PROLOGUE
The movie opens with a video recording flickering on. A man speaks onto the camera, as if talking directly to the audience.
"Is this thing on?" the man mutters to himself, as he keeps on tinkering on the camera. He inhales, and begins. "My name is Carl Tennyson. If you're watching this, I'm already dead."
[Studio X credits sequence.]
"I was the lead scientist working on Project: Azmuth for the Templars."
[Another studio Y sequence rolls.]
"We were working on something big. Something that can alter the trajectory of mankind." There was seriousness in Carl's tone, indicating the urgency of the matter.
[Studio Z credits sequence]
"It was a device we came to name as "the Omnitrix". This device we were working on, we were told it was going to be used to better human lives." Carl continues. "We, the twenty of us, got very excited, not only because of the potential usage of this device, but because we are a part of a better future for mankind." he stops. "Imagine the possibilities. The possible cure to diseases like cancer, Alzheimer's, or even Huntington's disease!"
[Story by blastranger]
"We studied higher life forms and their certain life forms and how certain strands of DNA link to different creatures of varying evolutionary stages." Carl explains. "We believed and theorised that mankind's salvation lies in these evolutionary stages of different species."
[Actor A, B, C, D, etc]
"We were able to isolate thousands of different DNAs and their dominant evolutionary traits. The goal was to fuse these dominant traits from their original DNAs to their human host."
[The scene cuts to a CCTV recording of the insides of a laboratory. At least eight scientists were shown conducting an experiment, including Carl. A bright green light flashes, and one the scientist at the centre of the laboratory transformed into a humanoid creature that was engulfed in flames.]
[Based on characters from the series created by Man of Action, 'Ben 10'.]
"As you can see on the screen, this was our first successful fusing sequence." Carl narrates.
[The scientists cheer and applaud at the success of the transformation. The fiery humanoid walks down the stairs, still disoriented from the transformation.]
"This creature here, which we named 'Heatblast', suggested by Professor Parker Dox, being the biggest gaming nerd he is-" Carl stops to laugh, "is a collective hive mind of Streptococcus bacteria residing on ignimbrites."
"Heatblast has the ability to manipulate heat and is capable of moving its own body made of ignimbrites independently."
[The recording shows Heatblast glowing bright red and producing flames from both his hands.]
"Though fully transformed, the original host, Hugo, in this case, fully retains control over the physical body." Carl continues. "We were off to a promising start. The Templars were pleased at our progress on the project. They encouraged us to continue on the project, suggesting we carry on the test with different DNAs." Carl smiles.
"And so we did. We isolated more DNAs," Carl explains. "We even tried crossbreeding between animal DNAs." he stops. "Sometimes I question myself on the etiquettes of crossbreeding," he sighs. "But I keep telling myself that it's for the sake of mankind. That this is a necessity."
[The recording shows more humanoid creatures, from a primate with four hands, a crossbred creature that resembles an ape with spider legs, and more.]
"Or so I thought."
[Main title/sequence rolls.]
[The scene cuts to a 10 year old boy with another girl of his age, and a man around the age of sixty, in the middle of a chaotic battlefield].
"Ben, Hope is getting away!" the little girl pointed at a teenage girl with silver hair running away. She projected an energy rune as she fended off two rock creatures resembling dogs.
"Not if I stop her," Ben answered. He reached for his wristwatch, the Omnitrix, as shown in the earlier footage Carl narrates over. He smashed the Omnitrix, as he transformed into the fiery humanoid, Heatblast.
Heatblast produced fireballs from his fists and threw them in the direction Hope was running to.
Hope stumbled and struggled. "Ugh," she muttered to herself. She rose to her feet. "If it isn't always for you people," similar to the first girl, she projected two magical runes around her wrists. She threw the magical runes onto the building next to the sixty year old man. The building toppled down onto the man.
"Grandpa Max!" The girl lunged at the man as Ben and Hope watched. Fortunately, the girl reached Grandpa Max just in time to project a force field over them, shielding them from the falling debris.
"Thank you, Gwen," Grandpa Max expressed his gratitude.
"You were going to hurt my Grandpa Max," Heatblast grumbled. "Oh you're so going back to jail for this," he continued, glowing bright red.
[The scene cuts to Hope in handcuffs, apprehended by the police as Ben, Gwen and Grandpa Max watch over.]
"And never get out!' Ben raised and shook his fist at Hope as she was entering the police car.
[The battle scene cuts back to Carl Tennyson's recording.]
"One day I discovered that the Templars aim to weaponize the Omnitrix. They were going to create an army of soldiers with access to infinite forms." Carl stops in regret. "Instead of creating a cure, we found out we were working on creating a weapon." he pauses again. He sighs. "Instead of peace, we have laid the groundworks to what could be the beginning of a war."
[Scene cuts to various different scenes of Ben's adventures with Gwen and Grandpa Max, both happy and intense, as both human and various humanoid forms, battling evil.]
Editorial note: this narration is directly a juxtaposition of what Carl fears, Ben using the Omnitrix to battle evil instead of the Omnitrix being used for injustice.
"We decided to hide the Omnitrix from them. We are not going to be accomplices to inhumanity." Carl states, his voice stern with a strong resolve.
"We went underground and kept on working on Project: Azmuth," Carl continues. "We kept on working on the Omnitrix, still in hopes of creating a better future of mankind."
"The Templars, angered by our disappearance along with the Omnitrix, were desperate to locate it. They activated the 'Chimera Sui Generis' Protocol, or essentially the CSG protocol. The protocol is a line of Sentinel highly advanced robots for their security purposes."
[The scene shows the CSG Sentinels ambushing and breaking into Carl's lab].
"The CSGs found us. Professor Parker Dox, Hugo, Manny-" Carl stops and breaks down. He swallows. "I was lucky enough to escape from them. I escaped with the Omnitrix in my possession. This device must not fall to the hands of the Templars."
Carl stops for a while. "I know it's just a matter of time before the Templars and the CSGs find me again, hence why I feel the need to explain everything about the Omnitrix, so listen carefully."
[Scene cuts to an older Ben, Gwen, Grandpa Max and an unfamiliar man asleep on a sofa in a plane hull full of screens and monitors.]
"Kevin," Gwen complained and nudged him. "Wake up." Kevin opened his eyes, blinked and groaned.
"Huh, have we arrived, babe?' He asked Gwen as he rose up from the sofa.
Gwen pointed to one of the screen monitors Ben and Grandpa Max are watching over too. The monitor showed a chaotic, destroyed city suburb. In the middle of the chaos stood a tall humanoid figure- a CSG Sentinel unit.
"Vilgax." Ben mumbled, his tone dead serious.
"Right on cue." Kevin opened his arms and walked over to the hull doors. He reached for the metal door and absorbed the material, turning himself metal. He smashed the hull doors open. The hull alarm glared red and went ringing as the doors blasted open, a powerful gust of wind sweeping into the hull.
"Kevin, you haven't heard what our plan is yet!" Grandpa Max yelled out to him, his voice dampened by the ringing alarm.
"What plan?" Kevin asked as he looked back at Grandpa Max and grinned, a look of high across his face. The surface of his body gleamed red as he reflected the lights of the glaring red alarm. Before they knew it, Kevin had jumped off the door. A trail of Kevin's scream of pure glee excitement followed.
"This guy is insane," Ben shook his head, grinning. He walked towards the still open hull doors. He reached for the Omnitrix and transformed himself into the primate creature with four hands. He turned his head towards Gwen and Grandpa Max who are still speechless. "Well, see you guys on the ground?" Ben grinned, then leaped off the plane as well, following Kevin.
[The battle scene cuts back to Carl Tennyson's recording.]
"We implemented an algorithm– one we came to call the Myaxx algorithm. The algorithm tracks dominant genes across species and identifies how these genes influence traits beneficial for survival and adaptation through DNA barcoding. It maps the evolutionary lineage of the targeted species, identifying key genetic markers that correspond to specific traits. This allows the Omnitrix to sequence the DNA and select those traits that provide the greatest potential for integration with the host." Carl explained.
"We then implemented the CRISPR-Cas9 technology to analyse both the targeted species' DNA and the host's DNA, identifying compatible genetic sequences. It will then find homologous genes and select genes that will not cause catastrophic mutations. Finally, these dominant traits will then be selected based on the host's immune system, making sure it is not rejected by it."
"Once the DNA is ready, the gene is then horizontally transferred, starting a temporary fusion, temporarily overwriting certain genetic expressions in the host's cells. Finally, when the fusion is deactivated, the Omnitrix uses a form of self-repairing RNA that can revert the host back to their human form." He continued.
"The Omnitrix harnesses the host's biological plasticity for regeneration and metabolism, increasing drastically to fuel rapid cellular division and restructuring. The Omnitrix triggers a surge in growth factors and stem cell activation, allowing new tissues to form quickly. The Omnitrix also triggers the brain to rewire itself temporarily to accommodate the new species form. This would involve massive bursts of neurogenesis and synaptic reconfiguration, which the Omnitrix enhances by activating the human body's latent potential for neuroplasticity."
[The scene transitioned from Carl Tennyson's recording back to the battle scene.]
The battlefield was chaos incarnate—flames, debris, and shattered metal filled the air as Vilgax advanced with mechanical precision. His optic lasers scorched the earth, forcing Ben, in his Four Arms form, to hurl massive concrete pieces that crushed against Vilgax's armoured frame with little effect.
Beside him, Kevin, encased in a layer of metal, charged with a furious roar, his fists gleaming as he swung at Vilgax. But he was too fast—he caught Kevin's arm mid-swing and hurled him into a crumbling wall, sending shards of concrete and steel flying.
Gwen stood at the centre, her glowing mana shield flickering under the strain of Vilgax's relentless attacks. She gritted her teeth, struggling to hold back his searing laser beams. "We need to work together!" she yelled, sweat dripping from her brow as she pushed the barrier outward to protect the group.
Grandpa Max circled around, firing energy shots from his rifle, the blasts barely leaving a dent in Vilgax's reinforced body. Determined, he pressed forward, shouting commands to the trio. "Stay on him! He has to break!"
In an instant, Vilgax's gaze locked onto Max. Without warning, he fired a deadly red laser from his eyes, striking Max in the abdomen. Max staggered back, the rifle slipping from his hands as he collapsed to one knee.
"Grandpa!" Ben's voice cracked, but Four Arms was forced to retreat as another wave of lasers scorched the ground around him. Gwen's shield faltered, and Kevin, groaning from the wreckage, tried to rise again.
[Carl Tennyson's recording reappeared.]
"The Omnitrix has a time limit, which is identified by the beeper mechanism implemented in it. This system was designed to address a dangerous flaw discovered during the development of the Omnitrix—alien brain dominance during prolonged transformations." Carl's voice was deep with concern.
"We have observed that if the user is in an extended period of a transformation phase, the targeted species' brain functions may begin to overtake the human brain's. This is due to the brain neural network overwriting sequence triggered by the Omnitrix to match the targeted species. Initially, this manifests as minor behaviour changes, but over time it may lead to complete loss of the user's original personality and cognitive function. The targeted species' brain's primitive instincts, survival mechanisms, and heightened aggression can take full control." He explained.
"While certain species may have various time limits depending on their complexity, the beeper serves as a universal safety warning. The more alien the species, the more likely its cognitive functions revolve around primal survival instincts, such as hunting, defence, or environmental adaptation." He concluded.
[The scene transitioned from Carl Tennyson's recording back to the battle scene.]
Ben, in his Four Arms form, struggled against Vilgax, each of his colossal blows barely making a dent in the machine's fortified armour. Vilgax countered with brutal precision, his laser eyes searing across Ben's side, sending waves of pain through him. Ben groaned as he stumbled backward, struggling to regain his balance. He knew he was losing, Vilgax's relentless onslaught leaving him battered and desperate.
Just as Ben tried to rise again, he heard Gwen's voice, filled with anguish.
"Ben!"
He turned, and his heart nearly stopped. Gwen knelt beside Grandpa Max, cradling his mortally wounded body, tears streaming down her face as she sobbed. Kevin was beside them, his expression stricken as he held Max's shoulder, but it was Gwen's tearful eyes that broke Ben's spirit. She shook her head, her voice cracking as she cried out in despair.
Ben's eyes widened in horror, his pulse racing as a surge of fury overtook him. This was his fault. He hadn't been fast enough, hadn't been strong enough to protect them. The sight of Max dying in Gwen's arms sent a wave of raw, unfiltered rage surging through him.
With a guttural roar, Ben's form shifted to XLR8.
"Vilgax!" Ben screamed, his voice shaking with anger as he blitzed toward the towering sentinel at supersonic speed.
He slammed into Vilgax with a flurry of punches, each one harder and faster than the last. His grunts of rage echoed through the battlefield, his movements a blur of fury. Ben's fists crashed into Vilgax's metal frame like a relentless storm, each strike accompanied by a guttural yell as he poured every ounce of his anger into the assault.
Ben roared, his voice cracking as his fists dented Vilgax's body.
Vilgax attempted to retaliate, but Ben's fury made him faster, more vicious. He dodged every counterstrike, his speed unmatched, his screams filling the air with each punishing blow. Ben's fists collided with the sentinel's chest, his grunts and yells turning into howls of anguish as he battered Vilgax down. Sparks flew, and metal cracked under the sheer force of Ben's strikes.
Ben screamed, driving a supersonic punch into Vilgax's core, his knuckles splitting the machine's metal armour. He yelled again, pushing past his own limits, his voice raw as he struck one final time. The metallic frame shattered with a deafening crunch, and Vilgax crumpled into the rubble.
[Carl Tennyson's recording continued.]
"The Omnitrix requires a huge amount of energy for its transformation sequence. The Omnitrix needs to trigger transformation via cellular division, gene expression, and protein synthesis. This transformation follows principles similar to those found in Einstein's mass-energy equivalence and thermodynamics where a change of mass requires massive amounts of energy to materialise new structures or deconstruct others within the host's body." Carl explained.
"Hence why we have chosen to utilise a nuclear powered core as a power source for the Omnitrix. We harnessed nuclear fission of a highly radioactive isotope to provide a dense source of energy. The result is a steady power output that can provide consistent and reliable energy output over long periods." Carl stopped. With a contemplated look of uncertainty, he sighed.
"The Omnitrix is barely a prototype," Carl confessed. "We did not fully understand the long-term neurological impacts of repeated or prolonged transformations."
Carl hypothesised. "Over time, even short-term transformations might lead to cumulative damage to the human brain. As this damage accumulates, it could result in irreversible cognitive decline, with the user permanently adopting alien brainwave patterns or developing conditions similar to early-onset dementia."
"Our other concern is the nuclear powered core. Prolonged use of the Omnitrix could result in cumulative radiation exposure. Without the proper shielding or fail-safes, this radiation could gradually poison the user."
[The scene transitioned from Carl Tennyson's recording back to the battle scene.]
Ben stood panting, his body trembling with rage as the last remnants of the fight faded around him. XLR8's sleek form flickered, shifting into the massive, hulking figure of Humungousaur. His towering frame cast a long shadow over the crippled Vilgax, who lay broken amidst the rubble, sparks sputtering from his shattered armour. Despite the damage, the machine still stirred, its eyes glowing faintly, refusing to die.
Ben's chest heaved, his breath rugged and uneven, and his eyes, now welling with tears, locked onto Vilgax's crumbling form.
The searing pain of loss cut deep into Ben's heart. It wasn't just about revenge anymore; it was about justice, about making sure Vilgax could never hurt anyone again.
Humungousaur's fists clenched, his massive frame shaking with grief and fury. Tears brimmed in his eyes, but his resolve never wavered.
With one final roar, fueled by all his anguish and rage, Humungousaur raised his enormous fist high and brought it crashing down on Vilgax. The impact shook the ground, and the force obliterated Vilgax's remaining structure, the machine's body reduced to little more than twisted metal and wreckage.
Sparks flew as the last glimmers of life flickered out from Vilgax's shattered frame. The machine that had murdered Max was no more. Ben stood over the wreckage, his massive form still trembling. His fists, bloodied and cracked from the battle, slowly unclenched as the realisation of what he'd done settled in.
But even in victory, there was no solace. His teary eyes turned toward Gwen and Kevin, his heart heavy with the weight of their shared loss.
[Carl Tennyson's recording reappeared.]
"We- I," Carl stopped. "I lack time. I was unable to fully test or develop adequate safety mechanisms, leaving its ultimate impact largely unknown. If only I had more time." He sighed.
[The aftermath of the battle reappeared, now quieter.]
As the battle's aftermath settled into a haunting stillness, Ben reverted to his human form, rushing to where Gwen and Kevin knelt beside Grandpa Max. The sight of Max's frail body, his face pale and eyes dim, shattered Ben's heart. He knelt beside them, tears streaming down his face, hands trembling as he gently cradled Max's head in his arms.
Gwen sobbed, her face buried in Max's chest, her shoulders shaking uncontrollably. Kevin knelt beside them, his tough exterior gone, tears rolling down his cheeks. They huddled close, sharing the weight of the moment, united in their grief.
Max, his voice weak but filled with love, looked at each of them with pride. "I'm so proud of all of you," he rasped, his breaths shallow. "You have to be strong… and look after each other."
"Come on," Ben stammered, his voice choked with desperation. "I can still get you help. XLR8 is fast enough, I can get you there. Just hang on, please."
But Max, with a gentle shake of his head, reached up to rest a hand on Ben's arm. "No… Ben," he whispered, his voice soft but firm. "My time's… over. You've all grown… so much. It's okay."
Ben's heart twisted in his chest. "No, Grandpa. I can't lose you. Please," he cried, his voice breaking. He clutched Max tighter, as if holding him could stop the inevitable.
Gwen, barely able to speak through her sobs, whispered, "We need you, Grandpa."
Max's eyes softened, his lips curling into a faint smile despite the pain. "You'll always have me… here," he said, placing his hand on Ben's heart, then Gwen's, and finally Kevin's, his strength fading. "Remember what I've taught you. Be brave, for each other."
His breathing grew shallower, his body weaker. "I love you… all… so much," Max said, his voice barely a whisper now.
Then, as his final breath slipped from his lips, the light in his eyes dimmed, and his hand fell limp.
Ben, Gwen, and Kevin all wept, their sobs filling the silence as they clung to Max's still body. They were alone now, the gravity of their loss sinking in, but they held onto each other, united in their sorrow and in the legacy of the man who had guided them through so much.
Grandpa Max was gone.
In utter desperation, Ben's sorrow erupted into a wail, tears streaming down his face, blurring his vision. His body trembled, grief overwhelming him as he transformed into XLR8—the only instinct left in his broken heart was to run. But before he could lift Grandpa Max's body into his arms, Kevin grabbed him by the shoulder, shaking his head as tears streamed down his face.
"He's gone, Ben," Kevin choked out, his voice breaking.
"No! Don't touch me!" Ben screamed, jerking away from Kevin's grasp. His voice was raw with denial, anger boiling inside him.
He cradled Grandpa Max's still body in his arms and bolted, the world around him dissolving into streaks of colour as he pushed past his limits.
It didn't matter.
He raced toward the nearest hospital, his speed shaking the very foundations of the buildings he passed. The supersonic boom of his speed startled the staff. They barely had time to react as Ben laid Max gently onto a hospital bed, his hands shaking, hope flickering weakly in his eyes.
"Please... help him," he whispered, voice cracking, but the crushing weight of reality bore down heavily on his heart.
Before the nurses could respond, Ben turned and bolted again.
This time, he ran not to escape but to outrun his grief. His heart thundered in his chest, louder than the thunderous footsteps pounding against the ground. With every stride, he felt the asphalt crack and fissure beneath his feet, the ground trembling and the air vibrating with each pulse of his power. Alarms blared from parked cars as their windows shattered, trees bent under the force of his passage, leaves swirling wildly in his wake.
He didn't care.
The landscape blurred into streaks of colour, yet it wasn't fast enough to dull the memories flooding his mind—laughing with Gwen under the summer sun, Grandpa Max's reassuring smile as he held Ben, the warmth of family moments that now felt like distant echoes. Faster and faster, Ben ran, tears streaming from his eyes and evaporating against the friction of the wind, leaving only a faint, glistening and shimmering mist behind his trail.
He gritted his teeth, wailed in anguish, and roared, channelling his pain into a relentless surge of speed. He pushed harder, faster, his roars echoing and the landscape around him blurred into nothingness. His legs burned, his chest tightened with each breath, but he pressed on.
He ran until the pain in his body matched the agony in his soul. He ran until the world around him was nothing but empty wind and speed. He didn't care that his legs were on fire or that his lungs screamed for air. He was scared, that if he stopped– or slowed down, even, that Grandpa Max would leave him. Forever.
He ran, because it was all he had left.
The day was overcast, with a grey sky that seemed to press down on the small cemetery. The wind was cold, carrying the scent of rain, as if nature itself was mourning the loss. The few mourners who gathered around the freshly dug grave were silent, their faces etched with grief and pain.
Ben stood at the front, his face a mask of stoic sorrow. He had barely slept, the weight of his grandfather's death pressing down on him like a ton of bricks. His eyes, once filled with the bright hope of a hero, now looked hollow, haunted by the memory of Vilgax's attack. The Omnitrix felt heavier on his wrist, its presence a bitter reminder of everything he had lost.
Beside him, Gwen stood trembling. Her eyes were red and puffy from crying, her face pale as she clutched a crumpled piece of paper in her hands—Grandpa Max's last note to her. Her mind was a whirlpool of regret and guilt. She kept replaying the moments leading up to her grandfather's death, thinking of the things she could have done, the spells she could have cast. But all of it was too late. Now, all she had left was a burning obsession—a desperate need to undo what had been done, no matter the cost.
Kevin stood slightly behind, his hand resting on Gwen's shoulder, trying to offer her some comfort. But even he was at a loss for words. He had always seen Max as a mentor, someone who had helped him stay on the right path. Now that he was gone, Kevin felt adrift, unsure of how to keep going without the guidance of the man who had believed in him.
As the priest began to speak, offering words of comfort and finality, Gwen's mind drifted. The words faded into the background, replaced by a rising, uncontrollable anger at the world, at herself. She could feel the dark thoughts creeping in, whispering promises of forbidden knowledge, of ways to bring Grandpa Max back. She knew it was wrong, but the temptation was too strong. She had to try, even if it meant delving into magic she knew she should never touch.
Ben caught a glimpse of her from the corner of his eye. He saw the distant look on her face, the way her hands shook as she held the note. His heart ached for her, but he was too broken to reach out, too consumed by his own grief to notice the darkness taking root in his cousin's heart.
As the coffin was lowered into the ground, Gwen bit her lip so hard it bled. She didn't flinch, didn't care. She had already made up her mind. She would bring Grandpa Max back, no matter the cost. The knowledge was out there, hidden in ancient tomes and whispered in forgotten languages. She would find it. She had to.
The first drops of rain began to fall as the mourners turned to leave. Kevin guided Gwen away from the grave, his hand still on her shoulder. Ben lingered for a moment, staring at the mound of earth that now separated him from the man who had raised him. He clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms as he fought back the tears threatening to spill over.
Gwen glanced back at the grave one last time before walking away, a new determination burning in her chest. It didn't matter what Ben or Kevin would say. It didn't matter if it was dangerous or if she was warned against it. She would bring him back. She would undo this pain. She would give them all a second chance, even if it meant losing herself in the process.
And so, the seeds of her downfall were sown, right there in that small cemetery, under the grey, weeping sky.