WELCOME PARTY

Enceladus

One of Saturn's most enchanting moons, a frozen marvel, with its dazzling, reflective surface primarily composed of ice that shimmers like diamonds under the distant sun. Beneath this icy crust lies a hidden ocean, where vast reservoirs of liquid water churn in secrecy, creating powerful geysers that erupt with plumes of water vapor and organic materials, shooting into the cosmos. It is a world of potential, a haven for exploration, and a treasure trove of undiscovered mysteries.

For over eight years, two research outposts serving the 'High Union of Interplanetary Systems' have thrived on the canyons of Enceladus's icy terrain. One being a mere research bay, E-31, usually composed of 15 individuals, and the other, just off the open plains, beyond the canyons, a colossal station, E-32.

Station E-32 is where most of the work was executed. Excavation projects, expeditions, and mineral study, it was teeming with hundreds of researchers, scientists, and engineers, dedicated to a singular mission of uncovering just how life could possibly flourish in such inhospitable conditions.

Among the many projects underway, Station E-31 sought the expertise of one of the galaxy's most sought-after figures: Benjamin Kirby Tennyson, wielder of the Omnitrix and a trusted ally of the First Thinker himself. Renowned for his adventurous spirit and sharp intellect, he was the ideal candidate to illuminate the enigmatic findings that had puzzled the scientific community, mostly for the genetic data banks stored within the gauntlet of the Omnitrix. However, no one could have foreseen that the light he brought would reveal something far more unexpected.

A storm swept across the horizon, thick with snow and shards of crystallized ice slicing through the dark sky. Amid the howling chaos, two piercing headlights cut through the storm as a heavily modified space-ready vehicle descended, maneuvering carefully through the hazardous atmosphere.

The flying Rust Bucket breached the terrarium ray shields of Outpost E-31, descending steadily onto the landing pad where a team of scientists and crew awaited. Workers rushed to secure the ship, anchoring it firmly as they began preliminary maintenance.

Ben Tennyson emerged from the vessel, his form bundled in a dark green winter jacket that shielded him from the biting cold. With a confident stride, he approached the welcoming party, extending a gloved hand.

"Didn't expect the storm to be this bad," he said with a casual grin. "Tennyson—Ben Tennyson."

A tall woman in a heavy coat and scientific gear stepped forward, shaking his hand warmly. "It's our pleasure to finally meet you, Mr. Tennyson. Welcome to Outpost E-31. Allow me to introduce the team."

They moved inside, away from the frigid winds, as Dr. Elya Markov, the senior scientist specializing in xenobiology, led him down the corridor. Walking beside her was Dr. Lionel Barnes, a Meteorologist, and Topographer, his rugged appearance marked by years of work in the field. Perched at his shoulder, a small Galvan who they introduced as 'Doc Da'leks', the station's 'librarian' and data collector, he nodded with a critical eye. Every detail and data point of the project ran through him.

Log Entry 2,922 [Doctor Da'leks]

"I can't say I'm impressed with how E-31 has welcomed Tennyson. He was meant to tour E-32 first, but a three-day storm—unexpected, of course—has left us all stranded. The human, at least, doesn't seem too fussed, breezing through protocol as if it were a minor inconvenience. His unbothered attitude slightly mitigates the embarrassment; I doubt protocol is high on his list of concerns. But for the record, here's the summary of the tour.

[Added Tape]

"A wholly unnecessary walk-through of the entire station, though I suspect my human colleagues were simply eager to socialize with one of their own. Tennyson got the grand tour—every lab, every corridor. And mercifully, we're only eleven people here; I can only imagine the prattle I'd endure otherwise. Frankly, it's a wonder they didn't bore the poor boy senseless.

"Regardless, I'll see if Winters can establish contact with E-32 when there's a break in the storm. He'll need something substantial to work on rather than wasting time wandering the halls here—"

"Hey Doc, whatcha up to?" A voice interrupted from the server room doorway.

[End of Log]

Da'leks: "Ah, Benjamin. I see you've finished with Doctor Shul; I trust she wasn't the hassle I had cautioned you about."

Ben chuckled, closing the door behind him. "Come on, you can just call me Ben. And yeah, she's... pretty intense, I'll give you that. Hey, I saw you talking to that thing when I peeked in earlier."

Da'leks: "This old machine? Ah, it's practically part of the team. A few of us have been using it since day one; it helps us keep track of our days, work, and thoughts—a necessity in a place where the mind can easily slip if not constantly occupied."

Ben: "That's pretty neat. Mind if I give it a try? I mean, I know I'll only be here for a few days, but still..."

Da'leks raised an eyebrow, a trace of amusement in his expression. "Oh, by all means. I'm sure new recruits would be thrilled to come across a log from 'the' Ben Tennyson himself. Here, let me show you how to record an entry." He gestured for Ben to come closer.

Ben grinned, stepping forward and glancing around at the towering servers lining the walls.

Log Entry 1 [Benjamin Kirby Tennyson]

"Alright, here goes my first log… supposed to jot down some thoughts about the day. They gave me a solid tour of the station—not bad at all, though they say E-32's even bigger. E-31 reminds me of the Plumber HQs back in Antarctica: looks simple on the outside, but you step in, and it's like a maze. Labs, storage, the underground server room with the generator, plus a rec area—which, honestly, tells me these guys might know how to kick back in between all the science talk.

"Everyone here's a bit of a mixed bag. We've got serious types like Tagnok, a Tetramand running security, who looks like he could probably take on a small army solo. Tahr-Koruhl's the tech guy—an Osmosian with the same brooding vibe. Then there's Mako Fern, this laid-back Florauna who's both a geologist and the resident chef, managing supplies too, like he's got endless energy. Kyle Winters handles comms—seems like he's the guy everyone's hounding about the storm messing with signals."

"There's a couple of humans here too, which is cool. Dr. Lionel Barnes and Dr. Elya Markov, running science projects and keeping things from falling apart, I think. And then we have Shul—a Loboan biologist, definitely the most intense one here. I spent most of the day with her and her assistant Vrix, who's a Lepidopterran and, apparently, my biggest fan here. They had me plug the Omnitrix right into their systems to cross-reference genetic data. Felt a bit like a glorified hard drive, but hey, glad I could help, I guess."

"Final two to talk about, there's Doc Da'leks—the station's data analyst. He's got the station's entire dataset practically memorized. This guy knows every byte of information coming through here. Anything you need to know, Doc's already cataloged it, categorized it, and probably has a complaint about it."

"And then there's Faye Lorr, the transport specialist. He's an Opticoid, which is fitting since he has an eye for every detail."

"That about covers the crew here so far. Tomorrow, hopefully, I'll get a look at E-32 and meet a few more of these folks—assuming this storm lets up."

"…Now, how do I turn this off?"

A chuckle from behind him makes him realize he's still recording.

[End of Log]

Night had fully blanketed the endless ice fields, and the storm outside howled against the reinforced walls of E-31. Inside, the team gathered in the recreational area, chatting, playing pool, and tossing back drinks. Ben found himself relaxing, enjoying the rare calm of a job that didn't involve dodging blasts or high-stakes chases. He could get used to this—though Vrix Dalon's fanboy energy was starting to wear a bit thin.

Vrix: "Turn into another one!" he called out with a tipsy grin.

Ben laughed, transforming once more—this time into Stinkfly. Vrix wobbled on his feet, clapping.

Vrix: "Looking good… But you need a better name."

Ben grinned.

Faye Lorr: "Oi, Vrix, give the man a break!" Faye Lorr's eyes glimmered as he held a drink high. "He's gonna drain that fancy watch of his at this rate!"

Ben: "Don't worry, it'd take a lot more than this."

Zeera, the Loboan biologist, chimed in. "It better, Tennyson—I still need you for data tomorrow."

Kyle: "Dammit, Zeera, how many drinks does it take for you to finally stop talking about work?"

Zeera scoffed. "You'll find the Loboan livers to be a resilient set of organs."

Mako laughed, handing out more drinks with his vine-like appendages. "In that case, next round's on me!"

Tagnok, the Tetramand in charge of security, rolled his eyes. "They're already paid for, Mako."

Mako: "Let me have my moment, dude."

Ben smiled at the friendly banter, taking in the warmth. Across the room, Lionel, Tahr, Elya, and Kress were deep in an intense game of pool. Then Ben noticed Da'leks—perched on a stool by the counter, looking out with an amused gleam in his eye.

Ben: "Not a bad setup here, Doc."

Da'leks: "Hm. It has its ups and downs, like anywhere."

Ben: "More ups or downs?"

Da'leks: "Today? I would say... more ups."

Ben grinned. "So, any idea what's next for tomorrow at E-32?"

Da'leks gave him a look, clearly hiding a smirk. "Let me guess. Lionel didn't give you the briefing?"

Ben shrugged.

Da'leks: "Of course... They'll be loading the data we got from your Omnitrix to analyze over at E-32. After that? Another thrilling tour, no doubt. Maybe they'll have you analyze some of our topographical findings. Archeology is your thing, right?"

Ben nodded, then glanced back at the group. "It's a shame it's a short stay here, though."

Da'leks chuckled, tapping his makeshift chair. "Trust me, kid, after a week in this frozen wasteland, you'd be begging to leave. The storms, the data, it never lets up."

Ben looked back at the group, watching the team of once-serious researchers now laughing, sharing stories, and letting their guards down.

Ben: "Maybe, but it's the people. I haven't seen folks kick back like this in a long time. It's good."

Da'leks glanced at the group, a faint smile on his face. "You can take notes if you like. My colleagues know how to throw a memorable gathering."

Ben chuckled. "Definitely will, Doc."

It was shaping up to be a long night—and one he wouldn't forget anytime soon.

soon...