Hey everyone! Welcome back. After a long time of waiting, Jade 10 is back on track. This chapter will be a rather interesting one, especially if you can understand the reason for the name. Before anything else, let's answer some reviews.

P69822: Thanks!

UltimaOwner1: They did indeed. Those are interesting theories for the person messing with time. I look forward to seeing your reaction to the answer. As for Kevin's dad, I will say that he is gone for good. Sorry to burst your bubble there.

Reader: I'm glad that you enjoyed them so much! Ben is indeed more in tune with himself and has a clearer goal in his relationship with Jade. Jade herself has some rather interesting new forms in her arsenal, which will be rather fun. Kevin's new origin was fun to create so I'm glad that you like it.

Mace: I see what you mean, but Ben never got far enough to see Kevin turning into aliens or becoming the amalgam form before the loop happened. Glad we were able to clarify that.

Guest 37: I'm glad that I've been doing a good job so far. Jade has been growing to the responsibility of the Omnitrix rather well, especially with Ben knowing what's ahead and teaching her from his experience. It's the fact of Jade's citizenship and so many other factors that push her and Ben's relationship this far. She and Ben both grow stronger due to changes to the timeline, especially Ben with his magic. I felt like a good way to give Kevin a new perspective on life would have been to give him a new family to help him grow, the uniform being a symbol of that growth.

My reason for the break is to give other stories in the lineup time to shine and so that I can get some breathing room. I will say that I haven't seen Five Years Later yet so I did not know about that version of Eon. Now that I'm back to this story, I hope that you can enjoy it.

With all that out of the way, let's begin. I don't own Ben 10, Jackie Chan Adventures, or any other series that might appear. I do own original characters, concepts, creatures, and other such stuff unless stated otherwise. Back to the action!

Voices

"Talking."

'Thinking.'

"YELLING!"

[Language Indicator]

"Author/Guest/High or demonic entity talking."

"AUTHOR/GUEST/HIGH OR DEMONIC ENTITY YELLING!"

"Whispering."

"Author/Guest/High or demonic entity whispering."


Vilgax's Ship, Earth

The titanic vessel floated in the midst of space, practically glaring down at the Earth below. The repairs to the vessel were nearing completion, several drones working hard to fix the issue at hand. The bottom of the ship opened, allowing two drones to begin plummeting to the surface below. The machines began powering on, trying to lock on to the location of their target. As soon as the machines began to burn, however, a rather discreet laser knocked one into the other, causing them to explode in the atmosphere.

Inside the massive vessel, a minion was humming as he looked over the detailed report of the machines, the records telling a different story. He walked over to the nearby healing tank, metallic walls surrounding it as a small viewport gave the occupant sight into the outside world. The lieutenant bowed his head, earning a growl before he could speak.

"My Lord, the Omnitrix signal has vanished," informed the being. "The drones collided in the atmosphere at a speed that caused total termination. Our trackers have been scrambled by an ionic storm that entered the quadrant. To ensure that no further drones are lost, it would be advised to wait out the storm." A fist was slammed against the inside of the tank, an angry snarl sounding off.

"To think that the Omnitrix evades me through a simple storm and dumb luck!" roared Vilgax. "Very well. I want this ship fully prepared for when I claim my prize. All drones are to be transferred to storage before the storm engulfs the cruiser." The lieutenant immediately got to work, causing the machines outside to rush back into the storage area.

What went unseen was a craft the size of an Earth truck, a large amount of space inside. A large finger slid across a glowing terminal, zooming in on a terrestrial map of the environment. A symbol resembling the Omnitrix appeared in a secluded area, the ship being directed towards the location.


Earlier

Rust Bucket

Ben moaned, feeling something nestle into the crook of his neck. He smiled in his slumber, feeling a familiar pair of arms around his shoulders. He also felt the individual resting up against him, a soft sensation squishing against his chest. He opened his eyes slowly, finding that Jade had once again fallen asleep beside him. They had been in these situations ever since they left New York, the boy becoming used to waking up with the love of his life beside him.

He brushed some hair out of the girl's face, feeling her skin against his hand. He felt a desire to kiss her forehead, only to stop himself as he softly sighed. His motion caused the girl to stir, Jade rubbing her eyes before slowly opening them.

"And another day of waking up because someone got handsy," sighed the girl in tiredness. "At least this time it was the sweet kind and not your hands wandering in the night." Ben hid a blush as he chuckled, shaking his head.

"Sorry," apologized the boy. "I didn't mean to wake you up." Jade smiled softly, shaking her head in kind.

"I'm not complaining. Although, I should probably get up before a happy someone decides to peek out down there." Ben froze as he slowly looked down, noticing the tent in his pajama pants that pushed against the girl's stomach. "Down boy. Wait until Daddy gives permission."

The girl got up, allowing Ben to move ahead of her as he occupied the bathroom. She decided to check over herself in a handheld mirror, specifically looking at her hair. She felt at the ends, realizing that the follicles had begun growing out faster than she thought. She felt an urge to grab a nearby pair of scissors, only to stop herself as she clenched her fists. "It's been years since that day."

She put the mirror down, pulling at her hair to get a better idea of its length. "I… maybe I can ask what the others think. This is something I should be over with, right?" She growled to herself, her frustration not being helped by certain hormonal thoughts that crossed her mind. The sound of groaning filled the air nearby, Jade standing still and letting go of her hair as Kevin sat up.

"Last night was nice, other than certain someones getting a bit handsy with each other," huffed the teen. "I swear I'm waking up to you two every morning." Jade giggled in embarrassment as she waved her hands defensively.

"S-sorry. I'll talk with Ben about keeping it down or getting a handle on it." Kevin slowly stood up, Jade rubbing her legs together as he stretched.

"Well, I'm up now. I'm gonna see about some breakfast." Jade nodded her head, letting the boy walk towards the kitchen before she turned her back to him. The moment Ben stepped out of the bathroom, she ran in herself. The magical boy looked shocked for a moment, only to shrug.

"Well, I was in there a while," sighed Ben. "Guess she has her own business to take care of." The boy made his way to the kitchen, watching as Kevin reached for a box of cereal. "Mind grabbing the other box while you're at it, man?" The teen grabbed both boxes, setting them on the counter.

The duo began to make their own breakfasts, an awkward air passing between them. While a friendship had slowly grown between them, there was a strange feeling that neither of them could really shake. Ben looked over towards the absorbing boy, an apologetic smile on his face. "So… I heard Jade saying something about us waking you up every morning while I was in the bathroom. Sorry about that." He received a light punch on the arm, the older boy smirking at him.

"I understand having fun with your girl but try to keep it on the downlow. There are some things I wish I didn't have to hear while living on the streets in New York." The duo both took a bite of their cereal, a snorting sound soon following from at the front. Max began to wake up in the driver's seat, rubbing his face as he moaned. He looked around, rubbing his stomach as he sighed.

"Is it this early already?" questioned the old man. "I could go for some cricket wheat flakes." The boys slowly looked towards the boxes, realizing that one was the aforementioned cereal while the other mentioned scorpions. "Looks like someone's finally trying new things." Ben heaved as he grabbed his mouth, feeling a sick rumble in his stomach.

"I think I'm gonna be sick," moaned the boy. He tried not to throw up in the middle of the vehicle, Kevin merely shrugging as he continued to crunch on the cereal he grabbed. He hummed as he looked towards Ben.

"Light weight," joked the teen. "There were times we couldn't get pizza or other foods so I had to stomach what the guys usually ate. Heck, I'm thinking this could just use a bit more sugar. Grow up and be a man." Ben glared back at the older teen, gagging as he still felt sick.

"I'm glad someone can appreciate good food," stated Max. "Maybe I could fry up some oyster burgers I've been wanting to introduce Ben and Jade to. They tend to run when I mention it." Kevin waved his hand in denial, a small frown on his face.

"I'm actually allergic to oysters. It sounds neat though." The old man hummed, nodding his head.

"That's a shame. Still, allergies aren't anything to joke about. If you're being serious about them I'll need to get you checked for anything else." The door to the bathroom opened before Kevin could reply, Jade stepping out. The girl held her hair back a bit, looking towards the guys with a nervous frown as Ben stood up.

"Um… is it just me or did your hair grow longer?" questioned the magic boy. "It looks like it's twice as long as it was yesterday." The Chinese girl smiled softly, nodding her head.

"Yeah. Is… is it bad?" The boy shook his head, smiling a bit.

"Nope. It just makes you look cuter." Kevin rolled his eyes, patting the younger boy on the back.

"Get a room," laughed the teen. "Try flirting when I'm not around." Jade felt her hair in her hands, the smile on her face earning a concerned frown from Max.

"I… I'm thinking of growing it out," revealed Jade. "It's something I thought about for a while but never got around to trying." The old man smiled, looking between the group.

"Alright," stated the man. "You three eat up. I'll be driving in five minutes. Anyone who makes a mess while I'm driving has to clean it up." He walked towards the front, Ben immediately reaching for a different cereal as he dumped the one he had before.

Max grabbed himself an energy bar made from beetles before taking his seat. He checked each gauge as he turned on the RV, humming as he tapped the fuel gauge. "Looks like we'll need to stop for gas at the next pump." He took a bite of his breakfast bar before putting the Rustbucket in drive, slowly leaving the RV park. He drove for thirty minutes, the kids taking turns showering and getting dressed in the bathroom.

The vehicle soon reached its destination, the others being allowed to look inside the gas station as Max began his work. Ben looked around, wondering what he could grab for the road ahead. He noticed a stack of cookie boxes, remembering very well what happened the last time he messed with it. Seeing Jade on the other side, he reached for a higher up box in order to not cause an avalanche like he had accidentally done to Gwen in the past. The trio began making their way outside, the magical boy counting down on his fingers,

"Three…" began Ben. "Two… One." As if on cue, a laser blast blew off the back of a bank truck. Bikers began approaching the vehicle with energy rifles, Ben ushering Kevin and Jade to join him in hiding behind the Rust Bucket.

He smirked as he gestured to where the villains were beginning their work. "Right. Last time I used Fourarms I messed up and Grandpa got injured. I suggest using Vajra to absorb their lasers and take them out." Jade smirked, looking towards the device.

"Right," accepted the girl. "Hopefully it works right this time. It has the orange face instead of green this time. I don't understand why it keeps changing, but I get the feeling Orange isn't good." She activated the device, causing an invisible pulse to be sent out. The spacecraft in the atmosphere picked up the signal, the being inside lightly pressing a button.

Jade nearly reached the holographic image of her desired alien when the lights suddenly went blue. "Um… Blue meant repair mode last time." The AI voice began to activate, the core suddenly slamming down.

"Deactivation signal, received." informed a mechanical version of Jade's voice. "DNA signature: Azmuth. Credentials: accepted. Powering down." The lights of the Omnitrix shut off, leaving only a black face plate as Jade began tapping it.

"Shutting down?... Now of all times!?" Ben narrowed his eyes, clenching his fists.

"Right," huffed the boy. "New plan. Jade, stay with Grandpa until we get this figured out. Kevin, can you absorb laser blasts? We never really tested that before." The older teen smirked, pounding his fist into his palm.

"If it's energy, I can take it," stated the rebellious boy. "Let's roll." Max looked towards the duo, a frown on his face.

"Ben, Kevin, be careful," ordered the old man. "That's level six technology, which is highly dangerous in its own right." Ben began activating one of his armors, Max's eyes narrowing in thought. 'The question is, where did they get it? You can't just find that on the black market.'

Ben suddenly leapt above the Rust Bucket, the Jackelope armor covering him as he landed behind the criminals. The moment one of them turned around, a strong kick knocked off the woman's helmet and knocked her out cold. The other two began opening fire, the boy zipping around as he dodged to the best of his ability. Kevin suddenly grabbed the side of the closest woman's gun, wearing his Hamato garb as he pulled the energy out of it. The woman looked shocked as the weapon stopped responding to her, Kevin receiving a strong kick to the gut as he used the same energy he absorbed to knock the attacker unconscious.

The leader of the group growled, quickly realizing that her colleagues were down. She then spotted Jade and Max, firing at them to separate them. She barely escaped a kick from Ben, running as Jade sprung to her feet. The woman was about to aim her weapon at the young teen, only to be shocked as said girl kicked her weapon out of her hands. Jade then kicked the villainess in the chest, causing her to stumble back.

She tried to run back for Max, only to stop as she had a knife to her neck. Ben's eyes widened, a familiar scene playing before him. The woman grabbed Jade around her gut, glaring at the group.

"Nobody move!" roared the woman. "One more step and the niña gets it!" Ben tried to think of a way to stop the madness this time, only for the woman to cry out as she was flipped onto the ground. Jade twisted her arm, causing her to cry out as she dropped her blade. She kicked the villainess in the side of the head, knocking her out.

"Never mess with someone who knows Martial Arts and takes gymnastics," huffed the short girl. Ben sighed in relief, leaning over a bit before frowning. Kevin put away something that had been hidden by his uniform, stomping towards Jade as she approached the Rustbucket.

"Jade, you had a knife to your neck," growled the older teen. "You took a risk and nearly lost your life." Jade sighed, nodding her head.

"You're right. She left an opening but I should have found a better way to get out of it. Jackie would be telling me off too." Ben slowly approached, dropping his armor before he felt a buzz in the back of his head. He immediately turned around, a large humanoid being suddenly appearing as if he had teleported into the area.

"That was reckless, Child," huffed the being. "Had you died before the Omnitrix was retrieved, you would have damaged it greatly." Ben growled, his eyes glowing green..

"Not another bounty hunter," growled the boy. "Tell Vilgax he can take a hike. The Omnitrix isn't getting in his grimy hands." The being didn't seem phased by his display, approaching the group. He held a staff in his hand, one that looked rather sophisticated and technological.

"Vilgax has been temporarily neutralized. I will not have him taking the Omnitrix." Ben began forming the Wildmutt armor over himself, slowly taking a ready stance.

"Ya, ya. You're just another guy who thinks the watch belongs to him. Well news flash, no one's using it for evil on my planet." The boy rushed forward, his clawed fist reared back as he snarled. The being aimed his staff at the boy, seemingly turning off gravity as the fighter spun in place.

Ben swapped to his Kraken armor, swatting at the man with the tail of it. He landed on the ground, growling as he fired pressurized water at the man. The being created another gravity field, blocking the water.

"Magic. You are a rather interesting child, but you are a thousand years too young to be fighting a Galvin." Jade's eyes narrowed, looking towards the Omnitrix.

"Galvin?" questioned the girl. "The Omnitrix said that's what Graymatter is. This guy looks nothing like one. Is that just a huge suit?" The being apparently heard her, turning its cylindrical head towards her.

"Graymatter? Is that what you humans call my species?" The Chinese girl frowned as she shook her head.

"It's called naming the forms to make them more personal. I have to walk around as them so I try not to just call them some generic name." The light of the being's eye glowed a bit, an annoyed growl escaping it.

"Well it is incredibly rude. Have you considered what it sounds like to have our great intellect be referred to as simply 'Graymatter?' Would you not be insulted if other races simply called you primates or monkeys?" Ben found a way behind the fighter, kicking him in the back and sending him tumbling forward.

"We'll send an apology card through the mail," growled the boy. "Shut up and fight." The being scraped across the ground, the lights on it flickering. The Omnitrix suddenly turned back on, Jade looking down as the dial spun. She frowned as she saw that it was blue.

"Activation signal detected," stated the device. "Omnitrix beginning reactivation protocols. Standby." The being stood up, growling in anger as he reached for his staff. Kevin kicked it away, the teen cracking his knuckles.

"Hey," greeted the teen. "Welcome to Earth, criminal." The being tackled the boy, only for said fighter to begin drawing in energy. The boy rolled across the ground, the warrior picking up his staff to throw a car at Ben. The magic hero swapped to his Fisk armor, grunting as he added more magic to stop the car's momentum. Jade tried to run for the Rustbucket again, nearly getting there when the being teleported in front of her without a scratch on his body.

"Child," greeted the being in a slightly different voice. "I believe you have something of mine." Jade was about to respond, only to gasp as she felt herself being pulled back. She was shocked to see that the one she had encountered was a different one, the warrior that held her up having the scuffs from the fight. The large creature grabbed at her wrist, causing her to scream as he nearly crushed her hand.

"That is not yours," growled the second being. He ripped the core out of the band, throwing Jade away as if she were trash. The new arrival caught the girl, holding her in his arms as he growled under his breath.

"Albedo, what are you doing? Not only did you nearly damage the core, but you needlessly endangered the child attached to it." The second being turned around, twisting the core in its grasp.

"It matters not, Azmuth. The core is now mine, and I will set things right. Just as you intended, no one who would use this tool as a weapon will ever deny your greatness." The top of the enemy's wrist opened up, revealing what looked like a trashy version of the Omnitrix core. The new arrival's one eye widened, carefully holding Jade closer.

"No you fool! That interface is unstable!" Albedo didn't listen, dislodging the old core before slotting in the real one. The face turned orange as it pushed down, a brilliant crimson light shining from it. A small Galvin in red attire looked towards the device that now rested around his waist, growling in anger.

"Foolish child," growled the little guy. "You have damaged the Omnitrix. It has been locked into self-destruct mode." The human group's eyes widened, shock clearly present on their faces. Ben growled standing tall as his fists clenched.

"Well excuse me, Shrimp!" cried the boy. "It was damaged when it crashed on Earth! Jade has been taking good care of it and it bounced between green and orange! Looks like you're the one breaking it." Albedo growled, narrowing his eyes.

"It's clear to me that you haven't the foggiest idea how delicate this machine is. You are lucky the Omnitrix has not detonated. If it had, the entire Galaxy would no longer exist. I only need the interface from the girl's wrist to fix the issue." Azmuth set Jade down behind him, holding the staff Albedo dropped as he readied himself.

"Albedo, you are toeing a dangerous line," warned the being. "Return my Omnitrix and I will forgive this transgression. To remove the interface without the core would kill the girl." Albedo began activating the device on his waist, turning it as it gave off orange sparks.

"It matters not whether the interloper lives or dies. All that matters is progress and the safety of the Omnitrix." The little creature pushed in the core, an orangish red light shining out from it. A humanoid being made of fire and brimstone stood before the group, Ben's eyes widening in recognition. Albedo made a ball of fire in his hand, his eyes narrowing.

"Besides, as long as the arm is not attached she will survive," stated the walking inferno in a raspy voice. "Pyronite: born from the Blue Star. The removal will be quick and painless if she does not squirm." Jade hid behind Azmuth, cuddling into his massive leg. Ben narrowed his eyes, swapping armors to the Kraken again as he fired high pressure water at the villain's feat.

Albedo cried out from the attack, leaping away as he growled. He fired his flames at the boy, only for the water to crash against it. Azmuth readied his staff, looking back at the girl.

"Do not fret, Child," stated the large being. "I will not let my 'former' apprentice harm you. While I would have rather removed the Omnitrix from you safely, it seems he had other plans. Now it is up to me to correct this mistake." Ben swapped to his Zon armor as he quickly flew circles around the villain, creating a tornado around him.

The fire on Albedo's head began to flicker as if it was ready to die, only for him to fire a well-aimed blaze in the boy's path. Ben dodged the attack, only to have a fiery stone crash into him. The boy's armor cracked as he landed on the ground, having shielded him from the impact.

"I totally forgot Heatblast could do that," moaned the boy. "In hindsight, maybe I should have just flew a bit further away." Albedo stood over the boy, holding his hand at the ready.

"Foolish boy," growled the former apprentice. "Pyronites live on stars. They can raise their temperature to that of a neutron star. If it were not for my need of the interface, I could burn your planet to ash right now." Azmuth growled at the comment, only for his eye to widen as Kevin snuck over on top of the Rustbucket.

"BOOYAKASHA!" cried the boy. This caused Albedo to turn around, only to gasp as the shinobi began pulling in energy from the Omnitrix. Ben's eyes widened, flashbacks entering his brain.

"KEVIN, NO!" cried the magic hero. Kevin and Albedo pulsed off of each other, the human boy's body seemingly set ablaze. Kevin slowly began standing up, his head and the left half of his torso looking like that of a Pyronite.

"Now this is hot," chuckled the boy. "Maybe with this, you'll learn not to mess with my friends." Azmuth growled, preparing his staff as Albedo began to stand as well.

"Foolish boy, cease immediately!" cried the intelligent man. "You will damage your DNA beyond repair! You have no idea how much danger you are in right now! I designed the Omnitrix to revert the user's DNA to their original form for this exact reason!" Jade looked up at the big man, her eyes widening.

"W-what do you mean?" questioned the girl. "I thought that was a time limit to save the battery or cool down." The being looked back at her, the one eye on him narrowing.

"That 'timer' you refer to is the Omnitrix preventing the DNA of the host from being corrupted by that of the chosen transformation. After enough exposure, the need to deactivate becomes less dire and eventually ceases to be necessary as the user's DNA adapts to the samples within the Omnitrix. What this fool is doing is forcing his DNA to adapt rapidly, causing untold damage to his form. If he continues, it could permanently alter his DNA… or kill him." Kevin cracked his neck, frowning seriously.

"Guess I gotta take care of the villain nerd quickly then," growled the burning boy. "He can use his powers, but he's never fought like I can." He fired a powerful flame at the ground, rocketing upwards as he spun around. Albedo went to blast him, only to receive a hard fist to the face. Kevin continued to dodge and weave out of the way of attacks, his stone skin burning brighter as he struck the stomach of his enemy repeatedly.

Albedo was about to burn the boy's human skin, only for Ben to quickly fire pressurized water at his head. Kevin hissed in pain as a bit of water hit his burning side, leaping back to be by Ben's side. The duo rushed forward, striking at their target together. The villain slid across the ground, coughing up smoke as stones fell out of his mouth. He growled, clenching his fists.

"Fine," hissed the villain. "You want to play with fire, children? My interface has a rather unique improvement upon Azmuth's design. I call it the evolutionary function. With it, I can evolve the DNA samples within the Omnitrix over thousands of years to become an apex species."

He began turning the core, more sparks flying off of it as he did. "Perhaps the two of you would be the perfect test subjects." Azmuth immediately picked up Jade, dropping her off beside Max before teleporting between the battlers.

"Albedo, stop!" ordered the man. "The core is not made for such a function!" The villain didn't listen, beginning to activate the function. His body looked like it was turning into actual plasma as a red light began flashing over it, only for Albedo to scream as the energy began to go wild around him. Azmuth activated the staff as he created a barrier around the villain, containing a massive outburst of energy as he sent it flying off into the atmosphere.

"WHAT'S HAPPENING!?" cried Ben. "THAT LOOKS REALLY BAD!" Azmuth kept his body turned towards the area, holding his concentration steadily.

"He's causing the core to malfunction! It was not made for this interface, let alone an unknown function! He's generating a genetic bio wave that would rapidly mutate all in its wake! I am sending it into the atmosphere where it will peter out and lose power!" Jade looked down at the interface on her arm, having never considered just how dangerous the Omnitrix really was.

All she knew was that it could change her into aliens, but this reveal opened her eyes greatly. The energy began to die down, a corrupted being made of energy roaring as it began banging at the gravity field. The being began to lose its glow, the Omnitrix symbol flashing before the core popped out and rolled across the ground. A Chinese girl with white hair suddenly fell forward, huffing as she was completely naked. Azmuth approached the girl, removing the cracked interface from her wrist.

The being hummed, crushing the broken tech in his hand. "You are lucky, Albedo. The human girl's DNA has saved you from a much worse fate. I will not revert you to your Galvin form, as this will be the ultimate lesson to understand why I created the Omnitrix." The young girl looked up with red eyes, only to moan as she passed out.

Jade gently picked up the core from the ground, looking it over as it sparked orange light. It looked worse than when she had found the device in the crash, the screen even being cracked. She twisted it in her hands, a concerned frown on her face.

"Sc'Carlett, please be okay," begged the girl. "I know we haven't known each other long but you lived just as much as I did." The girl looked up as the being walked towards her, kneeling down as its chest began to open. Another Galvin in green attire walked out, carefully scaling down the arm of the machine. Azmuth hummed, looking the girl over.

"If you are referring to the unstable DNA sample, it only lived through your consciousness," interrupted the Galvin in a lighter voice. "She is not real, just memories from hundreds of generations of DNA from her parent sample." Jade shook her head, a serious frown on her face.

"She had her own emotions, her own life… She was just as real as I am." The girl held the core out to the man. "I don't care if I never have the Omnitrix again, but please help her." Azmuth smiled, gently receiving the device.

"I am unsure if the sample is intact. The core was not meant for the interface Albedo used. However, I will try to fix the core. I did not make the Omnitrix as an instrument of peace, only for it to be lost." Jade smiled, looking at the device.

"So it's not a weapon like Tetrax said it was. He made it sound like the most dangerous weapon to exist. To me, it never really felt like that. It just felt like putting on a different skin and using it to help others that needed it." Azmuth scowled, an uncertain look on his face.

"It's fools like him and warlords like Vilgax that made the Omnitrix into a weapon. I built the Omnitrix to bridge the gaps between the peoples of the universe and repopulate races that no longer live today." The Chinese girl smiled, nodding her head.

"Like walking in another person's shoes. You guys have metaphors, right? I don't want to be rude." Azmuth smiled, nodding his head slightly.

"Exactly. This device is meant to end the endless wars and violence in the galaxy and to bring back entire races lost to those wars. It is a sad truth that the galaxy is always at war, never seeming to find peace. This was my solution, but others like Vilgax only try to make it worse. I had been looking for someone to bear the watch for many decades after finishing it, but I could never find the right person." Max heard the sound of sirens approaching, shaking his head.

"Let's take this conversation on the road," stated the old man. "We can't attract too much attention to this." Azmuth nodded his head, Jade letting him crawl onto her shoulder. He pulled up a small pad as he tapped it a few times, his suit disappearing before the group's eyes. Albedo also disappeared, presumably to the same location. Max drove off as soon as everyone was inside, leaving the damaged area behind.

Pieces of tech suddenly appeared on the table, Azmuth picking up one of them. He pressed it against Kevin's body, drawing out the genetic energy as the boy sighed. In a flash of light, Kevin found himself back to normal. Even his uniform appeared to be undamaged, causing the boy to sigh in relief. Azmuth shook his head, a frown on his face.

"That was incredibly foolish, what you just did. If I had not packed my DNA extractor, you could have burned away your organs." Kevin smiled, shaking his head.

"Well sometimes we do stupid things for people we care about," stated the boy. "I know I ain't doing that again unless it's life or death." Azmuth muttered under his breath about foolish children, beginning to work on the core of the Omnitrix.

"You would be wise to never do something like this again. If the DNA had been from the Omnitrix then it would have been safer. You chose the worst time to extract the genetic energy, however, as the core was unstable and close to detonation." Jade sat away from the area, a concerned frown on her face as Azmuth pulled a crystal out the center of the core. He put it in a special casing before quickly replacing it.

"Hey," questioned the girl. "What was that?" Azmuth didn't look up as he continued to work on the device.

"That was the core's concentrated DNA. It is what allows you to transform into other species. The original was corrupted because of Albedo. The Omnitrix will remember the Ectonurite sample, the one you call Sc'Carlett, so do not worry." Jade smiled softly at this, Ben clearing his throat as he sat beside her.

"Um, Jade?" questioned the boy. "Are you serious about giving the Omnitrix away? There's a lot of bad stuff about to happen that it's needed for. I mean, I know things aren't the same as my time before the loop but there' still a lot of-" Azmuth looked up from his work, a serious frown on his face.

"I can hear you, Child. I may be small in stature but Galvins have acute hearing. Time travel, in fact, is nothing new to me. If you are facing a loop, then you should count yourself lucky that you remember anything at all." Ben narrowed his eyes, not liking the eavesdropping. Jade placed her hand on Ben's shoulder, a sad smile on her face.

"Ben, it's not up to us where the Omnitrix goes," stated the Chinese girl. "This guy made the Omnitrix, meaning it's actually his. I know a lot would happen but we can make something work. The important thing is that we're alive and still together. Please, trust me."

Ben looked unsure, only for an activation sound to fill the air. Azmuth placed a new faceplate on the core, causing a green light to shine from it. He looked towards the couple, an unreadable frown on his face.

"There. It is done. Child, come here." Jade slowly stood up, approaching the Galvin. He slotted the core into the interface, causing the band to change dark blue in color with black detailing.

"Whatever you did, never do it again," groaned a voice in Jade's head. "I will be resting to recover… so do not… bother me…" The girl smiled, rubbing the device gently.

'Good to see you're alright Scar. You rest up.' Azmuth looked up at Jade, nodding his head.

"Be wary of any DNA alteration technology," listed the amphibian. "The Omnitrix is sensitive to such technology, meaning the coding could become corrupted. While safeguards are in place, it is best to air on the side of caution. You do not wish to end up like my former apprentice, stuck in the body of a species not your own or worse." Jade looked down at the faceplate, seeing her own shocked expression in its reflection.

"You're letting me keep the Omnitrix? Why?" She looked towards Azmuth, watching him nod his head.

"As I said, I have been looking for someone to wield my Omnitrix for nearly six decades. There are not many in the Galaxy that would show care for a single sample of DNA as if it were alive. I doubt I will find many like you, especially your age." Jade smiled, Ben smiling at her from his seat. The girl then looked at the watch again, tilting her head.

"Small question. Can the Omnitrix tell time so that I can pass it off as a normal watch?" Azmuth actually released a chuckle, slowly turning the dial in specific directions.

"I shall give you access to all previous functions the Omnitrix allowed you access to in its emergency period, though I had never thought of a planetary time display. It should be a simple adjustment in the code. However, I do not have the time nor do I wish to risk any corruption to the current algorithm. I will upload the changes but be aware that when it happens the Omnitrix will be in standby mode." Jade hummed, watching as the Omnitrix processed the commands its maker put into it.

"Maybe a rundown of the features and modes would be nice. I'd rather know what it can do than mess around and end up breaking it." The amphibian nodded his head, his hands behind his back.

"When the display is green, the Omnitrix is in its base state. The display will turn red when there is a threat to your DNA, the Omnitrix reverting you to your true form in order to preserve and adapt your DNA. Blue is used for when the Omnitrix requires recalibration, such as when a DNA sample becomes out of sync or an accepted signal is detected, in which case it will enter standby mode. When the display turns yellow, the DNA scanning function is active. White is supposed to be a danger sensor, though my other apprentice, Myaxx, had taken the Omnitrix before I could fully implement it."

Azmuth looked away as he sighed. "This will also be a feature of the next update. It will automatically transform you into a form best suited for the occasion. As pointed out by Albedo, the orange display is the warning that Self Destruct has been initiated. If the Omnitrix is overloaded with power, it will destroy the entire Galaxy." Jade hummed, tilting her head a bit.

"And… what about purple? When Sc'Carlett took over one time, the display turned purple." Azmuth narrowed his eyes, a hum of confusion escaping his throat.

"I had never implemented a purple function, though it is a color I had considered for a new function. Speaking of, many features of the Omnitrix relate to the DNA held within. I am sure you have heard the term 'Master Control' at some point in your life. The function gives you full access to the Omnitrix, though I do not plan to give that to you anytime soon. Only in dire situations would I unlock that function so soon. As for the other functions, I will send a detailed list of what you can currently access. There are many features you cannot access yet as it is imperative that your DNA adapt to the other samples before I activate them." Jade shook her head, giggling nervously.

"If it's all the same to you, I think I'd rather earn that Master Control one. It sounds like an honor that shouldn't be taken lightly." Azmuth hummed at this, nodding his head.

"Spoken like a true child of Chinese descent. Your ancestors would be proud." Jade blushed in embarrassment, rubbing the back of his head.

"You know about Chinese culture?" Azmuth nodded his head. He then bowed politely to the girl.

"[Mandarin] I have dabbled in the many cultures of this planet, as well as those of hundreds of worlds. It is as expected of one whose goal is to collect the DNA of every extraterrestrial species." The Galvin stood straight again, his frown looking serious. "Speaking of, perhaps you would benefit from such studies yourself. Omnitrix: Unlock Galactic Cultural Index." The device beeped as the core began spinning on its own, eventually coming to a stop as a hologram displaying different planets and the cities on them appeared.

"Galactic Cultural Index: Unlocked," stated the watch in Azmuth's voice. "Access to cultural data of 1,000,902 species available, including sub-cultures." Jade smiled at this, gently turning the wheel to see different planets and creatures.

"So I can learn about the home of everything in the Omnitrix?" questioned the girl. "What about the ones I don't have access to?" Azmuth nodded his head in response.

"You have access to every known culture within the Omnitrix," explained the maker. "As your DNA becomes more adapted to the species you currently have access to, more forms will become available. I have some warnings to impart on you. The first is to never rush the DNA as it could cause damage to yourself and the Omnitrix. The second is to never use one DNA sample too often or else you risk corrupting your own DNA and therefore the Omnitrix will block the offending sample until it is safe to be accessed again."

Jade nodded her head, committing the warnings to memory. "The last I can think of at the moment is to be careful with the device. It is very sensitive, so don't go bashing it like a barbaric brute. When anything but a simple push is used for a transformation, it damages the Core and thus increases the possibility that a sample will become damaged and thus dangerous to use." Ben looked away, not making any sound as sweat poured down his forehead.

This action was ignored as Azmuth looked towards Max. "I will keep in touch, communicating through the Omnitrix should it be necessary. Do not contact me unless it is an emergency. One more thing, Miss…" Jade bowed to the Galvin, showing proper respect.

"My name's Chan Yu. I usually go by Jade to not be confused when someone yells 'Hey you!'." Azmuth nodded his head, seeming to commit it to memory.

"Miss Chan, I will give you a fourth warning. When you enter your next period, as I have heard the reproductive cycle be referred to by several species, try not to access any DNA samples. You will enter that species' version of the cycle and it will become a rather stressful situation. Some forms may even attempt to keep you from returning to your true form, so it would be best to not test their determination. There is even the possibility that you will be forced to carry any children produced during that period of time." Jade looked away, hiding a huff in her throat.

"And here I thought my periods were bad before." She looked back towards the Galvan as she nodded her head. "I'll try not to use the Omnitrix during them unless absolutely necessary. Is there anything else I should know about?" The amphibian shook his head in denial.

"That is all. I look forward to the progress you make with my Omnitrix. Perhaps someday you will even revive one of the lost species held within. So many have been lost to the rage of war." Ben frowned, sitting up a bit.

"Trust us, we've heard," stated the boy. "We met something called an Arachnus Orichalcum or something and she was the last of her kind because of Vilgax." Azmuth frowned at this, nodding her head.

"Indeed. I had intended to collect their DNA but none of my assistants could get close to them. They were a rather closed off species. It is seen as a high honor to become close with one. I was forced to give up when they refused to share their DNA, so I am glad you were able to obtain a sample. In any case, I must be off."

Azmuth then narrowed his eyes, looking specifically towards Jade. "I hope this will be the last time the Omnitrix malfunctions. I will also be installing safeguards to prevent possession. It would be unwise to let a form take over your original mind." Jade hummed nervously at this, shaking her head.

"I've actually been giving Sc'Carlett the ability to have some control as long as she doesn't do anything bad. Could there be a way for her to have at least some freedom?" Azmuth sighed at this, shaking his head.

"Humans, such careless creatures. I suppose I can add measures to give the sample some freedom but should she take complete control the safeguard will kick in. This will be rather interesting to implement into the algorithm. Now, I am off." The parts on the table teleported away, the Galvin soon following as he closed his eyes.

Jade looked towards the Omnitrix, admiring the shine it had to it. It was as if the device had new life to it, the girl's mind racing with all she had learned. The device was not meant for fighting but for bringing peace by helping others to understand the creatures around them. Culture, biology, everything that made each creature unique. It all reminded her of the differences between Hong Kong and the US, especially how that one boy from Sparksville and certain kids in San Francisco would make fun of her culture at school.

"You know what? Azmuth's goal is as honorable as it gets. I kinda hope I can make it happen, or at least start things on the right track for it. It's still helping others, just in more ways than fighting bad guys or saving people from house fires. I want to help others understand what it means to be different." Max smiled at this, turning around in his seat to prepare for the road again.

"That's a good goal to have," stated the old man. "We'll be stopping in town soon. The hotel has a pool so you kids can cool off for a bit there. Hopefully we can finally have a relaxing stay and not run into any surprises." Jade looked towards Ben with a mischievous look, causing the boy to gulp as he leaned back a bit.

As this was going on, Azmuth's ship began to take off into space. Albedo could be seen in a holding pod, fast asleep as he floated in a vat of liquid. The alien genius sighed as he shook his head.

"You were once such a brilliant pupil," stated the man. "All my pupils seem to fail to understand what I am trying to do. Perhaps a fresh start would do you some good." He pressed a few buttons on the tank, green lines flowing through the liquid as it began altering the body inside. Albedo looked like he would return to normal, only to transform into a Chinese baby boy with the same colored hair and eyes as before.

The man then began punching in some keys, preparing a teleportation system. "You are lucky I am so skilled with altering DNA. You are now as Miss Chan would have been if she was born male rather than female. Your memories have also been limited, meaning you will essentially be a blank slate." The genius was about to press the key, only for a call to interrupt him.

He growled as he shook his head. "What now? Must this planet continue to plague me?" He pressed the answer button, his eyes widening as he leaned forward a bit. "Now this is unexpected."

He kept his back away from the tank in front of him, the light of the tank revealing a Chinese man on the other side of the call. "It has been many years, Chan Shen." The man bowed his head, a small frown on his face.

"It has indeed, Sifu," replied Shen. "I received the signal that you arrived on Earth. I believe you gave your word long ago that you would leave my family out of your experiments. I would not have shared my DNA otherwise." Azmuth's frown remained serious, shaking his head.

"I had nothing to do with Chan Yu receiving my Omnitrix. I had not intended anyone specifically who would receive it. It was damaged upon arrival, latching onto Chan Yu in order to begin repairs. I care not how it arrived on Earth, but the outcome was not something I had expected. From our interaction, I feel that the girl is the most worthy candidate to wield the Omnitrix that I have met in my long life."

He walked away from the tank, his serious smile becoming softer. "She held great compassion for the Ectonurite sample within the Omnitrix, treating it as if it were one of her kind. If she can care that much for a false lifeform, then I cannot find a reason for her to not hold onto the Omnitrix. She is an honorable young lady, one you should be proud of." Shen smiled, nodding his head.

"Trust me, Sifu. She makes me proud every day, even if she does not realize it. I cannot, however, turn a blind eye when Vilgax sets his sights on my only child." Azmuth nodded his head, turning around to walk back towards the tank.

"I am preparing upgrades for such situations. With the changes to her DNA integrated from the Omnitrix, however, I have little reason to believe that Vilgax will be a threat to her for much longer." Shen sighed at this, shaking his head.

"I had hoped you would take it from her so that she could live a normal life. It was already troubling when I found that her Uncles were lying to my face about the magic and demons she was exposed to. She was so young… I wish for you to keep a close eye on her if you are truly serious about her keeping the Omnitrix." Azmuth hummed as he looked towards the nearby tank, a small smile on his face.

"I suppose I could keep it in my schedule, provided you help me with a serious matter. My former apprentice caused quite the commotion in what should have been a simple retrieval. I had only brought him along due to the threat of Vilgax, but now I realize the error in my judgment. The resulting incident left him transformed into an adolescent human who resembles Chan Yu in every way, save for his hair and eyes. If you can agree to take him in, I will do this for you." The Chinese man seemed to think about it for a moment, finally bowing his head in response.

"Very well. I will raise him to be a proper young man. I will need you to forge the documents of his birth and help in dealing with the government. I already deal with much from my time as your lab assistant." Azmuth smiled, quickly changing the teleport location before sending the young Albedo away.

"Now that should be a trivial task."


And that's the chapter, Y'all. Azmuth arrives in an attempt to retrieve the Omnitrix, circumventing the Rojo incident. Really, she wouldn't have been much of an issue with Jade not hesitating to hit a girl and Ben no longer being scared to do the same. We also get a battle with Albedo and Azmuth realizing Jade's potential as a wielder of the Omnitrix, as well as a reveal that Sc'Carlett isn't truly alive… as far as Azmuth believes. In the end, there was also a reveal that Jade's father has had business with the extraterrestrial before. You'll have to wait a while longer for details on that one, as well as Jade's reaction to having a new little bro.

Anyway, what did you guys think about the chapter? Will Jade continue to prove herself worthy of the Omnitrix? How will the group deal with these constant changes to the timeline? Let me know your thoughts down below and I'll try to respond ASAP. This is Inkaliber, signing… Hey? What's that over there?


Omake: Outside View

Location: Unknown

A robed individual leaned over a strange looking pool, watching as Jade and Ben were playing around in a rather large pool. They had just arrived from their encounter with Azmuth, deciding to enjoy a nice break. Ben splashed Jade before she leaned on him, her arms around his neck. The being irked, as if the sight annoyed him. He held a gauntlet over the pool, the water rippling as he growled.

"This is not how things were supposed to happen," growled the man. "No matter. I will put things back on track." The water looked like it was about to change, only for a platform of stars to form over it. The man turned around, a female humanoid with a form depicting the night sky floating before him with glowing green eyes.

"You will do no such thing," ordered the entity. "Had Benjamin Tennyson not mentioned the loop in time, I wouldn't have thought to check this place. Now that I know you are the culprit, I have already thought ahead. You will not create another loop, child." The man began walking back, a frightened expression on his face.

"That-that's impossible. We aren't in your reality." The entity held out her hands, causing the land to shift around them.

"Child, I am the universe and all that is connected to it. I can, within reason, change its very structures and limitations. I have had plenty of time to think on how to make myself Omnipresent and Omnipotent in this realm. Now, GET OUT OF MY UNIVERSE." The man held up his gloved hand, shaking his finger.

"You can't get rid of me now. I have an important place in the future of this timeline. TO remove me now would destroy the very fabric of your being. You cannot touch me." The being narrowed her eyes, her hands still stretched out.

"You seem to think I have not already informed the Council. You are currently under watch from all angles. You try anything and they will stop you, Child. You believe yourself above us but, now that we know you exist, we in every universe are prepared for your changes." The humanoid began walking backwards, a black and purple portal forming behind him.

"I don't need to be above you to win. Keep your changes. None of it matters in the end. It's all just a matter of time." The man disappeared into the portal, leaving the entity alone.