March 31, 2012
Plumbers HQ; 1:35 pm
Max hated coming to the headquarters. It always reeked of bureaucratic bullshit even before the current director took charge. And the fact that he had to bring his grandson along only kicked his paranoia into overdrive.
He parked the Rustbucket and triple-checked to make sure he had all of the appropriate credentials on hand. At the turn of the century, they had begun switching to a digital system, but Max didn't trust it. "Too easy to hack," he'd tell them. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
They walked into the building and were hit with a wave of hot air followed by the scent of cheap cologne and citrus. It's spring, and the heater is still on? They must love wasting government money. The woman at the counter watched them as they made their way toward her. Max hadn't seen her before and assumed she must be new.
"Good afternoon, sir," the woman gave a smile that had a little bit too much teeth for Max's liking.
"Afternoon. I have a meeting with Director Chase." Max handed her the stack of paperwork, leaving her shocked.
"Oh! Mr. Tennyson, it's such an honor to meet you. And this must be your grandson. Your granddaughter isn't with you?"
"No, she isn't, so just a single guest form, please." Max could already see the discomfort on Ben's face and wanted to end this conversation quickly. He signed the paperwork and made his way to the elevators. Just as they were about to step in, a voice called out to them.
"Uncle Max!" Joel shouted. He was with Camille and, surprisingly, Lucy. "So they called you in too."
"Unfortunately," Max replied. "Are your parents here as well?"
"If not, then they'll be here soon. Felt bad dragging Lucy along, but at least she can spend some time with Ben."
Lucy gave a big smile, but Max couldn't help but feel like something was off. He placed a hand on Ben's shoulder, ushering him forward. "Why don't you two run along? Us grown-ups have to get to our boring meeting." Ben gave him a small nod, and the two went off to no doubt cause some trouble for him later.
"Best not keep the Director waiting," Camille rolled her eyes as she spoke. They entered the elevator and descended to the lower levels.
Everything beyond basement one was heavily fortified and required various credentials to continue. Their destination was B4, the second from the bottom. It housed the most confidential equipment and experiments, tipping Max off that the meeting must involve a demonstration. Most likely a new suit or weapon in Earth's never-ending war against the rest of the universe.
They made their way toward the conference rooms ignoring the other doors along the way. They knew that opening any of those doors without the proper clearance would lead to every Plumber on the floor pointing a gun at their head. Besides that, it would drag them into whatever sick plan the Director was scheming up, and Max wasn't going to fall down that rabbit hole again.
As they entered the room, they noticed several well-known Plumbers present, both old and new. Gordon and Betty Jean had arrived before them, keeping seats open for their son and daughter-in-law. Max picked a seat towards the corner, hoping to stay out of the Director's view when he arrived. Some more Plumbers arrived as time passed, and soon he felt a familiar presence sit beside him.
"It's good to see you again, Wes," Max said.
"Likewise," Wes replied. The man seemed tired. Max thought he should probably take his old friend out for a drink sometime, but he had been saying that for years and something always seemed to come up.
As the clock struck two, the lights dimmed, and the projector hanging from the ceiling turned on. The room was quiet save for the dull hum of the heaters above them. About a minute passed before the doors opened, signaling the Director's arrival.
Director Chase was a scrawny man in his early forties. A prodigy that had skyrocketed his way through the ranks of the Pentagon before being given the position of Director. The man hadn't seen a day of combat, let alone intergalactic relations, and the big shots in Washington decided he'd be a great fit to lead generations of Plumbers. Max had a lot of choice words for the man, but the only ones the Director cared for were "yes" and "sir."
"Good afternoon," Director Chase greeted. "We're all busy people, so I'll just cut to the point. We will be implementing a new division of Plumbers. It will focus on training a specialized task force from a young age." The projector changed to a screen showing various headshots of children. Right away, Max spotted his grandchildren among them.
A man stood up, "what the hell is this? Why is my daughter on there!?" Others began to belt their frustrations as well. They were all of the newer generations who never had the wrath of the previous director drilled into them. Max looked over the list and noticed Lucy and Wes' granddaughter Kai were also on the list.
"Now, everyone calm down for a moment, and let me explain," the Director said. "The number of annual incidents within the last few years has quadrupled since 2008." Various images covered the screen, almost all of which Max had seen firsthand.
"We need new recruits who can handle the increase in demand, which is why I want to begin the Junior Plumber Initiate Program." A screen changed to a new Plumber suit design, and various other equipment changes. "All initiates must voluntarily agree to join and have the written consent of an active Plumber. So for those who do not wish to have their children or grandchildren to participate, they don't have to." The man was staring directly at Max when he spoke those last words.
"Of course, there will be benefits." The screen changed again to show off charts and graphs that Max did not care to read. "All initiates who complete their training will have the chance at a fully paid college education as well as a salary starting as low as $80k."
It looked like a great opportunity, but Max knew better. The greater the benefits, the more dangerous the missions. Many older generations knew this well, and the younger generation knew better than to blindly walk into a trap.
The Director needed someone to start the fire, and his eyes had been glued onto Max. "I want Max to oversee these new Plumbers and his grandchildren to lead the first of these task forces."
Max had to give it to the man; he knew how to get his attention. "And why would I agree to take on this role or even allow my grandchildren anywhere near this facility?"
"Don't try to act tough, Max. It doesn't suit you." The screen changed again and showed a photo from the headquarters lobby. It was a close-up of Ben and Lucy when at the elevators. "The strongest weapon in the universe, strapped to a child. Of course, you'd start his training early. We need to keep him on our side. And having a Sludgepuppy is just the icing on the cake."
Camille jumped up, "I swear if you fucking touch her, I'll-"
Joel placed his hand on his wife's shoulder. He was angry, too, but a battle with the Director would only lead to ruin. Camille sat back down, but her fury hadn't subsided.
Director Chase smiled at her. "Nothing will happen to her, Camille. So long as Max pays off his debts."
Max gritted his teeth. This man was everything wrong with humanity, and it was no surprise Earth was the target of so many invasions when men like him were in charge of our governments. Still, if Max doesn't comply, it'll be worse for everyone else.
"I'll do it, but it's up to Ben whether or not he wants to be involved. As for Gwen," Max felt a knot in his throat. "Gwen wants to keep her civilian life."
The Director clapped his hands. "See, that wasn't so hard! Anyone else?"
"Kai will be joining," Wes said.
"We will speak with Lucy about it, but we don't promise anything," Joel said.
A few other plumbers spoke up, but Max didn't care to listen much further. The rest of the meeting would discuss the program and how it would benefit everyone. Just more polish to cover up their bullshit. Max could only hope that by being so deeply involved, he could protect his grandson from the Director's corruption.
Spring had just begun, and with it came warm days and cool breezes. Lucy had dragged Ben to the garden in the center of the complex. Thankfully no one was around, which allowed the two teens to relax.
Ben had a lot on his mind after the fiasco at school. Max had picked him up early that morning so they could get breakfast before leaving town. The plan was to stop by the headquarters for Max's meeting and then go camping for the rest of the weekend. They hadn't trained recently, so Ben wanted to learn as much as possible before receiving his parents' punishment.
Ben turned to look at the Lenopan, noting how little she'd changed since they last saw one another. Her hair was longer, and she grew a few inches, but that was about it. He figured a shapeshifter would want to change their look often.
Lucy blushed, realizing he'd been staring at her intensely. "Didn't anyone teach you it's rude to stare?"
Ben turned away with a shrug.
Lucy's smile faltered for a moment before returning in full force. "What do you think they're talking about down there? Probably something super secret and boring." She stood up and began to act out a scene she had made up in her head. After about five minutes, she realized she could not entertain her sole audience member. "What happened to you," she finally asked.
If he had heard her, he had chosen not to respond. Ben simply sat there fidgeting with the dial of the Omnitrix.
A hand rested itself on his. "Ben, please talk to me," a voice said.
In an instant, Ben was on top of her. His hands gripping tightly around Lucy-
No. Gwen's throat.
Lucy felt no pain, but the bloodlust in Ben's eyes shook her to her core. "Whatever Gwen did to you, I'm sorry. I wouldn't have pushed you if I'd known this is how it'd end up." She ran her hands up to his and gave them a gentle squeeze. "Whatever you're feeling, whether it's anger, sadness, or fear, you can't keep it bottled up. It'll consume you, and you'll end up doing something you'll regret. If you need to let it out on someone, then let it out on me. So hit me, cut me, choke me do whatever you need to, Ben. You know I don't break easily; I can take it."
Ben heard her words, but they sounded wrong. It was Gwen's voice but not. Her skin felt genuine, but he could feel the mud underneath the harder he squeezed. A flowery perfume scent invaded his nostrils, and it all smelt wrong. But worst of all were her eyes, a cheap imitation of what he and his Gwen alone shared.
And just like that, the fog had been lifted. Loosening his grip, Ben growled, "you're not her, and you never will be." A stayed there and watched her features melt and morph back to the blond blonde girl he knew her as. Only then did he let go.
He felt sick. Ben sat down with his head between his knees, waiting for the nausea to subside, but the guilt will remain. Lucy was right. Everything he'd been suppressing had bubbles back up to the surface. He's retiring on the edge of the abyss. Just one step is all it would take to fall in and never return.
Ben felt a pair of arms wrap around him. "You're right," Lucy said, "I'll never be her. But I can still be whatever you need me to be. A cousin. A friend. A lover." Lucy rested her forehead against his, making it impossible for him to look at anything but her. "Just say the word, and I'm yours. And I promise I'll never hurt you like she did."
Ben stared into the tranquil blue pools before him just as they stared back. Their inviting gaze pulling him in, ready to drag him to the bottom and never come back up. A desire long since forgotten had returned with a vengeance. It was primal, ravages, and hungry.
Just a taste couldn't hurt…
Ben grabbed a fistful of her hair and pulled it back. Lucy let out a gasp of surprise but showed no resistance. She was now forced to stare up at him. He was the one with all the power now. He leaned in close, causing her to flinch. She could feel his breath against her face, making her shutter. "Is this what love feels like?" Lucy asked herself.
Lucy had engrossed herself in as much Earth media as she could since she arrived, but the ones she enjoyed the most had been romance. Watching her cousin's love blossoming firsthand sparked her curiosity as she tumbled down the rabbit hole, searching for her own romance.
She had dated and kissed both boys and girls alike, but she never felt the fireworks she'd read about. The nervousness of being around the one she loved the most was as foreign to her as the movies she watched in her room.
But now, here she was, quivering under Ben's gaze. It felt intoxicating. She would submit herself to his every whim if it meant she could continue to feel this sensation.
Ben watched as she melted before him. Literally. The girl began to form a puddle, and he found it disgusting yet arousing. Maybe he was a freak, after all.
Just as he was about to succumb to the temptation, something pulled him back out. It felt like a hand grabbed hold of his heart, threatening to crush it at a moment's notice.
Ben threw Lucy aside and punched a nearby tree. He screamed in frustration every time his knuckles slammed against the bark, leaving splotches of blood in their wake. All the while, Lucy watched with pity.
By the time he was finished, he was on his knees, struggling to breathe. Sweat fell down his aching arms and seeped into his open wounds, causing them to burn. Ben didn't care. It wasn't enough to mask the weight in his chest.
"I think you need some time alone," Lucy said. "Just know that my offer is still available for you anytime." She gave Ben a soft kiss on the cheek before wandering off.
His anger swelled, and he began to assault the tree once again. He wasn't sure how long he had been at it before Max had stopped him. The man didn't say a word and simply placed his hand on Ben's shoulder. They shared a look, coming to an unspoken agreement before returning to the Rust Bucket.
Ben was hunched over as he tried to catch his breath. He looked up at his grandfather, patiently waiting with a knife at his side. Ben clenched his jaw, launching forward to swipe with his own knife. Max took a sidestep and smacked the teen's bruised knuckles causing him to drop the knife into the dirt.
Max jabbed the rubber blade into Ben's side. "I've punctured your kidney. You're unarmed and are likely in shock. Within minutes you'll be dead." Max pulled away with a sigh. "Let's call it there, Ben. You're not getting anywhere in your condition."
Ben lowered his head in defeat. "Yes, sir."
The two had yet to make any progress since arriving at the campgrounds. Max knew about the incident between Ben and his classmates, but it was unlike the teen to dwell on it for so long. When he had found Ben earlier that day, his hands were a bloody mess, and Lucy was nowhere to be seen. Max was sure that a security camera caught everything leading up to that moment, but he decided that some things were best kept unknown.
When Ben returned to the RV, he treated the wounds just as Max had taught him. The man felt a mix of pride and shame as he watched. He'd been so careful to keep his boys away from this life, and here he was, training his grandson. How long would he have kept up the illusion if that damn watch hadn't fallen out of the sky?
He had been so lost in his thoughts he hadn't noticed Ben building a firepit. After he had finished, Ben used a fire starter kit his grandfather kept in case of emergencies. As he struck the stone and metal, he recalled how frustrated he had been the first time he'd done this. In the end, he had turned Heatblast and accidentally burned up all of their firewood. Now he had the patience to do it properly, and soon the tinder was lit.
By the time Max had noticed, Ben was already roasting hot dogs on a stick. Max grabbed a container of beetles and larvae and began to cook them over the flame. Ben cringed every time the bugs would pop, but he remained silent all the same.
Max knew he'd have to bring up what happened at the meeting. He had no doubt in his mind that Ben would volunteer immediately, and that worried him. Ben was beyond unstable and as much of a ticking time bomb as the hunk of metal stuck to his wrist.
The old man had spent every moment he could teaching his grandson discipline and restraint alongside combat training and self-defense. He had thought that it was helping, but he may have only made the matter worse. Still, he took it upon himself to guide the boy down the right path.
"I will be leading a new Plumber division this summer," Max said. "It will consist of promising teens to prepare for the next generation of Plumbers, and there is a position for you if you're interested."
Ben's eyes regained some life, if only briefly. "Mom would never let it happen," he said matter-of-factly.
"You're right, at least not with your current grades and attitude." Max bit into the shell of a chard beetle.
Ben mulled over his grandfather's words. He barely escaped expulsion, and now he's been given another chance to prove himself. "I'll convince her," he said confidently.
The wrinkles in Max's brow darkened, "I'm sure you will."