calls her.

"Speaker." Madoni says.

"Hello." Hayes says to his phone.

"H-hello." A sniffling voice came.

"Michelle you ok?" The pilot asks his sister.

"Oh thank you thank you." The sister says.

Confused by since he was expecting his sister to be in danger he asks. "For what?"

"I just spoke with hospital. They said you fronted the money for Rachel's treatment." The sister says with sniffles.

"Uh what do you mean?" Hayes wonders. "I didn't pay for anything." He adds looking at Madoni and Solomon.

"Don't you fucking lie you prick." The sister says. "I just spoke with the doctor, who came from London and said you offered to pay for the whole thing." She informs. "I-I know you weren't excited when I moved to L.A for my career, but you've been so supportive I-I can't even thank you, I promise to pay it back." She says with sobs.

"..." Hayes is still stunned by this. "We're family, no matter what. And she's my niece it's the least I could do." Skeptically looks at Solomon and Madoni before adding. "And I'm sorry by the way, it's your life, I was just scared."

"How did you even do this?" Michelle asks. "One round of this treatment is like almost seven figures. And now I hear you paid for 15 just in case."

"...Let's just say I got a new job." Hayes lies, while simultaneously saying yes to Solomon's offer. "I gotta go, love you."

"I love you to, I need to call the studio, tell them I'm gonna busy for a while." Michelle accepts then the call ends.

"How'd you know about them?" Hayes asks.

"I read your file." Solomon answers. "James Hayes, descendant of an IRA member who fought in the Irish War of Independence, who later served in the Second World War. Your father is a commandant in the Irish Army, but you never met him cause your mother was student who scammed married men by having their rendezvous recorded or caught on camera then blackmail. Until she moved to the US and had you, took a secretary job and married an abusive man for ten years in order for you and your sister to have roof over your heads. She died and the man is in prison, just as you were accepted into Harvard to be a lawyer, you had to step up so you joined the Air Force for the benefits and provided for her. Then you two had a falling out when she admitted she was gonna pursue a career in modeling and acting in LA and you said you weren't gonna pay for that. For years you didn't speak until she called you several months ago asking for money for her Daughter's chemo treatment, Because even though she was making good money the cancer was aggressive and most doctors gave her a few months to live, except for one experimental treatment in London which has promising results but is incredibly expensive and the insurance wasn't gonna cover it... Until you fronted the bill." Solomon says going into his life.

Hayes just stands there stunned.

"This isn't a threat. This is an offer. I need people like you, not just because of your talents but for you as a person." Solomon adds. "Someone who see's the odds stacked against him in almost every way possible and will do his best to overcome them, regardless of how hard or how long it takes." Pause. "Do you accept?"

"I do." Hayes agrees, this time with meaning. "But she better get that treatment."

Solomon smirks. "Very well. And just so you know that money we used to pay for Rachel's treatment we stole from the insurance company so it didn't cost us a dime."

"When do I start?" Hayes asks with a chuckle.

"Now. You have simulation against Martians in 15 minutes." Solomon says with seriousness.

"Martians right." Hayes chuckles, thinking it's a joke but then see's the serious look of their faces. "Wait there's actually Martian's."

"Yeah, and they DO NOT like us." Madoni says as they begin walking.

With Ben, Elena and Kimiko

The three were on a CIA jet waiting for the go ahead to jump. The flight would've taken more than 10 hours but thanks to Upgrade temporarily turning the plane into a rocket they were in the Aegean within thirty minutes. This is because Ben had thought Greece bordered the country... it did not. Luckily they were using the time to form an actual plan... sort of.

"So we clear on the plan?" Ben asked.

Kimiko then signs which Elena translates. "If you call landing and shouting "Hey super villian come attack me" with a megaphone a plan then yes."

"Well hopefully we find the group first, ask them where he is and then..." Ben pushes the sunglasses in his head down for effect. "Neutralize this son of a-hey!" Ben gets cut off by Kimiko throwing a book at him.

"She doesn't like us swearing. Why do you think I never do it?" Elena speaks.

"Well ok then." Ben replies. "Let's jump." Then notices they're still over water. "In a few minutes." Sits down. "Soooo."

"So?" Elena responds.

"You ok?" Ben asks.

"Why wouldn't I be?" Elena wonders.

"Well your... mom." Ben says, pointing out how she went through a traumatic experience not that long ago and seems relatively ok.

"I... I'm fine." Elena says.

"You sure cause.-" Ben tried to speak.

"Look my mom barely spent time with me, paid other people to take care of me and only had me for some PR to get money for funding." Elena cuts in. "Yes I'm sad she's dead, I already did my crying for it cause she's still my mom, but I don't really feel that sad to grieve." She adds.

"Ok." Ben replies, backing off.

"You are clear for drop." The pilot spoke up in an intercom.

Kimiko then signs that nobody needed translation. "It's go time." Grabbing their backpacks they made their way to the door. Ben opened it and they jumped out and mid way he turned into Stinkfly and slowly flew down.

As Stinkfly, Kimiko and Elena touched ground they looked up and saw the plane continue to fly until it was out of sight. They put on their sunglasses and looked around. They were in Al-Anṣariyyah, the Coastal Mountain range of Syria.

"Not what I was expecting." Ben says almost sounding disappointed. "Rambo III made it look more deserty."

"Rambo III was in Afghanistan, this is Syria." Elena clarified as they start walking.

"But don't they border each other?" Ben asks.

"Uh no." Elena answers. "Have you looked at a map of the world recently, or at all?"

"I've looked at maps." Ben responds.

"Just not ones of the Middle East." Elena guesses.

"Where's that?" Ben ignorantly asks as they kept walking.

They were all wearing clothes native to the region in order to blend in should there be camera's. Kimiko and Elena wearing Hijabs, with the face uncovered, wearing lose pants and long shirts that go well past their knees with long sleeves. Ben sadly couldn't dress up like T.E. Lawrence of Arabia, he wore dark cargo pants, a long camouflage shirt with long sleeves and a hood and a puffy green vest. They each carried a backpack with food, supplies and some warmer clothing for when it gets dark.

"So how long do you think we have to look before they find us?" Elena asks looking around to the hills and mountains.

"Well if they don't see us already." Ben began and took the megaphone he requested from Raynor and turned it on. "GOOOOOOOD MORNING SYRIIIIIIIA OR AFTERNOON... NOT SURE WHAT TIME IT IS."

They all look around and the only movement is of the shrubbery moving because of the wind and some birds flying. "I AM LOOKING FOR NAQIB, AN ISIS MEMBER WHO CAN BLOW HIMSELF UP!" Ben adds as they keep walking. "I WOULD LIKE TO TALK TO HIM. I DO NOT WORK FOR THE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT F Y I, I JUST USED THEM TO GET HERE SO I COULD TALK WITH MISTER... SORRY I DON'T KNOW HIS REAL NAME JUST THAT HE CAN BLOW HIMSELF UP."

No Response.

Kimiko signs to Elena. "It's gonna be a long day."

"Yup." Elena agrees then shrugs. "But what are you gonna do?" She adds as they follow Ben.

Scene cut

They're on a hill looking around. "I COME IN PEACE."

Scene cut

They're walking down another hill, as the sun sets a little. "I'M NOT HERE TO FIGHT."

Scene cut

They're walking across some flat land and the sun has gone down a little further. "ARE YOU LISTENING TO ME?"

Scene cut

Elena and Kimiko are eating some sandwiches as Ben continues to talk. They sun is getting even lower. "SERIOUSLY HOW DO PEOPLE WHO WANNA BE REBELS OR WHATEVER FIND OTHER REBELS... YOU'RE IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND (Eating noises) WHICH IS GREAT AND ALL BUT NOW I DON'T KNOW IF I'M TALKING TO ANYONE OR AM JUST GOING CRAZY."

Scene Cut

They find a cave in the mountains and as Elena and Kimiko set up Ben is speaking utter nonsense. The sky is now orange as the sun is setting. "DOES CEREAL COUNT AS A SOUP?"

Scene Cut

Elena and Kimiko are playing cards by a fire as Ben continues to talk out in the night. On the bright side the loud booming voice seems to have scared off any predators. "WELL THIS HAS BEEN FUN, EXCEPT IT WASN'T. TTYL... THAT MEANS "TALK TO YOU LATER"... I THINK. GOOD NIGHT!" Finally turns off the megaphone and turns to the girls and says. "You guys didn't mind that?"

Elena looks up from her cards then takes out her earplugs. "You done?"

Ben goes to sit by the fire. "Think we'll find them tomorrow?"

Elena shrugs. "At least nobody else knows we're here. Mountains are usually rebel territory."

"Let's hope rebels find us before Blaster does." Ben says as he joins their game. "So what are we playing exactly?"

Scene Cut

Ben, Elena and Kimiko are sound asleep, the only sound is of breathing and the cracking wood as the remnants of the fire burns out. The sun has been rising for a while now but due to the cave's location the sun won't come down on them until the afternoon.

Just outside of the cave several Syrians with their lower faces covered and armed with AK-47's are have carefully trekked up the hill. They stand just outside the cave and peak in, rifles aimed. But one soldier suddenly and without warning sneezes. "Achoo."

Kimiko's eyes immediately open and she leaps forward tackling one soldier. They roll down together the angled terrain preventing either, mostly Kimiko, killing or fighting the other until the reach the bottom. The Syrian tries to point his Kalashnikov at her, she breaks before he can get off a shot.

"Yatawaqqafu!" Kimiko hears as she's about punch right through his face. She turns and see's Ben and Elena have been pulled up and guns are pointed at them. "Yatawaqqafu! Tawaquf 'aw sanatliq alnaar!" They spoke in Arabic, and even though Kimiko didn't know the language she understood the context. 'Stop or we'll shoot.'

Begrudgingly she held her fist back, and while gritting her teeth she got up and off the Syrian she was about to kill and held her hands in surrender. As Ben and Elena were being held by two men each with at least one of them using a hand to aim their AK-47 at their hostage. "Think they're the one's we're looking for?" Elena asks with some fear.

"I'll let you know when I find out." Ben says then looks at one guy. "Bless you."

Scene Cut

With blindfolds on and their wrists tied together Ben, Elena and Kimiko were being tugged to who know's where. Most of the soldiers kept a good distance away from all of them to make sure that if they did take off they could catch them. They didn't seem to be to aggressive as they kept the pace slow, though they had been making them walk for about an hour.

"Hal hadha daruriun haqaa?" One Syrian asks to his comrade.

"Naema. la yumkinuhum maerifat makan qaeiditina." Another Syrian answers, like it's obvious.

"Athnan minhum 'atfali." The first one points out, gesturing to the kids.

"Thiq walakin tahaqaqa min sadiqi." The second soldier replies, while patting his comrades shoulder. "Thiq walakin tahaqaqa." He repeats.

"What are they saying?" Ben asks while still walking.

"I don't know, I don't speak Arabic." Elena says.

"Well they haven't hit us yet so that's good." Ben points out, expecting to be hit by the rifle stock of a Kalashnikov.

"Maybe they didn't hear you." Elena points out, not wanting to get her hopes up. For all she knows they could be Syrian regime soldiers, or even mercenaries of another country.

"Hello there." Ben starts speaking. "So did you know where we were and just waited for us to lower our guard down, or did you just find us by accident?" He asks.

"Madha qal alsabi?" The apparent leader asks one certain Syrian.

"Yurid 'an yaerif kayf wajadnahu." The Syrian says, his voice indicating he was quite young.

"Qul lah 'an yusamata." The leader tells him.

"My commander is requesting you to be quiet." The Syrian says with good English and no hindrance or mispronunciation by his accent.

"You're English is good, where'd you learn it?" Ben replies.

"School." The English speaking Syrian answers without thought.

Another Syrian groans. "Ha nahn dha, sayabda bialnabah mithl alkalb eindama yakun hunak shakhs ma eind albabi." He says which causes several of them to chuckle.

"Hadha yakfaa. han alwaqt lildukhuli." The leader says then looks up to the sky. "Wasatabda altaayirat walmirwahiaat bialtahliq qariba." They then change direction and speed up the pace, though not excessively.

"Must be close." Elena guesses as she almost trips on rock, but quickly regains her balance.

"Good because I'm starving." Ben says. "Think they serve Pancakes?"

"Of course..." Elena replies with a hotel smile. "They also offer hot stone massages and laundry service." She adds with total sarcasm, getting Kimiko to chuckle a bit.

Short while later

"Qum bi'iizalat eisabat aleaynayni." The leader says and three of his men remove the blindfolds on them.

"Uh my eyes." Ben exclaims as the sun makes his eyes sting. Elena hisses as she closes and blinks, while Kimiko just blinks slight pain. "Well this is either the worst funded military base in Syria or we found who we're looking for." Ben says as they look around.

They were in a flat area surrounded by tall mountains with caves dotting the sides, with tents and tarps covering areas. On top of some ledges were soldiers with binoculars keeping an eye out for planes and helicopters. Some were already holding RPG's or Stinger Missiles launchers ready to fire just in case, with their heads in a swivel.

All around is a hodgepodge of soldiers working on their mix of weapons, foreign and domestic, old and new, soldiers training and working out. Many had captured Syrian uniforms that they modified so they wouldn't be hit by friendly fire, but there were quite a few who wore simply civilian clothes with ammunition and grenade belts.

Civilians were also seen, women with hijabs, faces covered and uncovered, were walking around doing work of some sort. Several were even dressed for combat. Some farm animals were also seen like goats, sheep and chickens, in small makeshift farms. As were a couple of horses. Kids were also all over. Doing chores like washing clothes, getting water from a stream, tending to the animals and small crops and gardens. Of course there were also ones relaxing and even playing soccer/futball (Real Football).

There was also injured people, with parts of their body bandaged. Some without certain body parts. Several were even suffering from less visible injuries that had no certain end. Be they young or old.

"Taeal min hadha altariqi." The Syrian leader that lead them here said and the translator from before said. "He wants you to follow him."

"Sir yes sir." Ben salutes and they follow him.

Ad they do a soccer ball comes by Kimiko's feet and she turns in the direction it came from. It was a young Syrian boy wearing long pants that had to be rolled up in the bottom and held up with a tightened belt. "Arkilha." He says and when she doesn't respond he pretends to kick a ball and repeats. "Arkilha." And she kicks it back to him and he goes back to his game with several other kids.

"Feels like a movie." Ben says as he looks around. "If I was gonna set up a terrorist or resistance group this would be great. I mean it screams fortress."

"Yeah." Elena agrees. "Even if they get bombers to hit this place they'd have to be incredibly accurate if they wanna hit their target and even then there's no telling if it'll work."

Kimiko then signs which Elena translates. "Like Japanese Tunnels in Iwo Jima and Okinawa, held out even after the war was over."

"Plus the mountains make it difficult for their tanks. Only way to travel is on foot or by horse." The English speaking Syrian points.

"La tukalimuhum hataa 'afeala." The leader speaks sternly.

Eventually they reach a cave and the leader gestures for them to sit. They were courteous enough to give them pillows, but several men still kept their guns at the ready. The leader, indicating by his lack of a rifle, but sporting a beautiful sidearm, sits across from them. "Ana alqayid bashiq ma asmayikum." He says.

"I am Commander Bashiq. What are your names?" The English speaking Syrian translates.

"Wait you're the commander?" Ben questions in a moment of confusion.

"No he's just translating for him." Elena says, pointing to the leader.

"Huh, I was kinda expecting something like "The Great and Mighty" blah blah blah." Ben tells her.

"This isn't Star Wars and he's not a giant fat slug crime lord." Elena tells him.

"Fat?" The Syrian commander questioned knowing the word, and feeling insulted. The Translator quickly corrects this and he nods in understanding. Just after another masked soldier says something.

The Syrian translator then says in English. "He wants to know if you know Shakira?" Ben, Elena and Kimiko all shake their heads and he sighs in disappointment before backing away.

"Well I'm Ben Tennyson, or Ben 10." Ben introduces himself. "This is Elena and Kimiko and we're here to find Naqib... the exploding man who was part of ISIS or whatever."

The Syrian translates and the leader scoffs before speaking to the translator. "You came here to stop him?" The three foreigners nod their heads.

Commander Bashiq then thanks Allah before talking to the translator. "He thanks Allah that you have come, because Naqib is on his way here."

"What? Why, how do you know this?" Elena asks as the three of them.

Before they could continue a woman wearing a Hijab but with not face covering came in from the outside. She was carrying a tray with three bowls on it, which she nearly dropped when she saw Ben, Elena and Kimiko. "Bashiq limadha lam tukhbirni 'ana ladayna duyuf?" She says looking at Bashiq.

"'iinahum laysuu dywfan, wahadha lays mnzlaan, 'iinah kahfi. qult lak 'alf maratin." Bashiq says with a frown as if he had this conversation before.

"Hsnan, hataa tajid lana mnzlan hqyqyan, sayatimu altaeamul mae hadha alkahf ealaa 'anah watanna." The woman says then brings the bowls over the three 'guests' and sets it by them. She then speaks and the translator translates. "Welcome I am Dimah, my mule of a husband didn't think to tell me we had guests, so I am very sorry for the for the poor decorum. Here is some soup, again if I had known you were coming I would've prepared something better."

"Oh no you don't have to." Elena tries to politely decline.

The woman speaks and it's translated. "I'll be back with some tea."

Just then a young girl around Ben and Elena's age comes in with a smaller try with cups of tea. The older Syrian woman then says. "Amara qult lak 'an tartaha."

"Laqad 'aradt 'ann 'usaeida." The young Syrian girl says as the older woman takes the tray and gives it to Ben, Elena and Kimiko.

"If she didn't know we were coming why did she make this?" Ben asks.

"It was obviously for someone else but she's giving it to us." Elena answers, while Kimiko starts eating.

The leader Bashiq and his wife Dimah soon get into an argument. "Sweet dinner and a show." Ben says amused at the display while sipping the tea. "Hey buddy can you put subtitles in for us?" He requests and the translator shakes his head.

"Shifter!" Amara, the young girl who brought the tea, exclaims with an accent while pointing at Ben's wrist.

"Ben 10." Ben say's. "Not Shifter, I hate that name." And the Translator relay's this.

Dimah then examines Ben's wrist and see's the Omnitrix. "Hal hu huna limusaeadatana?" She asks.

"She asking if you came to help us." The Translator says.

"We're here to stop Naqib, the exploding man." Elena says, which is related in Arabic. "That's our main purpose here."

Dimah then starts to shed tears and goes to hug him while thanking Allah. And Ben just sits there awkwardly. "I think it's safe to see we're welcomed here." Ben says.

Bashiq then stands up and starts to leave the cave while gesturing for them to follow him. This they do. Bashiq, the translator and the Syrian who asked about Shakira also joined them. They walked outside and some distance into another cave, one where there were six occupants. 3 were soldiers/rebels each armed with an old, but reliable and functioning, WW1 or 2 vintage Maxim Machine gun. Each was set up on a tripod pointed at three men.

"What's going on here?" Elena asked.

Rather than say anything Bashiq pulled something out his pocket. "Com-Pound-V." He annunciates slowly.

"So they?" Ben asks and Bashiq tells one to demonstrate their powers.

One of them does so by making circular motions with his hand, and even though there was a considerable distance between his hand and the ground the sand started swirling around. This man was a supe. "Holy crud." Ben says.

America, CIA (Several Hours a head)

Madelyn Stillwell was entering the CIA for appointment with Susan Raynor, the Deputy Chief. As she walked in and headed towards the office she was stopped by security. "I'm sorry ma'am but you have wait here." The suited man tells Stillwell.

"Oh I have an appointment with Susan Raynor, the Deputy Director." Stillwell points out with a smile.

"I'm sorry she's in another meeting." The man tells her. "Been going on for hours, you're just going to have to wait."

"What?" Stillwell questions and checks her watch. "How much longer will it take?"

"I'm not sure, all I know is that it's very serious." The man tells her.

In the meeting room

Susan Raynor and Lilly Choi were sitting across from each other bored out of their minds. They had been sitting her since Ben and the girls were on their way to Syria. On paper they were in a meeting discussing what Ben should receive for handing in super powered criminals, both domestic and international. In reality they have just been killing time in order to delay the meeting with Vought until Ben captured Blaster.

"So how'd you meet the kid?" Raynor asked.

"Uh well first he gave citizenship status to a bunch of illegal Chinese immigrants, then used me as bait to lure Vought into negotiating a settlement." Lilly answered. "You?"

"Uh some psycho set up a meeting with my kids present in the park... then he snuck into the CIA building." Raynor answersed. "Every time we're in the same room it's like everything is from a cartoon or some shit." She adds both amused and frustrated by that.

"Or a very good fanfiction." Lilly responds with a smile.

Back In Syria

As the three saw the man controlling the sand for a bit he was instructed to stop and he did. Bashiq then speaks while gesturing to the three prisoners/hostages/guests. The translator then said. "Men like Naqib injected them as well as others." Bashiq speaks and it's being translated. "Of the dozens of people forced to take this terrible terrible posion." Bashiq speaks. "These are the only ones who survived and Naqib gave us until tonight to give them to him."

"So he can do what?" Ben asks.

Bashiq then slowly says something which is translated. "Only horrible things."

"Well he won't get them." Ben says in a very sure tone.

"You will stop him?" The translator asks.

"It's what we're here for." Ben replies which gets translated.

Bashiq raises an eyebrow and speaks, which gets translated. "I have lived long enough to know that when westerners come to our homeland they want something."

"Yeah." Ben answers. "Naqib."

Bashiq then says something aggressively. "You or your government?" The translator says.

"Both." Ben answered.

Bashiq then starts ranting. "Of course." Rant. "Always the same with you western governments." Rant. "We need your help, you do little, when you want you something, you come and invade our lands, destroy our homes and kill our people." Rant. "And then when you get what you want you turn against us." Rant. "My own family helped the British and T.E. Lawrence to get rid of the Ottomans in your World War I, then when war was over we become slaves under new rulers, British, French, American, Russian you all are the same."

There's a pause as Bashiq says. "Albarabira." Which translates to. "Barbarians."

"Well..." Ben drags as Elena and Kimiko have nothing to say. "I can't speak for what happened before, and what is happening now. All I can do is offer to stop Naqib if you tell me where he is."

Bashiq in a disgruntled tone speaks and it's translated. "Not like I have a choice." Pause as Bashiq speaks. "He'll be at foot of the mountains tonight, he's expecting me to bring them there."

Elena then voices something. "I'm confused, how did you get the Compound V?" She asks.

Bashiq's translator says. "Regime soldiers had a case of this vile poison and tested it on several soldiers who died." Pause. "After it killed several of their own they decided to try it on the villagers. Any man who didn't 'volunteer' was shot and their family slaughtered."

Bashiq then gestures to the three Syrian supes. "Ramil." He points to the sand powered Supe. "Alsakhan." Points to another. "Sarab."

Kimiko then signs to Elena and asks. "What are their powers?"

"Sand. Geyser. Mirage." The Translator translates.

"So sand powers." Elena points to Ramil. "Illusion powers." Points to Sarab. "And the last one." Points to Alsakhan while trying to figure it out.

Alsakhan holds his palm up and a bit of water shoots up from it. "Oh water powers, cool." Elena says.

"Maybe they can help us?" Ben suggested then turned to Ramil, Alsakhan and Sarab. "Do you want to fight with us against Naqib?" Ben asked and the translator relayed this.

Immediately the three shifted nervously in fear and gave obvious protests while speaking their native tongues. Which didn't need to be relayed to Ben who understood that they were both afraid of hurting people, themselves or anyone with their powers. He felt that way when he started that forest fire and when Grandpa Max got hurt by Rojo at that gas station.

"Look I get it." Ben spoke.

Translation: "Anzuruu laqad fahimtu."

"You didn't want these powers, but now you have them. So make the most of them. It's your choice." Ben continued.

Translation: "Lam takun turid hadhih alquaa, lakinak tamtalikuha alan. lidha aistafada minha 'iilaa 'aqsaa had. 'iinah aikhtiaruka."

Ben then started to walk out and leave the three new supes with their thoughts, but was blocked by the Shakira fan Syrian. "Oh we're not done?" Ben questioned.

Bashiq then speaks to the Translator who relays. "What are you going to do about Naqib supporters?"

"Supporters?" Ben asks turning around baffled with this new information. "What supporters?"

The translator then relays. "He has a hive of followers, either loyal to his cause, or too afraid of him. Even if you take him they will still be here. You get rid of the parasite, but you forget they lay eggs."

"First of all gross." Ben says with a shiver. "Second: They won't be a problem."

"Uh we can't be seen remember. If we get recognized and they put it on the internet the world will see Blaster and then supes will be in the army." Elena reminds him.

"Almost forgot about that." Ben replied, then turns to the others. "Any ideas?"

"Why must you not be seen on internet?" The Translator asks, without needing a translation to be relayed.

"It's complicated." Ben says. "But nobody can know we're here or that Naqib exists."

The Translator then turns to the leader and starts talking. "Yuridun 'iikhfa' waqtihim huna." He says

Bashiq scoffs. "Bialtabe yafealuna."

"Yajib 'an nusaeidahum." The translator says.

Bashiq looks at him in surprise. "Bassel hal 'ant majnunu?" He questions, the Translator is now identified as Bassel.

"Yumkinuh musaeadatuna ya 'abana." Bassel points out.

"Wa'iilaa fa'iina hukumatah sawf tastafid mana." Bashiq points out.

The two then begin an intense argument about if they should help them or not. While Ben, Elena and Kimiko stare amongst themselves. All thinking 'what are they saying?'

Eventually the arguing stops and Bashiq gestures for Bassel to relay what they agreed. "My father says he'll order his fighters to fight against the followers of Blaster, while you fight him elsewhere."

Ben, Elena and Kimiko nodded with that in agreement. Plus while Ben fights Blaster, Kimiko can help the rebels fight his supporters.

"But." Bassel continues. You must make sure Naqib must never come here again. Never."

"Of course." Ben agree. "Now let's get to work."

Scene Cut

In an area of the camp rebels fighters, civilians and children are listening intently as the Imam leads prayers. A makeshift barrier to separate the men and the women was constructed out of fabric. Ben wanted to ask why, but Elena and Kimiko quietly ordered, and slightly threatened, him to remain quiet and just do what the others are doing.

The Imam was speaking Arabic. "'iilaa muharibina alshujean, tadhakaruu: Waqatiluu fi sabil allah aladhin yuqatilun maeakum wala taetaduu." Ben heard but did not understand. As the Imam kept talking Ben just stayed silent and copied what the people near him did. Soon they got up and any space that was left between anyone was closed and made Ben feel claustrophobic. Then they got on their knees and, presumably, said their prayers. 'Man my knees hurt.' Ben thought after a few moments.

When it was finally signaled that it was over people began leaving.

Scene Cut

The scene was now of organized chaos. Fighters were loading ammunition into their guns, or rockets in their RPG's and grenades in their belts. Mothers and children were gathering what belongings they could and releasing any animals they couldn't keep. They were also taking anything they could to build up a defense for when Naqib and his followers came. They were worried about regime attacks, bombings by either Russian or American planes, but it seems they are distracted by other issues.

There was also a lot of arguing as many fighters wanted to stay and fight, but were being told they need to go with the civilians. Like the Spartans at Thermopylae only married men with sons were to allowed to stay and fight. With great reluctance and even tears as fathers, sons, mothers, daughters, friends, neighbors, brothers, sisters, husbands, wives, cousins and friends were split.

Mostly men would stay behind as the women were to be the caregivers to their family and loved ones. Also because should the women be captured by Naqib and his supporters who knows what they would do to them, if they weren't killed. Not all men would stay behind, but nearly all of those told to leave tried vehemently to stay. But these were young men, teenagers even, who could have a future, and more importantly become the breadwinner of the family. Though this was not always the case.

The ones that stayed knew they would most likely die, and should they live they may likely never see their family.

Now as Bassel was relaying the plan once more for Ben and Bashiq he repeated his words in a redundant fashion. As he was going to be leaving with his brother, sister and mother. So very soon Ben and Bashiq would not be able to understand each other. At least not with words anyhow.

The plan was pretty simple. Let Naqib and his goons come in, Ben goes and takes on Naqib, while Kimiko and the rebel fighters take on his goons. As an added incentive for them to come in the three Syrian supes Ramil, Alsakhan and Sarab were to be used as bait. The three of them were nervous and for good reason. They may have powers, but they're inexperienced with them. They were even afraid to hug their families goodbye.

Ben turned into Fourarms and was breaking and moving rocks around. He did this to give little cover to the attackers, and put much of the rocks on top of two ledges. So when would Ben take the fight with Naqib elsewhere the Syrian rebels could do some controlled explosions to make sure nobody followed them.

As Ben and the Syrian rebels prepare for the battle Kimiko goes to Elena who just helped one of the last civilians leave. She brings her to one of the above the the ground. She then begins to her and inside the cave. "Stay here." Elena nods. "Got it." She adds then takes a deep breaths as the fear finally sets in.

Sensing her fear Kimiko kneels down and hugs her, tight but not to tight. Pulling back she grabs the young girls shoulders and gives a look that says. 'It's gonna be ok.' Before signing that she will be back and going back down.

Sun was starting to set.

New York City, at a random Street

A man with his hood up wearing a jean jacket was walking out of a convenient store with a burner phone. Opening it and tossing the box in an over flowing street garbage bin her began dialing a number. After several rings someone picked up.

With Annie

Annie was getting ready for her interview with for this YouTuber when she gets a call. She's wearing regular clothes as this is not a Vought sponsored interview. It's a number she does not recognize, but she answers it. "Hello."

"Annie."

"Hughie!" Annie exclaims surprised.

"I uh I just I." Hughie tried to speak, but Annie immediately hung up.

With Hughie

Hughie sighed as he heard the call end. Should he have expected it to go well? Looking around to see if anyone was watching he threw the phone in a garbage truck making it's rounds and continued walking. Some noticed, but it was New York, most people didn't care unless it affected them.

Back with Annie

As Annie sat down in the chair next to the host. A Caucasian man with auburn hair and a laid back attitude named Justin Dwyer. (OC I made up) "Hey ya ready?" He asks with a seemingly charming smile.

"Um I uh." Annie tried to answer, but was interrupted by her mother.

"She's fine, she's a star one time power went out at a pageant and she lit up the room." Donna January butted in with a smile. "Literally, 'The show must go on' she said." She added with pride in her daughter and in herself.

Annie fake smiled and added. "Yeah we're all good here."

Justin smiled and signaled to one of his cameramen. "Ok then we're going live on all platforms in 30 seconds."

Syria

Naqib, as what's inscribed on his chest, is walking up the trail to Bashiq's camp. With him were dozens of other Syrians that believed in his cause, or at least his power. Naqib instructed Bashiq to bring down Ramil, Alsakhan and Sarab or he'll kill them all. Nobody would be foolish enough to question his authority, especially now! Right?

As he walked to where Bashiq's camp was supposed to be he saw it was abandoned. So he tried to run. Perhaps he could track him?

WHOOOOOOSH... BLAM!

An explosion from an RPG cause them all to freeze, this was quickly followed by machine gun and small arms fire. Immediately several of Naqib's fighters went down, specifically the ones closest to him. He was also getting hit with bullets, but they were ineffective.

Before Naqib could do anything in response he noticed a green flash to his left. Turning all he saw was a fireball coming straight at him, barely even seeing Heatblast shooting at him for a tackle. With an "umph" Naqib and Heatblast just flew straight across away from the fighting. They flew towards the passage that as planned and as planned Bashiq's fighters blew the sides so the rocks Four Arms piled block it.

As Bashiq rebel fighters were shooting from their positions Kimiko stayed back and fired a gun as well. She could easily take them on, but per protocol of not exposing the world of possible supe terrorists should they shoot her and see her revive word could spread fast. Still every Bullet she took is one less for someone else to take, and thanks to Shining Light she knew how to use a gun.

With Ben

Heatblast was still flying in a tackle position against Naqibs torso. Finally having Naqib self detonated, blowing them both. Heatblast blew back, tumbling on the ground a bit as did Naqib in the opposite direction. Both quickly got up.

Naqib then spoke. "Ajnabi."(A/N Arab term for Westerners) with disgust.

"End of the line pal." Heatblast said, as he threw a fireball at Naqib who tried to run at him. When it hit Naqib reeled back from the hit, stunned slightly. Heatblast then ran at him and delivered left and right cross, then kicked him while doing a backflip. As he landed he crouched down, pulled his hands back, turning them into fists and thrusted them vigorously forward, unleashing a stream of fire at the Syrian Supe.

As Naqib was blown into the side of a rock wall, Heatblast stood up and clapped his hands as if he was dusting them off. "That wasn't so tough." He said, but as the smoke cleared Ben saw Naqib's form was still standing, just smoking and his pants were miraculously on. But strangely not his shoes? (Boys does a really good job with details such as how Translucent can only be invisible without clothes, but in this case I don't want Ben to fight him naked. Weird enough for me when I had to have him face against Jack from Jupiter) "I spoke too soon didn't I." Ben said to himself.

Naqib was fuming and prepared his body for self detonation. Only I stead of a large explosion he somehow managed to focus the energy in his hands and somehow aimed it all at Heatblast. Quick to react Ben jumped out the way, but when the energy hit ground where he just was he was still blown away. Literally!

"Ok." Heatblast spoke as he shook his head to get rid of the dizzy spell he was suffering from after that. "This is going to be tougher than I expected." He added as he turned back to Naqib, who was gritting his teeth as he prepared another attack.

As he let loose another blast shot, Heatblast shot himself up in the air to avoid it and threw crescent flames at him.

With the Syrian Rebels

At Bashiq's camp things were going well for Bashiq's men, despite being outnumbered. Defending was much easier on this type of terrain and like Obi-Wan Kenobi in Revenge of the Sith they held the high ground. So any of Naqib's supporters had a tough time aiming their guns, meanwhile Bashiq's rebels could fire from cover. Using an asortment of weapons, the famous AK-47, bolt action rifles From possibly before WW2, Machine guns that were antiques in WW2, grenades, even rocks. One was even throwing land mines upside down like frisbees, so they would detonate once they hit the ground.

Despite all this the rebels still suffered losses, and there was less of them than their enemies. Not to mention they all knew each other very closely, so each loss was like losing a family member for many. But they fought on. Guns shooting, shrapnel flying, rocks flailing, smoke and dust rising, and bodies falling.

This went on, seemingly for hours and it seemed like it could go on forever. Though it was only a matter of time before Naqib's men ran out of bodies or Bashiq's fighters ran out of ammo. But after suffering heavy losses in the dozens, probably a hundred even, Naqib's supporters began pulling back. Soon the cracking and flashing of guns firing began fading and becoming less frequent. Until finally it stopped.

Bashiq and his rebels kept their guns aimed forward just in case it was a ploy to lower their guard, or perhaps they were organizing another assault. But after several tense moments people began to breath sighs of relief as they felt they were safe... for the moment.

Distant Explosion

All eyes turned in one direction, where they saw a large burst of flames. No doubt where Ben and Naqib were fighting.

Mediterranean Sea

In the Mediterranean Sea, east of the divided island of Cyprus an American Aircraft Carrier in a task force of several ships centered around the USS Quincy Adams (An Aircraft Carrier I made up) a sailor was reading scans from drones in the area. Because of the darkness and terrain it was hard for planes to do recon over the mountainous Syrian region, but several drones were able to detect heat signatures.

This sailor was comparing images from ones less than an hour old. In one area (Where Ben and Naqib are fighting) the red soared, indicating their was either a lot of bodies in one concentrated area or a huge explosion occurred. Typing in his computer he reduced the scans to minutes apart. Showing different patterns of red each time. So either a crazy fire was going on or something else?

"Ma'am we have something in sector." Lists off a code indicating where the area was. "There seems to be a very large and strange anomaly." The sailor speaks the CO who was in charge of overseeing this area of the ship when came over to see the scans

It was the CO's Adjutant. A scrawny sailor who just ran from the top of the deck. "Sir, uh ma'am you gotta see this." He says, before gesturing to follow him, ignoring basic protocol to salute. Which was strange because the CO knew him to be a man who follows everything to the letter.

As she got onto the deck the ship she was on had it's port facing Syria. If there was sunlight one could see the land. "Ma'am." The adjutant said, finally saluting and giving her a pair of binoculars before directing her sights. "It'll happen any second now." He tells her.

The CO was looking and started getting annoyed with this as she saw nothing but shapes of the regions mountains and hill. Then suddenly a stream of fire shot up. "The fuck?" She asked as she tried to zoom in, but they were still just too far. There was then another burst of flames or explosion, tiny in the distance, but huge enough that even without the binoculars one could see the flames in the distance.

"I thought it could be an explosion, but it's too irregular." The adjutant spoke. "Ma'am." Salutes.

The CO puts the binoculars down and turns to him. "Get me the Admiral." She orders.

USS Quincy Adams Admiral quarters

"Yes I understand we need to check it out, but it's to risky to send out our planes." The Admiral says to the CO over a radio while looking at what she was looking at. "And without a viable threat or orders from higher up we have no authority to fly planes in their air space."

"Admiral, Sir it could be an enemy munitions dump, and if it is then there could be more. Plus there's some chatter about ISIS activity in the area. May we at least do reconnaissance just to see?" The CO requests.

"Very well. Take 2 choppers, land some men but under no circumstances must they engage." The Admiral tells her. "Last thing we need is FOX News blasting crap again, and they do that enough."

"Yes sir." The CO responds, grateful her commanding officer allowed her to survey the situation.

Soon Navy Seals were gearing up on two other ships, each with a helipad that had a chopper on it. Each one carrying 6 men who would land on the ground, the pilots, plus to more who would stay on the sides as extra eyes and fire support. They then took off.

With Ben and Naqib

The battle was going in circles. Literally.

Heatblast was riding a fire ball shooting flames at Naqib, that either missed or did little. While Naqib fired concentrated explosions at Hearblast that he avoided while flying around him. Ben then decided to fly straight towards him on an angle going down. Naqib saw this and concentrated his energy into a powerful blast, but didn't unleash it until he though it was time.

Heatblast was getting closer and closer, but Naqib still decided to wait as he focused the blast energy. Then when there was about several meters or more between them he fired. But Ben dodged by deactivating fireball he was riding on, before he tucked and rolled under it, missing him and hitting a bunch of rocks in the distance. As he reached a crouching position just a couple of feet away from Naqib, Hearblast fire breathed him. At close range Naqib had to close his arms and back up from the intense heat. But he started building up power for a self detonation attack, which manifested seconds later. Blasting Ben back into the rocks.

As Heatblast shook his head while using the rock wall behind him for support, Naqib charged at him and began choking him. "Yamut khinzir 'amrikiun." He says.

"You know I'd have a better comeback if I KNEW WHAT YOU WERE SAYING!" Heatblast said as he was trying to get him to let go. Unbeknownst to him the Omnitrix glowed slightly.

"I said die American pig." Naqib repeatedly, but he suddenly seemed to be speaking in English.

"Well if I'm a pig you're a-" Ben's eyes widen. "Wait I understood you?" Unknown to him he was also now speaking Arabic.

Naqib didn't let that distract him though and began charging up for another self detonation. "Oh crud." Heatblast said, then, kinda like Iron Man, he used his hands and feet as rocket propulsion systems and shot up. But despite his initial surprise Naqib managed to hold on to him, via his leg. So Heatblast had to kick him off, just seconds before he detonated.

Boom

But the blast still hit him.

With the Navy Helicopters

As the two navy helicopters were making their way for the Syrian mainland the pilots saw something akin to a rocket shooting up. "Incoming!" The pilot shouts thinking it's an enemy missile or some other defense. But then it blows a distance away from them. "The fuck was that?!" The pilot in the other helicopter exclaims. "Do we keep going?"

"Affirmative, until we receive orders otherwise we proceed." The pilot of the leading chopper says.

They soon land on a flat area, suitable for helicopters to land. Soon both were emptied and the ranking officer began rounding up men. After selecting several men to guard the LZ (Landing Zone) they men headed for the location of those explosions.

With The Rebel Fighters

Boom

Elena, Kimiko, Bashiq and his fighters looked up and saw an explosion and two figures falling. Kimiko turns to Elena and signs 'Think he's ok?' Which was answered with another distant and visible burst of flames, followed up by an explosion. All were watching this, including Ramil (Sand), Alsakhan (Geyser) and Sarab (Mirage). Elena and Kimiko both looked concerned, things seemed to be getting intense. Elena then went up the three Syrian supes and said. "You have to help him!" She requested urgently then struggled to remember the Arab word for 'Help'. "Yusaeid." She tells them. "Him!" Points to another explosion that's happening where Ben and Naqib are fighting.

Everyone of the fighters turns to Bashiq, their leader. His say was the one that counted the most. "Eindama badana alnidalu, waeudna bi'anana lan nakun madinin li'ahad siwaa 'anfusina. Walakina alan nahn madinun lahum, daeuna nusadid lahum." He said, readying his Kalashnikov.

With Ben

Both Heatblast and Naqib were slowly getting up from that last blast. "Ok how do you still have pants. Not complaining just wanna know." Heatblast asked, generally curious.

Naqib just started going towards Heatblast again. "Die American pig." He said again.

"You know I liked it better when I couldn't understand you." The pryonite replies as he gets back up into a standing position. "At least then you sounded original." He added as he formed a sphere a fire and shot a stream of flames at him.

Naqib crossed his arms as he dug his feet and withstood the attack. Then began charging for another self detonation. So Ben pointed his palms forward and used the propulsion to fly back. As he avoided the blast, he launched himself up and forward. "Raaaaah!" With a shout he came down diagonally at Naqib with a right punch to his face. Then spinning around he swung a left, before pointing his palms forward and shooting flames out of them like the jets of a plane and flying back. And out of range, just as Naqib charged up for another explosion.

And like before Heatblast launched himself up towards Naqib and formed a fire tornado that he sent to Naqib. However Heatblast flew up and dove in the middle of the tornado at Naqib, riding a fireball like a surfboard. During this his created another fireball, but this one was a lot more concentrated. At the same time Naqib for another blast.

Time seemed to slow as Heatblast got closer, and closer... and closer... until finally their attacks met.

BOOM

A huge explosion occurred and anyone nearby would've been obliterated. Luckily nobody was... yet.

With the Navy Seals

The Seals were nearing the area of interest when they saw an explosion and heard a distant boom. They froze in surprise. They then saw a much larger explosion and heard a much louder boom. "Take cover!" The Commander ordered.

(A/N Being part of the Navy they have different ranks than say the US Army or Marines, but unfortunately I am not familiar with those ranks and the order. My apologies.)

And they did. Getting behind nearby rocks they took cover just in time as the remnants of the shockwave past by them. Had they not taken cover, they likely would've just stumbled as someone walking on the street with their jacket open in some strong winds. (Almost fell down a few times)

The CO peaked up from his rock and after a few seconds deemed it safe. Though there was a new anomaly now. Before there were bursts of fire or explosions every few seconds. Now nothing. "Keep moving." He orders.

Scene Cut

The group of 8 Navy Seals, with 4 more back at the LZ, were near the area of interest. As they rounded a few more large rocks they could see, what can only be described as, a small wasteland. With the weapons hot and at the ready they looked as smoke was rising from the ground. One even saw a large rock that was burnt on one half and completely unscathed on the other.

They then saw a Red Flash in the smoke and they all aimed their guns. A few even knelt down. They then heard a groan and saw a figure stumble in the smoke, before hearing it cough. "Note to self: Never do that again." They heard an American sounding voice say.

As the figure stepped out of the smoke some distance away he saw them and he went wide eyed. "Crud."

"A kid!" One Marine exclaimed in surprise.

One then saw his wrist and recognized the insignia. "HOLY SHIT! That's Shifter!"

Before anything could be discussed further another figure began rising from the ground. "Move! RUN!" Ben shouted as Naqib came into view shouting an Arabic swear.

"Contact!" One Seal shouted and they began firing at him. But the bullets from their rifles didn't do anything, as if they were shooting a tank with a maxim machine gun.

Soon Naqib began glowing for another self detonation. "Huriq fi Alhaqiqa!" He shouted, just before a stinger missile blaster Naqib back, as well as Ben and the Seals.

"Fuck! FUCK!" One Seal exclaimed in shock as the blast sent some rock fragments into his leg.

"Go go go!" The 2nd in command ordered, and one other Seal lifted the wounded Sailor/Soldier and they began to fall back. Meanwhile the Seal paced backwards while aiming their rifles to give cover.

"THE FUCK WAS THAT!?" One shouted.

"Questions later, actions now SO MOVE YOUR ASSES!" The CO ordered as they watch several rockets be launched into in the area where Naqib was thrown as well as shots from AK-47's as well as an assortment of other weapons. Because of the stinger missiles his detonation was activated prematurely, though he wasn't injured.

Naqib again emerged from the smoke as bullets were pinging off of him like rain drops. The Seals also opened fire, but being only equipped for reconnaissance they brought no heavy weaponry with them. Just rifles and grenades.

"Come on. COME ON!" Ben urged as he smacked the Omnitrix hoping to start it up again. All while Naqib was on a warpath towards Ben, with the bullets doing absolutely NOTHING to stop him. "Crud." Ben said as he ran in a different direction, hoping to get away from him while also leading him away from anyone. Naqib also began running at a faster speed than Ben was.

As he was within a few meters of Ben, Kimiko came out of nowhere and tackled Naqib to the ground. The two supes rolled in the ground for a moment before Kimiko got up and kicked him. Then she picked him up by his head began slamming his face on a rock repeatedly. Even creating a small outline of his head on it.

Naqib in turn charged up a small detonation, that blasted Kimiko off of him. As she stumbled back Naqib got up and began charging up another blast and used his hands to aim it at her. She dove out of the way just in time. The Navy Seals then threw several grenades that landed near him and predictably they did nothing when they detonated. Except make Naqib even more angry, as well as the bullets hitting his body.

"Now would be a good FUCKING time for you to turn into something!" A Navy Seal said, reloading his weapon.

"Not done recharging." Ben tells him.

"That thing runs on batteries?" Another questioned.

"I don't know, it didn't come with a manual." Ben replies still trying to get the watch to work.

As Naqib began charging for another self detonation he was hit by a stream of water. Turning people saw Alsakhan (Geyser) firing streams of water from his hands. Naqib was being hit with the equivalent force of two fire hoses. But Naqib was soon able to focus and hold his ground and charged for another concentrated blast. Kimiko managed to tackle Alsakhan (Geyser) out the way as he was paralyzed with fear.

Then a wave of sand hit Naqib from the side, surprising him more than hurting. Turning he saw Ramil (Sand) sloppily try to gather sand for another attack. He then sent it like a wave at Naqib, simply crossed his arms and began charging.

Elena, who nearby with him, threw a rock to get his attention. He turned and she said. "Do this." Before mimicking something she saw on Avatar: The Last Airbender where an earth/sand bender would drag their hand towards the from a downward position at their target. Ramil (Sand) did this and the result was a more concentrated stream of sand at Naqib's chest that caused him to stumble back and lose his charge.

Alsakhan (Geyser) then blasted him again, only this time the water blast was much more stream lined and powerful. This is cause Alsakhan had rotated his wrists outward so the back of his hand was pointed down. Like the rotation of his wrists increased or decreased the pressure. So much so that when the hit Naqib he was thrown back to a rock, and when he got out of the way and the water was still going. The water cut the rock like butter.

Ben meanwhile was still trying to get the Omnitrix to work, as he, the Seals got behind cover where Bashiq's rebels were. Only now nobody was firing since it was painfully obvious they only heavy weapons would even be able to dent Naqib. Including Sarab whose powers, while useful, couldn't pack a punch. At least not without some other element. "Come on." Ben urged while smacking it.

boom

A small explosion was heard that blasted back Ramil (Sand) and Alsakhan (Geyser), though they quickly got back up.

"Let me try." Elena said as she came by and pounded the faceplate of the watch with the bottom of her fist. And like magic it lit up green. "See."

"Hero Time." Ben said as he searched for the alien he wanted. "Come on Four Arms." He prayed as he slapped it down.

And in a green flash Ben now had the appearance of a mechanical humanoid in a mostly with and with black accents, outfit, with the exception of his head and shoulders being a bluish-purple color with black spots. His eyes are green and he has four fingers on each white gloved hand, which are equipped with green and white vambraces and arm length black sleeve covers. Along with nozzles or openings in multiple places. He has a window on his stomach that seems to be full of a cloud of gas. And the Omnitrix symbol on what appears to be some kind of gas mask in front of his mouth.

"What tha?" Ben said in a sort of Brooklyn accent as he looked himself over. "New guy? Now!? Just great." He said frustrated.

"Yo pal, ain't ya gonna do somethin'?" One of the Seals asked, a little nervous by the fact that he could die.

"Look wise guy, I don't know how they do things wherever youse from, but in case you ain't been payin' attention, I don't know what dis guy can do." Ben tries to reason as they hear the battle raging. "For all I know I can kill ya like dat." He emphasizes by snapping a finger, but doing so he accidentally leaks out some sort of gas cloud. Right into the Seal, who immediately began tearing up.

"The Fuck! What is that?" He asked.

"Sulfur Dioxide." Ben answered casually, before raising his eyes. "How'd I know dat?"

"Has to be the alien instinct in you." Elena theorizes.

"So this guy just shoots the gas from his gut?" The Seal Team Leader questions.

"Gutrot... Not a bad name. Goin' with that." Ben said then look over to Naqib. "And I got an idea how to stop our explodey friend."

"Good."

"One problem, I gotta get close." Gutrot told the Seal leader. "And even if we use his illusion powers he might still hear me, not like I'm designed for stealth."

"I got an idea." Elena said.

"Shoot." Gutrot replied.

"We make some noise." Elena said.

"With what, a boombox?" Gutrot asked.

"How about a pair of Chopper's?" The Seal leader suggested.

"That could woirk." Gutrot agreed. "Call dem over."

"Yo Tech!" The Seal leader called out.

"Yes sir!"

"Radio the choppers, tell them we need a fly by and to make a lot of noise. Gonna be pretty close to the action." The leader told him.

"How close sir?" The Navy Seal, nicknamed Tech, asked.

"As close as possible! I want them to see our asses if we moon them!" The leader urged.

Tech did just that and relayed their location. Then said. "Two minutes out!"

"We gotta keep TNT man occupied till then. Shouldn't be too hard." Gutrot said.

Meanwhile Ramil (Sand) got blown back by a blast from Naqib. Fortunately he created a sand wall which absorbed a good portion of the force, but it still wasn't strong enough to stop him.

"Maybe not." Gutrot said as he saw that Alsakhan was alone. He turned to Sarab and said. "Hey duplicate him." He points to Alsakhan.

The Syrian illusion Supe didn't understand english so he just stared. "Anyone of youse a translator?"

One Seal was and relayed Gutrot's message to Sarab (Mirage). Who nodded and got up and extended his hand, and suddenly Alsakhan (Geyser) multiplied. Confusing Naqib who charged himself up for a self detonation to eliminate them all at once. Alsakhan saw them and pointed his hands downward at an angle, before unleashing two jets of water. Launching himself back and out of range, though the landing was rough, as he tumbled and rolled for several moments.

"30 Seconds!" Tech called out.

"Make it dark." Gutrot ordered Sarab (Mirage) to do, which the SEAL translated in Arabic. "And start shooting again, a little extra noise will help." And soon the SEAL's and the Syrians started firing their weapons as Sarab (Mirage) created a black cloud around Naqib. "Show time!" Gutrot said as he jumped over the rocks and ran into the cloud.

Just then the helicopters started to be heard, masking his hulking footsteps and getting Naqib's attention. Who tried to unleash a concentrated blast at the machines but missed, unintentionally solving Gutrot's problem of finding him in the dark. This allowed Gutrot to catch him by surprise when he said. "Night night." Before extending his arms and unleashing two cloud streams of gas at him.

Before Naqib could fully turn around he breathed it in and soon passed out. Despite the V in his system. Gutrot kept this up until he was sure Naqib wouldn't be able to get up for a while. After which he stepped out of the black cloud with a thumbs up. "We good now." He told them.

A short while later the SEAL leader was staring at a passed out Naqib and asked. "What did you hit him with?"

"A mixture of stuff really. Mostly anesthetics. Midazolam, Halothane, Nitrous Oxide plus some other stuff." Gutrot lists off on his fingers.

"Now what?" Elena asks.

"Not sure." Ben says as he scratches his head. "Raynor?" He suggested.

"Not like this is gonna stay quiet." Elena said, gesturing to the camera's on the soldiers helmets.

"This some sort of secret mission thing?" The SEAL leader asked.

"Yup." Gutrot answered honestly. "Vought made this guy so they can put scum like Homelander here to do your job."

"Homelander made this guy?" One SEAL, who was a Homelander fan asked in disbelief. "No way gotta be lying."

The SEAL leader looked at Gutrot, Elena, then Kimiko (who had to take cover during the fight) as well as the other Syrian Rebels. "Tech, can you erase the footage on the cameras."

Tech looked at him. "Sir?" He questioned, not believing what he heard.

"Delete any and all footage the camera's on our helmets recorded. Choppers too." He repeats before gesturing to the Helicopters with gun camera's. "Replace it with some other shit, we found ISIS or the fuck and fought them." Then turns to the rest of his unit. "Anyone got a problem with that?"

"No sir." Was the collective response

"I'll have it done in 10 minutes." Tech then began doing as ordered and replacing all the helmet camera footage with doctored images. No self detonating supe, no Gutrot, just them firing at Darkness and blurred images.

"Guess we'll take dis guy." Gutrot said as he was about to pick up the unconscious Naqib. He throws him over his shoulder and begins walking. "See ya." Gives a two finger salute as they all begin to leave.

Scene Cut

Gutrot, who just dosed Naqib with some more knockout gas, layed him on the ground before turning to Kimiko and Elena. They were now on the coast waiting for a CIA boat to pick up Naqib then they can head back to the USA. "You sure dis is the right place right?" Ben asked as he looked over the water. It was nearing midnight and they had a long day.

"Yes I'm sure." Elena said as she looked on the GPS on her phone. It was a section of coast that the Syrian regime could only patrol occasionally as it made them easy targets for any enemy ships. North of Bāniyās and south of Ǧabla (Jableh in English).

Kimiko then whistled as she pointed to two sea planes coming in. They landed, then a short while later a couple of CIA operatives on a boat came over. "Your gas better be as good as mine." Gutrot quipped as he handed over Naqib to the operatives who placed a mask around his face that was attacked to a tank that would constantly fill his body with the custom knockout gas for several hours.

Ben then changed back to human while a second boat was coming to take them to a plane, that was to take them to a base where they could be escorted home. While the plane carrying Naqib was sent in a different direction.

America

CIA Building

Madelyn Stillwell had been waiting for hours now for this meeting. Dumb government, never gets stuff done on time. Until finally the door to the conference room opened and Lilly Choi stepped out. Ben's lawyer ally, this caused Stillwell to sit up in surprise.

"Thank you so much for your time Mrs. Raynor, and sorry for going over, but it's important to my client that every criteria is being met. This is very important to him. A small slip up and he'll just explode." Lilly spoke with BS facts in order to seem like they concluded an official meeting rather than do a sort of filibuster.

"Believe me when it comes to the US government there's plenty of people like that." Raynor said keeping up with the ruse. They then shook hands and parted way. "Miss Stillwell, sorry I kept you waiting." Raynor says not meaning she's sorry, after turning to the Vought Executive.

"Well let's get started shall we." Stillwell said as she started to step towards the conference room.

"Oh no no no." Raynor said with a smug look. "We have a special room reserved for you."

Scene cut

Stillwell was now in what can be passed for an interrogation room. Only a single door in or out, a single light bulb shined at the table, which had a metal foldable chair for Stillwell. "What is this, Law & Order?"

"No, it's you're fucked." Raynor said.

"I'm afraid I'm not following." Stillwell replied, with confusion.

"You and your corporation are fucked." Raynor said. "Unequivocally, ultimately, unilaterally fucked." She added. "How was that? Is that clearer for you?" She asked.

Before Stillwell could reply, Raynor continued. "I'm just gonna get to the point cause this isn't some hit Amazon Prime show, or cartoon, or some fucked up fanfiction. For the last half century, you have been feeding the American people the lie that your superheroes are chosen by God." Chuckles. "I mean, I get it. Jamming illegal drugs into babies' arms... I mean, that doesn't quite have the same ring."

Stillwell gulped, thinking they didn't know that much "I don't know-"

"And that's not even the worst part." Raynor continued. "Trying to create terrorists, now that is just... (exhales to mimic an explosion) mind blowing in every bad way."

"Now that's just ridiculous." Stillwell says, pretending to be amused.

"Well what about her?" Raynor says putting a picture of Kimiko, one where just after Frenchie freed her.

"I've never seen that woman before she, and Shifter's little gang attacked out tower." Stillwell replied.

"Fair point." Raynor accepts. "You probably have so much illegal shit going on it's hard enough. Not like you can hire Nannie's like you do for your Build-a-baby."

"Now look-" Stillwell tried to counter.

"Shut the fuck up you blonde piece of corporate dog shit." Raynor spat. "Cause we also have this guy now." Throws a couple of still images of Naqib, one of him against US soldiers and another of him incapacitated with a mask to deliver a gas in his system. "Didn't work by the way. So you're gonna stop trying to get your assholes in the military and we're gonna go with the status quo where we're the government and you're just the assholes who keep getting their assess kicked by a frickin' ten year old who doesn't even know Turkey (Türkiye) is a country." She concludes as Stillwell is shocked by these findings.

Raynor gets up and walks out. "Now get the fuck out this building." She says as she leaves.

With Annie

"So let me get this straight." Justine Dwyer said as Annie answered the last question. "You ran into Shifter at the Believe Expo? But you didn't know him."

"Well he was... human then. And until the other day Shifter was just random aliens, I thought it might've just been a hero team of different aliens." Annie said.

"And that Vought Tower showdown with Vilgax, can you put up some footage, yeah there." Justin requested and on screen people saw selected clips of the fight against Vilgax. "Be honest how scared were you."

"I was terrified." Annie answered bluntly. "I mean this was the toughest person we all faced easily. And if we failed, who knows how many people he could've hurt." In the distance Annie's mom Donna was smiling.

"So you were scared for you and the civilians?" Justin wanted to clarify.

"I was scared I wasn't gonna be able to do what I came here to do, save people." Annie said truthfully.

Justin nodded and there was a moment of silence. "Now I have to ask something and it's gonna be kinda personal."

"Taking it easy on me so far Justin?" Annie joked.

"It's about your boyfriend, Hugh Campbell." He said and tension filled the room. "Do you think he was using you?" Tension. "To you know get dirt or maybe secrets."

Tension.

"I'm... not sure." Annie answered honestly. "When I met Hughie I was at a really vulnerable place, and he gave me some... damn good advice." She said recalling that day on the bench. "And things seemed to happen at random. Next time I saw him was the race and we started going out and it was... normal."

"Is that why maybe you ignored any signs?" Justin asked. "Cause it all felt normal."

Annie thinks back. "That's the thing there weren't any." She answers. "I mean it was just normal date stuff, bowling, bar trivia, I was surrounded by fake people and he was the only one that was real." She adds.

"Do you think your relationship with him allowed Shifter, Chimera and Vilgax to..."

"Enough." Annie said finally having it. "Enough. All right I have no fucking idea if he was using me or not. Maybe he was, maybe he wasn't. But you weren't there. Just like you weren't there when Ben was the one who told us how to beat Vilgax. So don't fucking accuse me of being an idiot or whatever cause I'm not. Powers or no powers we make mistakes and I'm done taking people's shit just for being myself and being forced to do shit interviews and commercials." She gets up and starts to leave.

As she passes by her him she says. "What will your friends think of that?" Leaving her mother shocked.

Anika's Apartment

Anika came inside to her apartment hoping to see it empty again. Instead she came upon Kimiko, Ben and Elena asleep in her kitchen eating pizza. "Want a slice?" Ben asked, holding up a slice.

"Uhhhhh what have you guys been doing?" Anika asks.

They suddenly recall their trip to Syria, their time in Syria, and finally their trip back. Where instead of taking a long and complex trip back, Ben went Upgrade as soon as he could and hijacked the plane and got them to New York City. Best part no jet lag.

"Do you really want to know?" Elena asked.

"Probably shouldn't." Anika says as she walks to the couch. "Did you get what you wanted from Maeve?" She questions as she sits down.

"No, something came up. Vought created a Supe terrorist in Syria." Ben told her.

"What!?" Anika asks in shock.

"Ben!" Elena says. "We can't tell anyone."

Ben shakes his head. "All bets are off now." He says with conviction. "Later we go to Maeve's, find a weakness for Homelander." He adds. "Then we can take him down."

"That's gonna be impossible." Anika says. "All his records are locked tighter than Fort Knox."

"They said that about the moon. And next day Neil Armstrong and Buzz Lightyear were all, one small step for man." Ben countered.

"It was Buzz Aldrin, and it took years and a lot of money before they could get him to the moon." Elena said.

"But in the end they did it." Ben pointed out. "And who else would know what his weakness is besides Maeve. And we know how to get to her." Reminding them of what they were doing before they got the call from Raynor.

"So what's the plan?" Elena asked. "Ask her nicely?"

"Well we kidnap her lady friend first, we get the info, we don't harm her, you know classic stuff." Ben suggested.

"They'll track Maeve's movements." Elena points out. "And people will hear us, and you don't have a reputation for inflicting bodily hard on people." Pointing out the flaws.

"Fair point." Ben agrees.

Kimiko then signs about hacking the tracking chip so it places Maeve somewhere else. "It could work, but without Chip... I can't do it alone." Elena says, a little sad about being reminded of Chip.

The three then turn to Anika as she sips from her water bottle. "What?"

"How much to convince you to quit Vought and work for us?" Ben asks.

"Do you have that much?" Anika asks.

"Name your price." Elena says, having dealt with Ben's finances after he shared his accounts.

Scene cut

He did have that much. Now Anika and Elena are getting a program ready for the tracking chip. But first.

Hours later at Adult Elena's Apartment

Elena unlocked the door to her apartment and dropped her keys in a bowl by the door. She was carrying some groceries that she needed to make dinner. Then she was gonna try to watch something and NOT think about Maeve. Maybe Amazon Prime has something on?

"Hey how's it going?" She heard someone say.

Turning around in a panic Elena saw an Asian woman rush up to her and place her hand over her mouth. Elena tried to push away but it was like pushing against a concrete wall. She was a supe! The Asian women put a finger to her lips signaling Elena to be quiet.

The Asian woman then took her hand away and backed up. "You're Elena right?" The voice from before asked, and the Hispanic woman turned to the voice coming from the living room. "Name's Ben."

"You're Shifter." Elena pointed out.

"Just Ben. Or Ben 10." Ben corrected. "Let's skip the boring stuff and get to the point." He said as he grabbed her phone from the table she placed it on. "I know about you and Maeve, I need you to call her and get her to come here." Ben instructs.

"If I say no?" Elena asks in fear.

"I won't hurt you." Ben reassures. "Not how I roll. But I can make sure you never see your family again, also let Maeve know about this whole thing when I see her again."

"If you can go after her why do you need me?" Elena questions, as she looks at Kimiko who has gone to the kitchen to put the groceries away. Can't let good ice cream melt!

"Cause I want to ask her something and having a person she cares about is good leverage. Bad guys do it me and it works... until they break their end of the bargain." Ben tells her.

"I don't have her number." Elena tries to lie.

"No problem." Ben says with a smile. "We got you." Pulls out a slip of paper with Maeve's personal phone number. "Mind if I make a sandwhich?" He asks.

With Maeve

Queen Maeve was sitting on her couch smoking a vape as two men lay in her bed passed out. Just as she was puffing out a cloud of smoke her phone was ringing again. Looking at it she saw the caller i.d. was a number she didn't recognize. Picking it up she began talking. "Look if you're some fucking sales person-"

"Hey it's me." The voice of her ex-girlfriend said through the phone.

"Elena? How'd you get this number?" Maeve asks.

"I uh..." Elena stuttered.

"Look if this is about the other day?" Maeve asked.

"It's not. I want you to know that I'm ok and I'm not hurt." Elena began to say slowly and carefully. "Shifter, or Ben as he wants to be called said he isn't gonna hurt me." That sobered Maeve up. She dropped her vape pen and stood up. "He wants to to talk to you, come to my place, and if you don't he's gonna take me away somewhere. I don't know, just away from my parents, my sister... you. Come alone, wear something normal, not your Vought outfit. You'll find out when you get here." The phone call then ends.

The Amazonian supe then quickly goes to change then subtlety makes her way down and out of the tower.

Scene Cut

Maeve steps in Elena's apartment alert... for a supe who's been on a bender of sex partners, alcohol and drugs. She looks around but doesn't see anyone. But she see's a note on a table, she goes to it and on the note is a pill bottle. With only a single pill.

Go to the sink and drink it- Elena

It read with Elena's handwriting. Turning the not over was more words.

You need to be sober for this.

Maeve followed the instruction and went to the sink and swallowed the pill. The seemingly within moments she began hurling up the alcoholic contents in her stomach. Turns out that was some pill that reacts to alcohol like mints in a soda bottle. So Maeve sprayed what was in her stomach like a hose for several moments. Coughing she opened the fridge where she saw a water bottle with another note from Elena to drink it.

Taking a second to compose herself she noticed another note by the sink.

Keys in the bowl, drive to the meeting point, go to the roof. GPS is already set.- Ben

Maeve followed this and went to Elena's Lexus and began driving to the coordinates.

Vought

"What do you mean they stopped my plan?" Homelander asked incredulously. "What plan?" He laughed as he adjusted his cape and sat down.

Stillwell had come to Homelander's apartment at Vought tower and said that his plan was foiled. "The one where you sent Compound V to terrorists, who then became Super Terrorists and congress allows you in the military."

Homelander shakes his head. "Doesn't ring a bell."

"Allow me to fill in the details." Edgar said coming in unannounced. "Being incompetent man child that you are risked this company, and people's lives when you smuggled vials of Compound V all over the Middle East to terrorist groups. Only a single individual managed to survive with powers and now he's in government custody, along with a sample of Compound V, with leverage over us. Now we are being told what we can and can't, not to mention young Tennyson hasn't made an appearance since the brawl downstairs." Edgar said.

"Kid is probably just scared, or tired." Homelander guessed.

"Scared of what? I was there, he was human and he was challenging you." Edgar reminded. "The only thing stopping that kid from killing you... is himself. You'd do well to remember that." Turns to Stillwell. "Your days here are numbered, I hope you're aware of that." Then he leaves.

"How does he just show up like that?" Homelander asks.

"Regardless of what we think he's right." Stillwell said. "This kid has done a number on you and the Seven and he wasn't even trying to kill you. If-if he does." She added a little worried.

Homelander scoffed at that. "Come on, nothing can kill me." He says without worry.

With Maeve

Maeve walked through the doorway arriving at the roof of an old apartment building in a rundown part of New York. Someone bought the property, but had yet to do anything with it, it wasn't even renovated yet. Maeve started to look around for a note or something and eventually she saw Ben, as Four Arms holding up a tied up and gagged Elena on his should like a sack of flour or potatoes.

As Maeve's eyes widened in shock someone came at her on the side and put a cloth over her face. She quickly pushed off her assailant, Kimiko, but not before breathing in some of the substance. Suddenly she felt unbalanced and dizzy, making kneel down.

"The fuck." She gritted out.

"So this is how it's gonna go." Ben says. "You're gonna tell me what happened OR your Ex is gonna take a permanent Z." He threatened.

As Maeve tried to get up Ben continued. "Normally you'd might be able to get to her, probably even avoid me, but NOT us while you're like this

"What do you want?" Maeve said, as she stumbled down.

"The truth." Ben simply said.

"About what?" Maeve asked. "Vought? Stocks?"

"Whatever's got you all twisted inside that you couldn't look me in the eye before." Pause. "Something happened and it must be bad. So. Talk. Or else." Jostles the hostage Elena (Maeve's Ex-Girlfriend) who screams into the duck tape.

Maeve isn't buying it though. "Please. (She scoffs) You're not a killer. I know this is just an act-"

Ben pushed Elena (Maeve's Ex) over his shoulder so she slips down. Maeve realizing he's probably serious shouts. "HE KILLED THEM!"

Fourarms catches Elena (Maeve's Ex) with a quick reaction with his right lower arm. "Who?" He wants to know.

Maeve starts crying. "Please not in front of her." She begs.

"Keep talking or this will be the last time you see her." He threatens, meaning he'll hide Elena (Maeve's Ex), since not knowing where they are or how they are can hurt much worse.

"Flight 37." Maeve chokes out in a sob. "We got there before it crashed. (Sniffs) We saved them, but then Homelander screwed up, destroyed the controls." Pauses to breathe. "Didn't even try to lift the plane. Didn't let us save one... Not a single one." She wheezes.

Fourarms puts Elena (Maeve's Ex) safely on the roof "Didn't or wouldn't" He asks, wanting a clarification.

"Wouldn't." Maeve says as she starts sobbing, the guilt overwhelming her.

Fourarms turns back into Ben and walks over to her, as Kimiko free's Elena (Maeve's Ex) from her binds. How can I stop him?" He asks Maeve as he stands over her.

Maeve controls her sobsz "I (breathes in) don't (breathes) kn-n-n-now (she stutters)."

"But who would?" Wants to now.

"Vogglebaum maybe." Maeve says, then gulps. "He's a scientist, retired a while back. He cooked Homelander in a lab." Ben turns to Kimiko and jerks his head to the stairs as they walk away.

"What happens now?" Maeve wonders, not looking at him.

Ben stops and turns to her. "I'm gonna stop him."

Still looking at the ground Maeve asks another question. "And us?" Worrying about her safety and especially Elena's.

Ben looks to Maeve then Elena (Maeve's Ex) and says. "We'll see." Then walks away

When Ben leaves it's just Maeve and Elena (Maeve's Ex) on the roof staring at each other. Well Elena stares, Maeve can't look at her.

After a while Elena speaks up. "Is that why you" Refers to her coming to her place drunk on a whim. A traumatic experience is a big trigger for people to relapse. Especially when they aren't fully clean and sober.

Maeve nods. "I'm sorry. For all this shit. It's my fault." She apologizes, as she starts crying. The faces of those people on the plane coming back to her. And Despite what has transpired Elena opted to go an comfort her ex, as opposed to just leaving.

Scene Cut

Anika was driving her Prius away from the building, while Kimiko was in the passenger seat, Ben and Elena were in the back. During the ordeal Anika and Elena each took a laptop to redirect the chip for Maeve to show she was at Elena's (Maeve's Ex) apartment. So hopefully they would think she just went to hook up with an ex. And also showing Anika and her car was some late night coffee bar that computer nerds would hang out.

Nobody was talking.

"Now what?" Elena asks Ben who was looking at the window as they passed by buildings.

"We find Vogelbaum." Ben says simply.

Mediterranean Sea

"So you're FUCKING telling me that you can't explain that huge ass fireworks display that occurred last night." The admiral of the task force questioned the Navy Seals, who were on deck at attention. Apparently what had transpired was also seen from a distance by Russian soldiers. They had no idea of Naqib and Ben's fight, but they saw American helicopters flying, breaking international law (I think, not an expert. But everyone is breaking international law by not letting the Middle East govern themselves and bombing it to smithereens) and risking an international incident.

"Yes sir." The CO in charge of the Seal Team that was sent over responded.

"Bullshit." The admiral spits.

But before he can continue Several blacked out helicopters hover above them. One lowers a rope ladder carrying Dinah Madani. "Dinah Madani Military Police of the 110th, I'm taking these men into my custody, effective immediately by orders of the Secretary of the Navy. Interfere and we will charge you with obstruction." She says as she hands the admiral a paper explaining it. "You are to come with us immediately, my men are retrieving your personal effects, at this moment in time you are no longer part of the US Navy." She quickly says as they are forced to climb up the ladders.

In one of the choppers the CO climbs up and is surprised to see the Syrian rebel leader sitting in one of the seats. Soon Madani comes up and they sit across from each other.

"What's going on?" The former SEAL wants to know.

"Needed a cover to get you to come with us." Madani simply explains.

"Us?" He asks.

"G3." She replies.

"What about him? How'd you get him here?" He asks, referring to Bashiq.

"American Passports." Was the simple reply.

JFK

Bashiq's wife, two sons, and his daughter were departing from a plane along with other Syrians. However unlike most instead of having to go through customs and extra searches they presented their fully legal and approved US Passports to the TSA and government authorities.

G3 Base

"Sir Agent Madani has confirmed she has retrieved the people of interests and is making her way to the nearest base." A G3 soldier informed Solomon.

"Good, see to it our latest recruits accommodations are met when they arrive to the training facility." Solomon responded. "Then give me a detailed report on those 4 supes. From their strengths and weaknesses to their favorite food. And tell Madani she's going to need CIA credentials for her next assignment."

"On it sir." The G3 soldier saluted.

Solomon then pulls up the footage the recon squad took while they observed the fight from a distance. Previously they were dispatched to observe Naqib and report back, but ended getting more data on Shifter and several new supes.

"Someone at Vought is getting desperate." The voice of the hidden leader spoke from a separate screen. "We must ensure we are not." Solomon was ordered.

"Of course sir, I've already ensured Vought has know real concrete information they can us. Just unconfirmed rumors at best." Solomon reports.

"All false?" The leader asks skeptically.

"Some truth of course, but as you say." Solomon answered.

"Just cause it's the truth doesn't mean it's believable." The leader said. "Good work my old friend. Now keep an eye on young Tennyson's progress."

"Yes sir and pardon me, but I still feel strongly we should monitor him more closely." Solomon suggests, likely not for the first time.

"No." The leader rejects. "This isn't a normal target, not only is he of interest to multiple parties, but those parties are now interested in us, any of our spies, or surveillance teams may likely reveal more information to our enemies." He reasons. "Knowledge is power, and when it comes to power it is better for it to be in no hands, then the wrong ones."

"Our people are the best in the world." Solomon says with assurance.

"And the Germans thought their enigma code was the best in the world, yet it was being cracked before the war even began. Mussolini also thought his soldiers were the best when they invaded Greece in 1940. The Japanese thought they were better when they invaded China. Guess where that lead them?" The hidden leader questioned.

"They lost the war." Solomon answered, knowing the answer.

"Indeed. And in this war we CANNOT afford any slip ups." The leader concluded before he logged off.

Well what do you think? I hope it was worth the wait. I wanted to do something with Naqib since his presence influenced the political situation so much in the Boys series, but after after early season 2 they kinda forgot about. Like all news I guess. If you're frustrated by not knowing what the Arabic words mean that was intentional. Gives you a sense of what they might've felt, for all Ben, Elena and Kimiko knew they could've been sending them to ISIS.

So Ben is getting a little dark, that's to be expected. The man who's kinda been the trusting uncle figure lied about not killing a man/supe. So he's displacing the frustration on that to doing what he can, which is being a hero. Anika is part of the team now, I'm not entirely sure why I made that happened, I just liked it and thought 'eh they might need an expert hacker that's not a ten year old girl.'

For those of you wondering why Elena Validus is so chill, it's cause I'm not sure how to write the reaction of a kid seeing her mom's head blown off from the reflection of metal. I know the usual first step is kind of denial and suppressing emotions but that's not gonna last forever. So if any of you are like psychological experts it would be nice if you can send me some material. If not, no problem.

Also Gen-V made a small appearance, what did you think of that? My co-writer Star Saber21 and I already have something in the works for that. Though it's not gonna be for a while. They have been such a great help, a lot of the VNN reports you read, they do like a minimum of 90% of each one. I tweak it a little, but it's small stuff. There's other portions of the story to, especially the character dialogue, like Butcher's conversation with Kevin when he freed him, also Raynor's with Kevin.

Gutrot made an appearance! What? Yeah, I know people were waiting for a new alien so here is one, and from Omniverse to. I kinda liked it, classic was best, that's why I'm using it, but Omniverse could've good had they just focused more on quality of the show rather than... whatever it was they were focusing on. I hope you liked him, but fyi no more new aliens until at least we get to the end of season 1 of Boys timeline.

Not rally sure how I did with those Navy Seals, other than TV stuff I'm not sure how they operate. Of course that applies for any branch of military I put in so.

I hope I did a good job describing all the fight scenes, and stuff. Not exactly a Syrian topographical expert, also I don't where American, Russian, ISIS, or Syrian Regime bases are. I also kind of took that rebel base situation from other stuff, you know like Star Wars and the Afghan fighters in Rambo III. Syrians are a great people, they, like other countries in the Middle East, just keep getting screwed by either the Russians, French, British and Americans. Putin guy in place who flattened the country and dropped poison gas on his own people. How messed up is that? Politics aside, that's just wrong.

Anyway I hope you enjoyed it, please review and keep it respectful. Have a nice day/night. And next chapter is gonna be a doozy. Not to give anything away, but it's gonna involve another big fight, and quite a bit of blood.