"Okay, they're on-board." Ben said.
"Great." Eddie responded. "Maybe Lucy will want to join to."
"Maybe. We'll call her next."
Gwen interjected. "Are you sure you want Lucy on the team?"
"Sure, why not. You've seen what Leopans can do." Ben told her. Then he added. "Don't worry, I don't think she'll try to take your boyfriend."
Eddie shook his head. "Ben, you watch too much TV. Just because a girl and a guy are close, doesn't always mean they're a couple."
"He's just doing it to annoy us." Gwen explained. She walked over. "I'm curious though. What are you drawing up?" She said, looking over his shoulder.
"Just some general ideas." He told her, "I can't really go any further. I'm not an engineer...yet."
"So all the team members have their own quarters." She said pointing to one of his bullet points.
"Yeah, Of course I don't know who will be on the team yet, but I'll know by the time I'm ready to work on this for real."
"Looks to me like you've already started." She said as she looked at some of the drawings he had written down in a notebook.
The kids continued batting about ideas for their hypothetical hero team and it's headquarters. Eddie grinned as he suggested "On the lower level we'll have a complete garage for the Benmobile."
"Oh heck yeah!" Ben shouted as Eddie's smile grew.
"Eddie, don't encourage him." Gwen chided, but she couldn't hide her own smile at her cousins enthusiasm.
"Ben," She said, "You have XLR8, you don't need a car."
"Need, no..but want, yes."
Up front Max was thoroughly enjoying the happy sounds of the kids in the back. He didn't know if they could ever make those things a reality, but they sure were enjoying the dream either way.
Then he saw their next, and last, activity for the summer.
"Hey kids, see that blimp up there?"
The kids all came up front to look.
"That's where we're going next. In about an hour we'll be riding on that."
"Does your family have one of these?" Ben asked Eddie.
"No, I've read about them, but I've never been in one."
The four looked out the window at the city below. Max was looking mostly at the kids.
"Attention passengers!" Everyone looked to see a man dressed in a birdlike outfit. "We are in control of this blimp now."
The passengers, most of them anyway, started to panic and ask about the pilots.
"The crew is..taking a nap. But, as long as this city meets our demands, they; and all of you will be okay. If not, this blimp will explode."
A very annoyed Max lead the kids to a hatch to do what they knew they had to do.
"The usual thing, Ben, it's hero time; Gwen, back him up.
Eddie, you can pilot a sub, can you fly a blimp."
The young man looked up to the older one, "I'm a fast learner."
"Good, go get control of this aircraft."
He made his way to the cockpit. Another bird-man looked just in time to be hit with a stun blast from Eddie's pistol.
Eddie then walked over to the copilot, who was slumped over. He was able to drag the man, fortunately not a particularly large one, out of the seat.
"Alright, look like this is the basic up and down. Just got to keep it in the air."
He then looked at the controls. 'Not so different from the sub.' He thought. He began to turn the airship.
It didn't take long for Max to walk into the cockpit.
"How'd it go Eddie?"
"Alright. I guess it went well on your end?"
"Yeah, all secure." He looked out the window. "But why take us here?" As he saw they were moving away from the city.
"Ya, know, just in case things didn't go so well." Eddie said.
Max nodded. "Save the lives you can. Very good." He pulled the pilot from his seat and took his place. "Now let me help you get this in and get these pilots some medical help."
"Okay Max." Eddie said, happy to learn more about the aircraft.
Later they were in the rustbucket, on the way to Bellwood.
"Aww Man, can't this thing go any slower?"
"If we go slower we'll miss the first day of school." Gwen chided.
"Duh, that's the point."
From the front Max asked, "Don't want the summer to end?"
"What, so I can go back to my normal boring life?"
"Normal sounds pretty good to me." Gwen said. "The only spelling I'll do is in composition class."
"Well," Ben countered, "While you're hitting the books, I'll be hitting the bad guys. Bet the cops could use an extra four hands, or a tail, or some wings."
Max interrupted, "Ben, I'm afraid you're going to have to keep the Omnitrix our secret for now. The less people know, the better."
"Even mom and dad?" Ben asked, a disappointed look on his face.
"And I guess that includes my grandpa." Eddie asked.
In an apologetic tone, Max said. "I'm afraid so."
Some time passed in silence; each of the kids engrossed in their own thoughts.
In a short time, the RV was pulling up in front of Ben's home. Eddie felt a little bit like an intruder as Ben and Max exchanged a rather touching goodbye.
That was quickly interrupted by a German Shepard lunging at Ben. The dog was quickly followed by Bens parents.
"Hey uncle Carl, aunt Sandra." Gwen stepped forward to greet him.
"Hi Gwen." The blond woman greeted her with a hug.
"I know you and Ben have had your differences, but I hope his personalty grew on you this summer."
She paused. "I suppose one..or two of them weren't all the disgusting."
Ben's parents just shrugged at the cryptic comment. Then they looked at their sons new companion. "And who is this young man?"
Ben took care of the introductions. "This is Eddie Grandsmith. I guess grandpa told you about him." He turned to Eddie, "These are my parents, Carl and Sandra."
"Pleased to meet you Mr, and Mrs Tennyson." Eddie said, extending a hand.
"We're happy to meet you to." Carl said. "Any friend of Ben's is welcomed here."
"Thank you sir."
"None of this sir business. It's just Carl to you."
He smiled. Carl then turned his attention to his father.
"Got a new job dad. City engineer."
"That's great."
"Want'a come in?"
"I'd like to but I promised Frank and Lilly I'd have Gwen home hours ago." He looked to Ben. "And you remember what I told you."
Eddie was definitely picking up on some tension between the two older men.
After a knowing look between Ben and Max, the older man walked to his RV, signaling the remaining kids to join him.
"So," Gwen said. "See ya soon?"
"Yeah, sounds good."
Ben and Eddie shook hands. "You've got my contact info Ben, use it."
"You got it."
A moment later they were on the road. Gwen stepped to the back to wave at Ben; a smile on her face as she turned back to Eddie.
Gwen sat down across from Eddie; neither sure what to say with the short time they had left. Eddie broke the silence. "What I said to Ben goes for you to. Use that contact info I gave you."
"I will." She assured him. "And you do the same."
"Count on it." He said with a smile.
"And uh," Gwen hesitated, fidgeting with a lock of her hair. "Don't forget about seeing me, I mean us, for Christmas; and our birthdays."
"Wouldn't miss it." He assured her.
They pulled up in front of Gwen's home for what Eddie expected would be largely a repeat of the scene at Bens' place
This time though the parents were outside by the time they got out.
The family resemblance between the brothers was clear. And there was no doubt that the red haired woman was Gwen's mother.
The two adults embraced their daughter.
"It's so good to have you back. We missed you." The woman said.
Her father asked, "Were you and Ben able to get along okay?"
"Mostly. I guess he's not a total dweeb." Gwen conceded.
Her mother asked, "How is Ben doing these days anyway?"
"He's okay," Gwen told them. "Hyper as usual."
Frank laughed. "I'm glad to hear it." He then turned his attention to Eddie.
"And this must be the new friend that dad told us about."
"Yes sir. Eddie Grandsmith." He extended his had for a shake. "I'm pleased to meet you."
Frank took the offered hand. "The pleasure's all mine. I'm Frank and this lovely lady is Natalie."
"A please you meet you to ma'am."
"Very well mannered." Natalie said with an approving nod.
"Well," Lilly said, looking at Gwen. "You need to get unpacked and tell us all about the summer. Seems you've had some adventures."
Eddie and Max exchanged quick smiles at that.
"So dad," Frank said, "Want to come in for a while? We've got some interesting news."
'Yup. Deja vu.' Eddie thought.
"Maybe later." he said. "I've got to get Eddie back to his grandpa soon.
Of course the reality was that Max had promised Eddie some more plumber training, including the jet pack that Eddie had taken off of the hijacker piloting the blimp earlier.
Gwen spoke up. "Mom, dad, would it be okay for grandpa to take me to the tournament tomorrow?"
"We were planing to take you." They told her.
"I know but..." She didn't know how to finish that.
Frank chuckled. "Not ready to say goodbye yet. Okay." He turned to his father. "Is it okay dad."
"Sure, I'd be glad to."
Gwen turned to Eddie, "You're welcome to come to...if you want to."
"Wouldn't miss it."
"Okay see you tomorrow." She hugged Max, then did the same with Eddie before they got into the RV.
Now it was just the two of them in the rustbucket.
"So, you about ready to get back to school?"
"Yeah," Eddie answered, "But I'll miss traveling with you guys."
"We'll miss you to. But you've got friends at school, right?"
Eddie paused. "Yeah, but it's not the same." He paused again, looking for the right words. "With you, Ben and Gwen, it's...more genuine. If I was penniless tomorrow, you guys wouldn't think any different of me. I doubt that's true with any of the guys at that prep school I go to."
"You know your grandpa and I weren't very well off when we were kids. But Donovan always had ambition and a sharp mind. It doesn't surprise me that he's become one of the wealthiest men in the world today."
The young man smiled. "He told me about that. He wouldn't keep quite about it after he invited you to the resort.
From what he's said over the phone recently, I think he's getting a little nostalgic for Bellwood. I think you're going to see him around here soon."
"Well that'd be find by me." Max told him. "In the meantime, I know a place where we can work with that jet pack..along with a couple other gadgets that I think will interest you."
The next day, they got another call from Donovan.
"The kids had a great time together." Max told him.
(Max listens)
"Yeah, but they'll see each other again soon."
(Max listens)
"A life long friendship no doubt."
(Max listens)
Max laughs. "Well let me hand you over to Eddie."
Max hands the phone to the young man.
"Hey Grandpa."
"About ready to come home?" He asked.
"I guess so. But remember, I did promise I'd be here for Ben and Gwen's birthday."
"That won't be any problem." Donovan assured him.
As Eddie was talking Max saw an alert pop up. He motioned for Eddie to give him the phone.
"Donovan, we're passing by a power station. We'll probably loose the signal. So we..." Max cut off the call mid sentence.
The rustbucket had been parked this whole time. Eddie asked. "What's up Max?"
"Got a signal that there are drones in the aria."
"Looking for Ben?" Eddie asked.
"Probably. We'd better find him first. Time to use some of what you learned."
The arrived at Madison elementary.
"Looks like the drones found him." Eddie said.
"Yeah, and we'd better do the same."
It didn't take long to find him, in the school cafeteria. Max saw a drone about to fire on Diamondhead. He fired his plumber weapon, destroying it.
"Picked up a signal that drones were in the aria." He said as he manipulated his weapon in a manor that reminded Eddie of a Transformer toy. Eddie only had to hit a switch on the energy sword that Max had given him; putting it in a pouch on his belt.
"Think Vilgax sent them?" Ben asked, then transformed to human.
Before Max could say anything some of the other kids walked in.
"What's he doing here?" Asked a kid who Eddie recognized form Ben's dreamworld as Cash.
"Uh, Ben said it's bring your grandfather to school day."
Cash turned to look at Eddie. "What's your story?"
"Perspective student." Eddie answered.
"Then the other thug, JT asked. "Did he tell you how he hid in the cafeteria while all the action was going down?"
"What did you do during the action?" Eddie asked. They had no immediate answer. "Let me guess, you were taunting them into submission."
"How about we kick your but into submission?" Cash suggested.
Eddie looked at Ben. "Two of us, two of you. Let's do this."
Ben had perked up and was ready for a tag team fight with Eddie; but then heard Max...
"Boys..No!"
"Thank the old man for saving you Tennyson..and whoever you are."
Later, as they were taking Ben home, the young hero was venting his frustration with keeping his powers hidden.
"I can do all these amazing things, I can help people. But I have to let them just think I'm the same old nothing that they think I am."
"Not as easy as it is in the comic books." Eddie added.
Max understood. "Keeping a secret is never easy, trust me. Every day I wanted to tell your grandma and our kids the truth."
"Well maybe if you had, you and dad would get along better." "Can't change the past Ben."
In a few minutes, when they pulled up to Ben's place, Max told him. "Speaking of the past. I forgot to give you this."
He handed him his box of souvenirs from the summer.
Ben looked at it. Even the bad memories seemed good.
Ben heard a sound, he saw the door open slightly. "Someone must be home." In a somewhat confrontational tone he asked "You coming in?"
"Can't." Max said. "I told Gwen I'd take her to a Karate tournament today." He added, "Do you miss her yet?"
Reflexively, he was about to deny it; but he said. "Well, maybe just a little." He wondered if he was going soft. "Tell her I said good luck."
"Will do." Max said with a smile.
The Rustbucket pulled up to Gwen's house.
"Hey dad." Frank greeted. "And I see you brought Gwen's new friend with you." He leaned down. "Better watch out, she won't stop talking about you."
"Dad!" A familiar voice called out.
He laughed. "Just teasing a little. Come on in, Gwen 'll be down in just a minute."
They sat. Lilly started the conversation. Gwen's told us all about this summer. She told me about the resort too...Some kind of accident?"
"Uh, yeah. The power supply. Guess it wasn't as reliable as we thought."
"Okay, she didn't seem to know exactly what happened." Lilly said. "And Max. You didn't tell us you were a personal friend of Donovan Grandsmith."
"Never thought to mention it. But, now ya know."
Eddie got the distinct feeling that Gwen's mom was looking for information; although he wasn't sure about what. Maybe she suspects that there was more to the summer than Gwen told her. After all the woman seemed pretty intelligent, so she may have picked up on something...
Or was she just interested in the fame and fortune of the Grandsmiths? Or, like Ben, did she think there may be more than friendship between him and her daughter.
He wasn't sure about the answer to that one himself. Only time would tell.
As for Natalie checking out what she might see as her daughters possible boyfriend. Well it makes sense that she'd want to make sure she wasn't developing a crush on some psycho.
Gwen picked up on it too. "Mr. Grandsmith was really nice. And the resort was awesome." Eddie chimed in, "Until the accident with the power."
"Yeah, until then." Gwen agreed, getting the message about his story about the resort. She'd steer away from the topic until they got their story straight.
"Got my new gi." she proudly said, holding it out.
"Well, let's get you there so you can try it on." Max said.
Excited, Gwen kissed her mother and father goodbye and left in the Rustbucket.
"So, what is the story about the resort?" Gwen asked.
Eddie answered, "Not too far from the truth. The power system failed and the damage destroyed the facility. We're just not going to tell them it was alien power. It was just the thermal power...I guess we underestimated how powerful those vents were."
"Good story." Gwen told him.
"How was your first day of school?" Eddie asked.
"I didn't go. I'll start my new school tomorrow." She added. "I'll be going to the same school that Ben is."
"Why the change?" Max asked from up front.
"My dad got a new job. They moved over the summer. So, I had to change schools."
"Means you'll see a lot more of Ben." Max reminded her.
"Well," she said, "I guess that's not so bad."
Gwen turned to Eddie. "When does your school start again?"
"Next Monday. But I'm thinking about a change to."
Max piped in. "So Donovan is coming back to the old homestead?"
"Ha, yeah. He'll have a new place built here in Bellwood as his primary residence." He turned to Gwen. "He said I could attend school with you and Ben when we move in."
"That's great!" Gwen said, instantly wondering if she showed too much enthusiasm at the news.
Eddie smiled. "I'd probably start next semester. This semester, it'll still be the prep school I've been going to."
Then Eddie mentioned: "They'll have some repairs to do at Ben's school though."
Gwen sighed. "Now what?"
Max told her, "Some of Vilgax's drones found Ben. They attacked the school."
Eddie filled her in on the details.
They pulled up to Gwen's school, where the tournament was to be held. The lot was empty.
They got out and looked around. They saw a makeshift sign saying that all activities are canceled do to recent events.
"Recent events?" Gwen asked. "Does that mean what I think it means?"
"Let's find out." Max said as the three went back to the rustbucket.
Max turned on a scanner. He heard multiple calls to emergency services.
The kids turned on the TV. A reporter said. "It's seems that the alien activity we've been seeing all summer has come to Bellwood."
They showed a large muscular alien with a tentacled face laying waste to downtown Bellwood.
"Vilgax?" Eddie asked.
"Yeah," an obviously upset Gwen said.
"Let's go." Max said. "Gwen, get that spell-book. Eddie, put get your gear."
They first went to Ben's house, only to find it in ruin. In front of it they found the dog, who they left in the care of the neighbors.
After that, they went in search of Ben.
They found him and his father in downtown Bellwood.
"Ben." Gwen called out, as she, Max and Eddie approached, weapons at the ready.
"Son," Max said to Carl. "I know I've got some explaining to do. But right now, actions speak louder than words. And I've got three of them; aim and fire!"
As they fought, Eddie could see how Carl seemed to be into this. He could definitely understand. He'd felt the same way back at the resort.
The cousins in the meantime had their own back and forth.
"What are you doing here?" He asked.
"Eh, my karate tournament got canceled."
"Don't tell me you're not glad to see her." Eddie said.
"Didn't say I wasn't." Gwen turned at smiled at her cousin.
The fight continued, but they were getting nowhere. More drones just kept coming.
Then Vilgax stepped out in front of them.
"So much suffering. Are you prepared for more, Tennyson?"
Three generations of Tennyson men answered in unison: "You talking to me ugly?" After which, Gwen used her magic, now more powerful than she'd ever felt, to collapse the platform that the alien warlord was standing on.
She turned to her cousin. "Just can't live without me huh."
Before Ben could respond Vilgax emerged from the rubble.
"Grandpa?" Ben looked up.
"Do it!" The old plumber told him.
He hit the omntirix, changing into XLR8.
From behind a car two familiar voices said. "Tennyson? You're..."
With a satisfied smile he said. "Every single one of those heroes." As he ran into battle.
"Eddie," Max said, "Take to the air."
He activated his jet pack, ready to take on the drones, and back up Ben. Gwen used her magic to amazing effect, and the two older men used two parade floats to attack anything the Vilgax sent against them. Eddie covered Ben's back from drones, but was smacked out of the sky by Vilgax. Who then announced; "Get ready to experience my full wrath."
Ben attacked, but was swatted away.
"We've got to stop him once and for all." Ben said.
"He's indestructible." Max said, voicing the conclusion that he'd reluctantly come to after more than one 'death' of Vilgax.
"Maybe not." Carl said. He looked at his son. "Remember when I asked if you wanted to come to work with me?"
He laid out his plan.
It seemed to Vilgax that the Tennysons, had given up. They scattered. Ben ran over to him saying; "Fine, destroy the town, but you'll never see me or the Omnitirx again." With that he ran into one of the holes in the street.
"No one escapes me that easily." Vilgax declared as he followed.
After walking a short distance, he heard Tennyson drop down behind him.
"Do you play follow the leader, looser."
Then he saw Tennysons father release some valve and heard the gases escape.
"So much for all my hard work." He let go of a torch he was holding, as Ben ran away with him.
The last thing Vilgax saw was a ball of flame engulfing him; rage matching the pain, as he was incinerated.
A short time later Eddie and the Tennysons stood in the street. By now Ben's mother Sandra had joined them.
"I'd say come over for dinner, but...we don't have a kitchen." Carl said.
"That's okay." His father responded. "I'll fix us something in the rustbucket."
Eddie almost laughed at the faces of the Tennysons. "I've got a better idea." Eddie suggested. "I'll treat us all to a restaurant." Gesturing to Gwen and Sandra, he said. "Ladies choice. Sky's the limit."
The next day found Eddie at the airport, about to go home to his grandpa.
"Private plane, that's cool." Ben said.
"It's was good having you around Eddie. Have a good flight." Max told him, patting him on the shoulder.
"Thank you Max."
Ben wasn't sure what to say. He settled with "See ya around." As he shook the taller boys hand.
"Count on it."
Gwen wanted to say her goodbyes to...but also she didn't want to. She didn't want this to be goodbye.
"Remember you said you'd be here in December."
"I will be." He added. "Our new place should be close to finished by that time."
"I'll see you then." She said. "Call me sometime?"
"I will."
Expecting a handshake, Eddie was surprised when Gwen gave him a hug.
The pilot of the plane told Eddie. "Come on now. Don't want to keep Mr. Grandsmith waiting."
"Got ta go." He told them.
He walked away with the pilot, feeling a mixture of joy and sadness. What a story he'd have for his Grandpa.