"Before I started here, I wondered to myself... 'What's so interesting about History anyway'?"
"Legends, myths, and tales... Many ways to unfold the past."
A lack of light is all that filled the frame, along with the echoing sounds of distant water droplets landing on stones. Stones that have remained undisturbed, for nearly a millennia.
"Countless stories, scattered and buried, waiting to be told again."
The ground progressively quakes. The earthly sound along with intense vibrations continue to rise, akin to an earthquake.
"I'm here to show you, our world's not the only one rich in history..."
A wall of dirt comes tumbling down onto the cave, casting the blinding light of the twin suns onto the subterranean system.
A large silhouette covers half of the blinding puncture. The Talpaedan steps forward, allowing the green glow of the Omnitrix symbol to shine in.
Title Card
Armadrillo begins to cough a lot the moment a bowl's worth of dust hits his face, falling from the rocks above.
"Oh, man." He coughs. "Classes don't prepare anyone enough for all the dirt you end up munching out here..." One final, loud sneeze is released.
A group of small, tailless, lemur-like creatures dressed in expeditionary outfits come out from behind him. The oldest steps forward:
"We must be careful not to cause any more harm to this cave system. This canal must have been used by our ancestors for generations, who knows how long this section has been sealed up." The elder Monóterra spoke.
A younger member of the group steps in. "We are ignoring the fact that this area is completely uncharted. How will we find our way to the temple?" He asked, skeptical.
Ben: "We'll know that in a second." They step inside the cave, and inspect the structural resilience of it.
One of the Monóterrans collected geological samples, others studied the area while Ben looked into the distance of the cave, thinking for a quick solution to shorten their efforts.
Ben: "Alright, a moment for 'practice over theory' to shine in." The oversized armadillo grabbed the attention of the group.
-- VIEWFINDER --
The usual green flash is emitted as he transforms into a small, fat, hairless four legged creature, with rugged skin, three eyes, four externally shown fangs, a tail with spikes, and two large bat-like ears folded onto its head.
It lifted it's ears, expanding them, like two satellite dishes, generating a whistling reverberated sound.
Through his vision, he used a form of sonar to almost map the entire subterranean pathway, finding the potential goal of their expedition, an opening of sorts.
-- WILDMUT --
Ben roars to the Monóterran group, signaling them to follow. The group becomes ecstatic and proudly walk behind their guide.
Unexpectedly, an unwanted yet familiar sound is generated from Ben's chest.
The Omnitrix begins to power down.
Wildmut let's out a whimper.
Disappointingly forced back into his human form, Ben gently kicks a pebble, pulling his arm up to inspect the gauntlet of the Omnitrix.
He characteristically wears a dark-green bomber jacket, with a light-tan buttoned shirt underneath, dark-brown cargo pants with a utility belt, a bandolier, two holsters, black fingerless gloves, and black boots. True expeditionary fashion.
The Omnitrix sets itself into a cooldown mode.
Ben: "Hah, three days without needing to recharge, that's a record. Always on the worst timing though..." He fidgets around with the Omnitrix's lock-screen.
One of the younger Monóterras gets close, pulling on his leg. "What happened?"
Ben: "I'm on... Cooldown..." He stops fidgeting. "I've been using the Omnitrix way too much lately, but it's no biggie." The frustrated hero informed, before they continued to walk down the cave again.
Elder Monóterra: "While it is a formidable tool, hopefully, we may no longer need it in our expedition." The alien slowly catches up to Ben.
Ben: "Yeah, careful not to jinx it, gramps." He said, jokingly, climbing up a few stones, then helping one of the Monóterrans up.
The elder slowed down a bit, confused in his peculiar vocabulary. "What is this jinx you speak of?" He pulled on his own beard, squinting his eyes.
Ben sighed.
Younger Monóterran: "May I ask you something, Mr. Tennyson?" He pulled on his leg.
Ben: "Yeah Lou, also, you can just call me Ben."
Lou: "Ok Mr. Ben."
Ben looked at him funny, possibly about to correct him again, but he gave up.
Lou: "How come they call you 'Ten Thousand' when you have over a million transformations?" He innocently asks.
Ben: "Cause it sounds cooler." He keeps it simple.
Lou: "Ok, but why do you use so few of them?"
Ben: "Not every species has incredible abilities. Most aren't fit for every situation I'm in, the same way I'm not fit for everything myself." He tried to explain to the young one.
Lou: "Have you turned into one of us?"
Female Monóterran: "Stop bothering Mr. Tennyson with so many questions, Lou." She walked past them.
Lou ignored her.
Ben: "I don't think so. What can you guys do?"
Lou: "We..." The young one stopped to think. "We have sharp claws!" He walked ahead of him, and whilst walking backwards, he showed him his claws.
Ben: "I've had sharper." He was instinctively honest, although he didn't want to disappoint the young one.
"Alright, alright, if you show me a really good war face, I'll consider you on my list. Show me your war face." They both stopped as the other three Monóterrans walked past them.
Lou scratched the back of his ear, thinking on how to comply. He got on a comical battle pose and emitted the most adorable war face ever witnessed in the galaxy. Battle hiss included.
Ben simply stood there.
"Not bad, kid." He walked past the little alien.
Lou couldn't hide his big wide smile, as he watched him walk away. The young one then picked up the pace, returning to the path.
The group continued their venture through the ancient caves.
SCENE
Subterranean Temple Area - Planet 'Balgora'
After endlessly walking through the subterranean system, they find themselves at an enormous natural entrance.
The group steps into an open environment where the ancient Monóterran Temple could be viewed.
They were awestruck. A beautiful underground landscape, filled with a mixture of unique alien flora and towering fungi. A place lost to time.
Ben looked up with admiration, taking notes and drawing on his digital pad, scouting the odd geological formation. Even more so confused by the strange openings up above, revealing that they were currently under the ocean.
An unseen force was keeping the sea from entering the environment below.
Distracted once again, Tennyson felt the breeze hit him, the fruity smell of ancient vegetation, the distant chirps of underground critters echoing throughout the space, and the soft tact of alien moss growing on a stone he laid his hand on.
Still quite worryingly was the fact that this location essentially had an open window to the potential wrath of the ocean, right above on its rocky ceiling.
Elder Monóterra: "Ah." He sighs his relief through an overload of joy and fascination. "At last! The birthplace of our civilization, we've finally rediscovered it!" He shakes one of his friends, and then gets on his knees, facing the landscape, as if he were praying.
A few more seconds of sightseeing until the joyful experience came to an end, with a whisper.
"Get down."
Ben notices something off in the distance. He pulls the group to hide behind a stationary boulder, right before a vehicle passes by, far below them.
Bug-like aliens that resembled a mix between a mantis and a cockroach hovered past towards a camp they had set up, hidden near the entrance of the Temple.
There were too many of them. All armed with extremely modified iterations of the PPSh-1, a Russian automatic rifle, among other Soviet weaponry customized with alien schematics.
The Korvans were ransacking the temple of its ancient riches, loading it up onto two large cargo hovercrafts.
Elder Monóterra: "Korvans?! What are they doing here?!" He whispers his aggravated confusion.
Ben: "Same reason we're here. They definitely found a better entrance for those hovers to fit here." He tries to plan a way to get into the Temple.
Ben quietly whistles to the group. "Guys, I'm gonna need you all to stay put, I'll handle the tomb raiding and find that magic do-hickey you're looking for."
Monóterran Explorer: "Here, these scriptures will help you identify the Monógliph. Ensure it's safe, for all our sake." He warned.
Ben: "Gotcha." He stood up. "You all got your communicators?"
They all nodded, clicking their comms.
Elder Monóterra: "I am coming with you, Ben Tennyson. With my expertise, I'll ensure you don't get lost." He insisted.
Ben: "Eh, well..." He's unsure, considering his company.
The old man looks at him with an innocent smile.
"Alright gramps, just make sure you don't ensure we get shot. You got my back, I got yours."
Elder Monóterra: "Yes sir! though I warn you, my back's killing me." He stated.
Ben: "A lot worse could be killing you out here." He let out an adventurous smile. "Let's go, before those bugs get the Monógliph."
They both went down to the temple, leaving the group behind.
SCENE
Underground Temple - Korvan Camp
"Da, da, PP-2000! No?" One Korvan said, shouting to his group.
"Blegh, no! No more PP-2000!" A member said, disagreeing, then randomly shooting an empty crate.
Hard to believe such poorly mannered, barbaric creatures would be capable of space travel. The Korvans are a tribal war-obsessed race of gunsmiths that have become strangely obsessed with human weaponry, specifically old Russian weaponry. Smart enough for the guns, but not clever enough to realize their Russian associates are ripping them off by swapping their highly advanced weapons with theirs, as well as more than often manipulating them into doing their dirty work. Off the books.
More Korvans joined the discussion around the trash-fire, landing from up above as they hid their crooked wings behind their back-sack.
"No no! PP-19 Vityaz! Design I prefer." One replies.
Ben and the Elder sneak up from behind the distant bushes, trying their best to reach the giant stairs leading up to the even more gigantic temple.
The Korvans were noisy enough in their mobilization to not detect them.
"Why... Why we no negotiate with German humans? No- no one seen MP40?!" One Korvan interrupted. Showcasing the stolen modified German weapon.
"Oooh yes, yes!" - "Beautiful, beautiful!" - "Woh-woh!" They reacted. "I shoot stupid Vulpimancer with 'this', right in face, yes?! no more, no more Vulpimancer!" It laughs.
They all cheered, firing their weapons up to the air, letting out a mix of physical projectiles and laser beams, frightening the Elder Monóterra, shaking, and falling behind.
Ben: "Try to keep up, gramps." He whispers, as he went back to go get him.
They both go up the sides of the temple stairs. Hiding behind pillars each time a group of Korvans went down with their loot.
SCENE
Monóterran Temple - Interior
Ben and the Elder manage to enter the Temple.
They cautiously inspect the entrance, seeing no one around.
Ben: "Coast is... Clear." the hero turned explorer starts taking a few quick notes. "Let's find that ancient gizmo and get the heck out of here." He continued to walk down the corridor.
The Elder Monóterra was panting, exhausted from the climb and the tension. The small alien tipsily walks to one of the entrance walls, and leans on one of them, relaxing.
The wall subsequently tumbles, falling apart, revealing a room full of Korvans, who were putting loot into crates.
They stopped their work, now paying attention to the Monóterran, after the wall seized it's ruckus.
"Evening gentlemen!" He awkwardly saluted.
The Korvans began to prepare their weapons, angrily.
Ben had continued to walk down the temple, hearing someone behind him, grabbing his attention. "Run!" He faintly heard.
Ben: "What?" Before he could even turn around, the elder climbed his back, and held onto his shoulder, aggressively patting him.
"I said run, boy! Are you deaf? Move your feet lad!" He shouted, out of breath.
Shots were fired, missing them both. Ben activated a green colored ray-shield off of his gauntlet, emitted from the Omnitrix, blocking numerous of the incoming projectiles.
Now pulling a blaster pistol from one of his two holsters, he fires back at the wave of Korvans, eventually taking cover, and managing to land his shots on three of the buggers.
After the deadly exchange, they abandoned their cover and ran down the Temple corridors, still having countless Korvans stampede after them, shooting their weapons clumsily.
They ran aimlessly, encountering temple traps, ramming into cobwebs, even almost being crushed by a pillar whilst getting shot at by automated arrows and other ancient defense mechanisms.
The duo nearly fell down a ditch in one of the temple corridors. Luckily, Ben was equipped with a set of grappling hooks from his utility belt, granting him the ability to leap, and swing his way from one end of these ruptured sections to the other.
Swinging ain't an easy task when you have to dodge incoming blaster fire, all while carrying an alien on your back.
Some Korvan weren't as lucky nor skilled throughout the chase, meeting their doom all throughout the traps.
Finding themselves in what appeared a dead end, Ben got pinned in one room, cornered from every entry point.
Ben threw the elder towards safety, and pulled out both pistols and began to defend himself against four Korvans.
The bugs were neither fast nor clever enough to outpace his skillful use of a blaster.
He applied what he had learned from Revonnah-kai, thanks to Rook, in order to defeat two additional Korvans that had entered the area.
With the Korvans left as all but splattered bugs on the floor, the Monóterran elder returned to him, and the chase continued to the lower ends of the temple.
Once again behind the iron sights of the neverending waves of Korvans, The elder shouted in fear when they went to swing off at a dangerous rupture.
Ben wasn't able to maneuver himself properly due to the squirming of the elderly alien, causing them to crash through a weakened wall, winding up in another section of the temple.
The duo got back up, cautiously running away, having luckily lost their pursuers...
SCENE
Ben ran into a predicament as the path split in three. He stared at the corridor on the right, quizzically.
The Elder Monóterra grabbed the scriptures off his bandolier, quickly studying them.
"Through the left!" He pointed, tapping Ben.
Ben went through the one in the middle.
"No! No! The other left!" The old alien scolded.
Ben: "Right." He ran back and went through the left one.
Elder Monóterra: "No, this is left, not right! Left."
Ben: "I meant right as in, correct." He explained.
Elder Monóterra: "Well, right is incorrect!"
Ben: "Dude, I... nevermind."
Elder Monóterra: "My name is not Dude, I am Yuh." he stated, hopping off his back.
Ben: "I know... Just... Just lead the way gramps, we've got hundreds of those creepy-crawlers scrambling the temple for us." He let him go past him.
Yuh: "Yes, yes, follow me, this way."
They continued down the passageway.
SCENE
Monóterran Temple - Monógliph Shrine
Ben and Yuh walk into a grand circular structured room. At the far center, the object of interest laid on a pedestal, but there was one problem. As Ben inspected from afar, he realizes that this so called 'Monógliph' has powerful magical properties. He sees broken platforms floating in place, with no logical explanation, and the water around the room was frozen in place as well.
A state of zero gravity applied for some things, but not for others.
From the Monógliph came off a strange, dim aura that flowed to the very top of the cave systems upper layer.
Ben: "Stay here, let me make sure it's safe." He begins to carefully hop from one floating stone to another to reach the center.
Yuh began to study and collect any items of historical significance that could be around.
After putting his acrobatics in short display, Ben almost clumsily fell, upon setting foot at the central platform where the Monógliph stood.
As the hero approached the artifact, one could almost hear the choir of a hundred Monóterran saints echoing off the magical item. Ben slowly got close, as the golden shine of the artifact reflected off of his eyes.
He began to read the scriptures off the pedestal, applying various methods he'd learn so far from class, and his own experiences in the past.
"Baltori-a-mata... Nal-corri, Mal-hata... Kalos-Frior Tepol." He reads out loud, but whispers the rest of the scriptures to himself.
Ben takes out his digital notepad from his utility belt, and begins to translate.
He widens his eyes, coming into a realization of what the words meant.
"Ben Tennyson." A voice shouted from behind, with a thick Russian accent.
Ben turns around to see a Man, a human, standing amongst countless Korvans. One of those darn bugs had Yuh held hostage, at gunpoint, covering his mouth.
Ben focuses on the man, squinting his eyes. "Woah, no way, Boris Romanov?"
Boris Romanov, a Russian man in his early thirties, with a distinguishable goatee. Dressed in an elaborate and lavish grey colored tech-jumpsuit with expeditionary equipment strapped onto it.
The infamous archeologist lights up a cigar. "Correct, Mr. Tennyson." He smokes.
Ben: "The super rich collector from Moscow... I've had to read your books. Gotta say, I'm a big fan of your expeditions! Not so much a fan of the contraband part... the bloodlust... the stealing." He subtly checked his Omnitrix.
Boris: "Da, da, big fan of you as well, heard of your... Heroics. You've taken a liking to this now, ah? Hero turned Adventurer?" He asked, suspiciously.
Ben: "Don't both go together like bread and butter? I mean, you're a grave robber, you should tutor me on 'thrills'." He was studying what was going on, while he got entertained by the interaction.
Boris: "I suppose I could, but... How come, No fancy aliens?" He waves his hand in a questionable manner. "No transformation, hm? Run out of juice?" He suspiciously asks, smoking again right after.
Ben only slightly lifts the Omnitrix, letting out a small nervous laugh. He looks at Yuh.
Ben: "Something like that." He puts his notepad back on his bag. "This is cool and all, but, you mind letting go of my friend there? He's pretty harmless, I promise." He reasoned.
Boris: "Hm, yes, of course, but first, the artifact, Tennyson, if you will." The archeologist sets off the cigar, throwing it away into the ditch that separated them.
Ben stands there, looking at the Monógliph, then back at Boris. "Yeah, about that... I translated everything on here, and... let's just say none of us would wanna find out what happens if-" He gets cut off.
Boris: "Tennyson. I'm starting to suspect you have not read my books in their entirety... Out here, when you step foot in the same tomb as me, you are either with me, or against me, and those who are against me, well..." He lets out a subtle laugh. "Let us just say, they became the very thing they seek... History."
Great, another bad guy added to the already lengthy cast. It wasn't enough on Ben's mind to deal with the race of gun-loving bugs, but even worse, they were hired by one of Russias richest, deadliest men, and if his books were anything to take note of in class, this guy puts money above everything, and right now, he was robbing him of that.
Romanov stepped forward, menacingly. "Unless you want your furry little friend to take part in the writing of my next book... I suggest, you give, the artifact, to me." He threatened, as the Korvan pointed the weapon at Yuh. "But of course, do not take this personally, I assure you, It is just... Business." He excused his actions.
Ben: "Ooh! Ok, ok, I get it." He lets out a fake laugh. "You're one of those guys. I knew something was fishy." He points and waves. "Never trust a guy that writes his own biography." He pointed again, acting oddly, trying to stall.
Yuh noticed, and realized he was signaling him to do something. stomping? No? stomp on the korvans weakened legs perhaps?
"Can't say I didn't warn you though." He goes to grab the Monógliph. He gritted his teeth, knowing what was to come. "For the record, I pirated your book."
Ben grabbed the Monógliph, stood still, and waited for a few seconds.
Boris raised an eyebrow, as most Korvans slightly lowered their weapons in confusion.
The temple began to shake. The entire subterranean system began to tremble, catching everyone off guard.
Yuh stomped on the Korvans legs, allowing him to escape. Ben used his grappling hook to swing to the other end of the room, subsequently catching up to Yuh, allowing him to climb up his back again.
Boris: "Get them! Get them! Snatch back the artifact!" He pointed, as he grabbed a weapon for himself.
The Korvans all began to shoot at Ben and Yuh, but Ben managed to find an alternative path.
Another chase began.
Yuh: "What is happening to the temple!?" He held on to his back for his dear life as bullets came flying by.
Ben: "Heed thy warning: those who disturb the column of our home, the pillar of our existence, may the sky fall upon you." He quoted the scriptures.
Ben took cover in a corner. He pulls out a stun-blaster and manages to stun two Korvans that were chasing him.
He shot one of his last grappling hooks, creating a steady line that caused another two Korvans to trip face front, knocking themselves out.
Ben: "So, what happens..." He breaths. "When you take the invisible lid off an upside down water bottle?" He shouted as he ran through countless corridors.
Yuh: "What is a bottle?"
SCENE
Monóterran Temple - Exterior
The rest of the group were still hiding, even as the ground continued to shake.
They saw all of the Korvans beginning their efforts to retreat.
Commlink: "Oak, Lou, Dak, and Jet, I don't know if anyone's getting this, but we've got to get out of here! This whole place is going down." Ben's voice could be heard.
The group looked up above the temple and saw the water from the ocean start to fall down into the cave.
Whatever magic stabilized the ecosystem had all but diminished.
Lou: "What do we do?!" He picked up his commlink.
Ben: "Still thinking on that." He admitted. "Stay put and wait on regroup!"
They all looked at the temple and saw Ben Tennyson, with Yuh on his back, sprinting down the stairs as countless Korvans, along with Boris, chased them.
Yuh grabbed Ben's blaster and began to shoot back at the Korvans, while on Ben's shoulder.
The elder manages to shoot down a few of them, as their bodies begin to roll down the stairs.
A falling mass amount of ocean water landed on top of the temple, and started to flow towards the stairs, like a waterfall, catching up to everyone.
Boris looked back in slight horror, forgetting about the artifact, and running down towards any of the vehicles, for safety.
Some of the Korvans, being as valiant as they were, started fleeing up into the air. Those who lacked wings were left at the mercy of their own circumstances.
Ben looked back as well, widening his eyes, approaching the end of the temple's stairs.
He got to the bottom, encountering three Korvans, ready to shoot him, but he activates his shield, blocking the laser shots, and ramming straight into one of the buggers.
Ben pushed him straight onto the metallic surface of their cargo hovercraft, uppercutting him, while Yuh shot the other two.
The duo enters the large hovercraft, beating up and kicking out the Korvans inside.
Ben got seated, he looked behind to realize they'd just stolen the vehicle where they had looted everything. "Holy crap..."
"Drive! Drive!" Yuh shouted, as Ben hit the pedal to the metal.
Boris managed to enter the vehicle behind theirs, closing the side-hatch on his wingless Korvan troop's faces.
The Korvans left outside were immediately swept by the wave.
Boris was unaffected by his own actions, turning to the driver with a furious gaze.
Boris: "Follow that Class Three Carrier!" He yelled at the driver. Romanov looked to the back of the vehicle, tapping the roof. "Pax, you're up." He said to an unseen individual.
SCENE
Ben drove close to the edge where the rest of the group stood, up above the terrain. He tapped his commlink. "Get on, get on, get ooon the magic school bus." He sang, hiding his stress, then looking to his Omnitrix, seeing it was almost recharged.
He looked at the rearview monitor, seeing countless vehicles behind him catching up.
The Monóterrans got on top of the vehicle. Yuh opened up the hatch and let them inside.
Once they got situated inside, Ben drove away in a rush, at full speed, steering towards a giant tunnel at the end of the cavern.
All of the Monóterrans were talking at once, in fear.
Ben: "Guys, guys!" They all stopped bickering and looked at him. "Calm down, just... go with the flow." He said, whilst avoiding countless sharp corners and rocks.
Dak: "We will definitely 'go with the flow' if we don't get out of here!"
Jet: "The Monógliph?" She asked, worried.
Yuh took it out of Ben's bag. They all stared at it, mesmerized. Such positive emotion would be short lived the moment they were hit from behind by Boris' vehicle. As well as two other, smaller speeder crafts bumping and shooting the sides of their craft's hull.
Tennyson rammed both of the speeders, pushing them towards the walls of the tunnel, one to the left, then one to the right, effectively destroying them.
He looked through the rearview monitor again, and saw something big jump from Boris' craft and land on top of their craft. Its steps could be heard from above the hull.
Ben: "Who knows how to drive?" He activated autopilot and looked at the group.
Jet raised her hand, going up to him.
Ben: "Awesome, happy sailing, don't get us killed." He hopped off and raised Jet, sitting her in the driver's seat.
Jet: "Wait but, but! I don't have a class three license!" She cried.
Ben: "Me neither!" He ran towards the ladder, climbing up to the latch.
The moment he opened the latch, Ben was aggressively grabbed by four reddish muscular arms.
The hero screamed as he got thrown, almost falling off the top of the vehicle.
Now holding onto the cornered ledge, he tried to get up, but was grabbed again in a gruesome chokehold.
Pulling him up was a young Tetramand mercenary, in a full tactical outfit.
Ben was being choked. He tried pulling his blaster pistol, but it was immediately slapped away by the brute.
In a desperate spontaneous grab, he pulled a taser from his bandolier, and managed shock his arm.
The Tetramand laughed while being shocked, pulling him closer in an attempt to intimidate him.
Ben took this as an opportunity, he pulled a second taser out from another pocket, and tased his nipples, making the alien let out an embarrassingly effeminate cry.
It was too much for him.
The Tetramand let him go, and fell to a crouching position on the metallic flooring.
Ben sadly lost his tasers during the release, but he regained his breath, realizing that three Korvans had hopped on the vehicle, and were headed inside the hatch.
Tennyson tried to get up and stop them from entering, but he got grabbed on his leg by his crouched adversary, being pulled back towards the fight.
Ben promptly turned around and punched the Tetramand really hard on his face, but this totally backfired on him, as he yelled out in pain, almost having broken his hand upon impacting the skull of such lifeform.
"Ahh! Ok, that was really stupid." He yelled out in pain, then immediately got punched in the face by the Tetramand, almost getting knocked out.
Both of them now properly stood. Ben was doing his best to shake off the intense pain, his face brutally bruised.
He tipsily activated his shield, but it immediately broke apart after two intense bashes from his enemy.
Boris was cheering his champion off from the cockpit of his vehicle.
Inside the leading craft, Lou was holding onto the Monógliph. Yuh, Oak, and Dak came by to him, as they all realized the Korvans had infiltrated the inside of the craft. The three bugs aimed their weapons at them.
Lou sensed the Monógliph began to shake on his hands.
It was lifted forward by itself, releasing a blinding blue and golden light, shooting out a magical blast.
The Korvans screamed, almost like they had been sucked in, or worse, disintegrated by the ancient magical artifact.
All the Monóterrans stared at the Monógliph in disbelief by it's power.
Back outside, on top of the hovercraft, Ben dodged a few blows from his tall red foe, while also shooting any Korvans that attempted to breach the vehicle.
His last blaster pistol had no ammo left, clicking continuously as he tried to shoot a remaining Korvan.
Abruptly, he gets hit again, falling to the ground, coughing out blood.
"Yep... There goes a rib..." Ben groans in pain, holding his ribcage area, on the floor.
Pax: "Fraud. You really are nothing without that watch..." The Tetramand humiliated the hero.
Ben: "Dude, you're like... Nine - ten feet tall? cut me some slack." He coughs out blood again, faintly squaring up from the ground.
His attacker goes for another blow, but from out of the blue, Oak and Dak come out from the hatch and jump on the four-armed warrior, crawling all over him, scratching him.
The Tetramand attempts to swat them off, annoyed and in slight pain.
Ben tries his best to get up again, but he falls to the ground. He smacks his Omnitrix, frustrated.
Inside the craft, Jet was trying her best to maneuver through the harsh cave tunnel, coming into a tight corridor, scraping the vehicle a bit.
Yuh: "Are you certain you can do this?" He was worried, watching how the path tightened.
Jet: "No." She cried.
The truck hit the side of the cave's wall, causing everyone to trip and fall.
Boris looked at the rearview monitor, seeing the water fill the tunnel away in the distance. He grabbed his vehicle's speakers. "Tennyson, we can forget all about this if you hand over the riches. Get us out of this mess, and perhaps we can split the earnings! Would not want my favorite super-hero to perish!" He shamelessly negotiated.
Ben falls to the floor again, generating pain in his abdomen, cursing and groaning. "Definitely gotta work on the abs more..." He groans again and tilts his head to look up at his allies' well-being.
The Tetramand swats off Oak, sending him flying straight to the hatch, where the little buff alien luckily fell back inside the vehicle.
The brute then grabs a hold of Dak, sending him flying towards Ben.
The injured hero manages to catch him, setting him on the ground.
With very little time left to react, their adversary closes in on them with a furious charge.
A familiar sound is emitted from Ben's left wrist, as the Tetramand goes in for a heavy punch, screaming at them, enraged.
His fist is instantly stopped in-place, put on a dramatically intense hold.
A spiky, dark-green plant-like arm of a Methanosian wraps up around the Tetramand's fist.
The Tetramand heavily grunts, unable to move, surprised and fearful.
-- SWAMPFIRE --
Ben: "Let's try that again." He smirks at him.
Tennyson uses his abilities to wrap up the would-be champion, extending his appendages and sending him towards the wall of the cave, where the rapidly moving pavement and rocky surface brutally scrapped him, instantly knocking him out.
He brings him back and throws him towards the cockpit of Boris' vehicle, breaking it apart and nearly crushing the archeologist.
Boris is left stuck, below the knocked body of his brute, while the Korvan driver tries his best to recover the vehicle's steering.
Swampfire lights up his hands, shooting fireballs at the remaining Korvans that were flying about, circling their craft.
Ben: "Go back inside Dak, it's-" He looks forward, seeing an opening to a dead-end of the tunnel.
Jet hits the breaks. The screeching sound from the abrupt halt fills the remaining path of the cave's tunnel.
Ben throws Dak back inside the craft, and braces for impact.
Their vehicle manages to stop at the end of the tunnel without hitting the wall, but Boris' vehicle crashes into them.
Then the remaining other smaller vehicles also crash onto theirs, creating a pile up.
They are all stuck, as the water can be heard closing in on them.
Yuh: "Mr. Tennyson! There is nowhere left to go! What should we do now?" He desperately shouted from below the hatch.
Noticing that all the disloyal Korvans were seemingly flying and running away up above, Ben looked up, noticing that, far up, straight up into the cave there was a fairly sized breach to the surface.
"Might wanna hold onto something." Ben suggested to his group.
He looked back, seeing Boris and the Tetramand, abandoned by their Korvan associates, left inside the vehicle.
Ben sighs.
Sometimes his own heroic nature betrayed him, instinctively making him do the most contradictive and paradoxical of actions. Self defense was one thing, but leaving someone behind to their doom when you could easily save them wasn't something he wanted to have stained on his conscious.
Ben uses Swampfire's abilities to wrap them up in an enclosed cocoon, pulling them up, and sending them inside the group's vehicle.
Dak: "Ben? What are you doing?" He was confused, seeing his vines bring in the two foes.
Yuh: "It's what he does." He looks up the hatch, with admiration. "Saving the lives of even his own enemies, if given the chance."
Ben looks back again, seeing the massive amount of water about to crash into them. Such amount of pressure would immediately crush them.
-- WATER HAZARD --
With all but a sense of intuition, Ben thought that if he managed to slowdown the arrival of the incoming wave, and slowly graduate it's pressure, he could ensure their survival, and consequentially use its rise effect to float them up above.
He lifts his hands and begins to control the flow of the water. The pressure was so intense that even with this transformation it proved to be a heavy task.
In a few seconds, Ben diminished the intense speed and pressure of the water, allowing it to fill up the area, lifting up the craft ever so slightly.
There was only one problem remaining. Due to the amount of materials inside the craft, the vehicle was far to heavy to float. Despite this, Ben wasn't out of ideas yet.
-- UPGRADE --
Tennyson blended himself with the craft, transforming it's mechanisms to become the equivalent of a submarine.
Now with the combined raise of the water and the lower turbines of the upgraded craft, they would soon be freed from the chaos of the underworld.
Jet: "He's done it! We're going up!" She left her seat to rejoin the group, as they studied the Monógliph in a circle.
Boris watched, tilted by the corner, angered, and unable to speak his mind due to his cocoon entrapment.
SCENE
Balgoran Coastal Grasslands - Midday
The hovercraft was left beside the flooded sinkhole, sitting in a widespread flat and dry grassland.
Vines came out from inside the vehicle, carrying the two cocoons down to the ground.
Ben, as Swampfire again, dissolves the cocoons, releasing the still unconscious body of the Tetramand, along with Boris.
Boris, confused, fixes his attire and stands before Ben.
Ben transforms back to normal.
There is a moment of silence, as both waited for either of them to speak.
Boris: "I don't understand..."
Ben: "I don't expect you to." He puts his hands in his jacket's pockets.
Boris stood there, analytically. Looking at the top of the ship. He sees the group of Monóterrans cheering, raising the Monógliph upwards, as it shines.
He looks at Ben again.
Ben: "Here." He hands him a beacon. "I'm sure someone will come pick you up eventually."
Boris is still confused. He thought to himself, was this boy stupid? Or was there something more to it? Was this just an attempt to illustrate that he was better than him? Was it a play on power? No it couldn't be.
No, it was honor, it had to be that, it was clear, shown in this young man's character, something rarer than buried treasure. He had himself a worthy rival.
Boris extended his arm, offering a professional handshake.
Ben was surprised, but he complied.
Boris: "You have earned my respect, Ben Tennyson, you have bested me today, but know that this is not the end." He expressed in good sportsmanship.
Ben: "This has to be the first time someone that tries to kill me acts like a good sport about it right after."
Boris: "Such is business. You saved my life. My... disloyal party has all but retreated... and my champion is defeated... I surrender my quest." He states, putting his hands behind his back. "I do hope you enjoy your fortune."
Ben let's out a subtle laugh. "It's not my fortune, it's theirs." He looks at the Monóterrans. "It's worth more to them than it'll ever be to either of us."
Boris stays quiet, bringing a subtle smile on his face for once. "History. Identity. Culture." He randomly says. "Far more valuable to a people, than it is to a mere man."
Ben simply nods.
Boris: "I hope to never see you again, Ben Tennyson." He states, surprisingly calm.
Ben: "Yeah, can't make any promises." He smirked, walking away.
-- UPGRADE --
Once again, he blended with the craft, turning it into a ship fit for flight.
The wind coming off from it's engines made Boris' hair flow back, as he watched them fly away into the distance.
He looks down at the beacon that was handed to him, letting out a heavy breath.
SCENE
Balgora - Monóterran Settlement - Dusk
Hundreds of Monóterrans joined in religious gathering at the town center.
A priest walked towards a large fountain pedestal at the very center of the recreational area.
Everyone stood still, holding candles whilst in silent in prayer.
Ben Tennyson watched the event from afar near a balcony, alongside Yuh.
The Priest stopped in front of the pedestal.
"We are gathered here thanks to the bravery and wits of our greatest expeditionary members, Yuh, Jet, Lou, Dak, and Oak, aided by the legendary Ben Tennyson of Earth. It is because of them, that we have recovered the essence of our ancestors, the fountain of our very existence."
There was a pause, as he laid the Monógliph on the pedestal.
"The heart, faith, and might of our people. The last of the Monógliphs. May it strengthen our lands, empower our spirits, and guide our minds. Just as our ancestors once prospered, Balgora will prosper yet again! For all time!"
He raised his hands.
Everyone cheered. The celebration began, and the Monógliph let out a golden beam up into the sky, that cast a golden silent electrical storm.
The land began to heal itself. Crops sprouted, wounds healed, and minds were cleared at a noticeable pace.
Ben, although confused by the artifacts power, smiled, leaning against the doorframe of the balcony.
"Manifestation."
Ben looked down at the Elder.
Yuh: "That is the true power of the Monógliph. Faith charges it, Hope encapsulates it, Belief expresses it. Merely the physical projection of our people's will." He paused, overjoyed, and tearful.
"You have done us a great service, Ben Tennyson. You will be written down in our halls of history as the one who came down from the stars to recover our past, our identity... but of course, that's not primarily why you're here." He brings out a Holo-pad. "Your payment."
Ben didn't respond, folding his hands and looking to the side, showcasing mild discomfort.
Ben: "I feel bad getting paid for this Yuh, I'll have to admit that." He scratched the back of his head. "It's not something I'm used to yet. Heck, I totally forgot about it too."
Yuh: "Nonsense boy, nothing in life is free, it's either praise or credits, but praise alone doesn't put food on the table. You earned both!" He transfers a fortune's worth of credits to Ben.
Yuh: "One last thing before you go." He paused. He gave Ben a small Monóterran totem, a historical item that represents their culture. "The galaxy is full of rumors, legends, and mysticism. From the stories that have arrived from the heavens, you are certainly not what I expected."
Ben: "I've heard that a lot recently, I'm not what the stories try to sell and-" He was gestured by the elder, noticing that he was serious.
Yuh: "Quite the contrary, you are far more than what the tales speak of you." He points to him. "Neverending tales about the power of the Omnitrix, widespread throughout the cosmos, yet never focusing on the bravery of the beholder of such power." He looked to the crowd below.
"You impressed us, you showcased bravery, talent, and honor, with or without your abilities. You are as much a hero with or without it. That is what will be written here, in stone, and not in rumor. Recognized not by ten thousand masks, but by your true self..." He sat on a rocking chair.
Ben was surprisingly moved by his words. Remaining quiet for a few seconds.
"Thank you, Yuh." He went to shake his hand.
Yuh complied. "Until we meet again, Mr. Tennyson. Although hopefully not in such stressful times. I'm getting too old for this." He closed his eyes. "Safe travels." He concluded.
Ben nodded, and walked away.
The sounds of local musicians and villagers singing turned the dusk of day into a serene experience.
SCENE
Balgora - Grasslands - Dusk
Ben had a floating train of mobilized crates following him. Filled with trinkets and gifts from the people of Balgora, as their token of gratitude for his service.
The settlement could be viewed in the distance, shooting fireworks up into the skies.
As the hero walked the plains, arriving near the Rust-Bucket, he seized his travels near the top of a hill, distracted by something.
Ben saw how the dry grass turned to green, standing up and well. The healing flow of the Monógliphs magic kept moving onwards as he followed it in eyesight, up until his gaze was eventually met with the displayed horizon.
In awe, Ben slowly walked forward, standing beside a tall rock, leaning on it to properly admire the landscape, feeling something different emerge from deep within him.
Tennyson stood tall, honoring the beautiful sunset of the twin suns of Balgora, as both stars began to set in the horizon.
With the falling rays of sunlight casting themselves onto him, Tennyson felt something he couldn't fully understand. He was uncharacteristically teary, despite not necessarily being sad at that moment.
During this spiritual moment, Ben had realized what it was that he was feeling. A state of being that he had all but forgotten up until now.
The Twin Suns centralized themselves in perfect alignment with the horizon.
There it was.
Now he knew.
Peace, Serenity, and Tranquility.
Even if it were just for that singular moment, an insignificant speck of time in comparison to the rest of the universe, It didn't matter to him.
In equivalence to prayer, he was thankful.
He didn't know why.
But he certainly was.
Balgora - Rust-Bucket - Interior
Ben walked inside his recently acquired mobile home. He went to a racket, pressed a button, and watched as the columns moved upwards, until a collection of archeological alien objects was displayed.
"It's not just about uncovering our past anymore."
He put the Monóterran totem in one of the columns.
"It's about digging up the powers hidden across the cosmos. That power is knowledge, wisdom."
SCENE
Friedkin University - Archeological Auditorium
The Monóterran Totem sat in a pedestal at the center of the platform.
The class was full, as everyone paid attention to Ben's presentation.
"It's not just about the money, or the thrill of adventure. It's about the cultural enrichment that allows us to path ourselves towards a better future." He turns to look at the professor, as she looks back at him with an intrigued and admiring gaze.
"Every world out there throughout the cosmos has its fair share of treasures, waiting to be dug up. I believe that's where this profession is headed, and... I aspire to manifest that future into reality." He turns to the totem. Pointing to it. "Just like how the Monóterrans, believe in the power of manifestation..." He looks back at the class in front of him, smiling. "Call it, cross planetary inspiration."
SCENE
Friedkin University - Hallways
Ben was walking down the hallways, glowing with confidence. His classmate Fellah catches up to him.
Fellah: "Wow, what a change in vocabulary." She nudges him.
Ben: "You hangout with enough aliens, and you pick up a few fancy speeches."
They walked outside the building.
Fellah: "I really loved the presentation, that's one way to end the trimester. How're you doing by the way? You got the 'cash cash'?"
Ben looked around making sure no one else could hear him. He leaned in, holding a laugh. "I'm stinken rich."
They both did an interesting friendly high five and down low.
Ben: "Hey, gotta say, your presentation was the best though. You're the only one actually doing a 'modern-day' investigation. Lucky class is going to Egypt, you'll get hands on material."
They sat at a bench.
Fellah: "You're going too right?" She got serious, only expecting a yes.
Ben: "Well..." He looks around, avoiding the question.
Fellah puts her hands on her hips.
Gerald appears and stands in front of them. "Dang, you guys really don't wait around for anyone." He complained.
He went to fist bump both of them.
Ben: "Gerald! What's up. I saw you online yesterday on Sumo-verse." He escapes from the subject.
Gerald: "Oh, boy oh boy, I almost pulled an all nighter, dude, and-" He gets cut off.
Fellah: "Ah ah ah! Sit down Gerald. Don't help him change the subject." She scolds him, turning to look at Ben. "Are you or are you not going to Egypt with us?" She pokes him.
Ben: "I'll go if you manage to get a date with Alice by then." He makes fun of her, still being avoidant.
Fellah: "Terrible choice, easy task, give me a week." She crossed her arms and lifted her chin up, illustrating her overconfidence.
Ben and Gerald: "Bluff." They both look at each other.
Fellah: "I'm being serious! Besides what have you been up to that you're 'so, so' busy that you might not even go with us."
Ben smiles, and realigns himself on the bench, letting out a single laugh. He looks at her with a smirk. "I'm glad you asked." He goes to tell the tale...
SCENE
The Galaxy is at war.
Three governances split the various rims of the milky way galaxy into three. The Incursean Empire, and The Tetramand Empire are at a vicious neverending standoff against one another, leaving the High Union of Interplanetary Systems to feed off the crumbs of war, and drown themselves in parasitic bureaucracy.
Princess Attea of the Incurseans, and Princess Looma of the Tetramands, both still too young and immature, are given command of their respective domains, fueling a petty conflict, where the innocent lives of billions are left to suffer amidst a fight they never asked for.
Ben Tennyson, in search of glory and fortune to fund his illusionary 'normal' life, utilizes a clandestine help line that connects him with thousands of worlds in need of a hero.
It is right then and there, at the very cockpit of the Rust-Bucket, that a Hero for Hire is born.
With the helping hand of a million life forms on his wrist, he liberates countless worlds from Tyranny with an army's worth of strength from transformations like Humungousaur, Atomix, Waybig, and many more.
Eliminating famine with the use of Wildvine, Waterhazard, and other elemental lifeforms. Speeding up agricultural processes, and healing dead lands into fruition.
Solving planetary problems by bringing the intellectual powers of Brainstorm and Greymatter into the table.
Rescuing and finding lost individuals, protecting convoys, bounty hunting, even providing interplanetary solutions like he had done in the past, granted by his ability of being able to represent every species, individually.
A problem solver, hopping from planet to planet.
Ben Tennyson had now found himself in the rise of his own kind of prosperous freelance, akin to a missionary of goodwill.
With his debts paid, his tuition ensured, and his future secured, things were finally going his way.
No matter how the galaxy viewed him, there was only one thing clear.
He is...
End Card