The afternoon sun was warm, but Ben Tennyson felt anything but cheery as he made his way to Mr. Baumann's general store. The familiar bells jingled as he pushed the door open, stepping into the shop filled with shelves of alien and human goods.
"Bummed out again, Tennyson?" Mr. Baumann called from behind the counter, his usual grumpy tone sharper than usual. "Can't you ever just blend in?"
Ben grinned, trying to shake off the weight in his chest. "Oh, I can blend in all right!" With a flash of green light, he slammed down the Omnitrix and transformed into Cannonbolt.
The shop shook slightly as the massive, armored alien gave an exaggerated spin. "Ta-da!"
A soft giggle caught his attention. "Same ol' Alien Boy."
Ben froze mid-spin, his large yellow eyes darting toward the source of the voice. Standing near a shelf of Taydenite crystals was a girl in a Plumber's uniform, her dark hair tied back into a ponytail. She wore standard-issue Plumber goggles that obscured her face, but her confident stance and the sword at her waist told Ben she wasn't just any Plumber.
She was tall, toned, and graceful, her posture exuding both strength and elegance. For a moment, Ben forgot how to breathe.
"Are you—?" Cannonbolt started, his voice faltering.
Before he could finish, the door burst open, and a trio of alien criminals stormed inside.
Xxx
"Pay us our Taydenite, and we won't blow up the store," growled the leader of the group, a bulky alien with a bubble-shaped helmet.
Behind him, Fistina cracked her mechanical knuckles, while their third accomplice—an insectoid alien—skittered toward the counter with unsettling speed.
"Great," Ben muttered, rolling into a defensive stance. "Just what I needed today."
The girl stepped forward, her gloved hands resting lightly on her hips. "Sounds like it's Hero Time."
Cannonbolt turned toward her, incredulous. "You've gotta be—"
A sharp whistle cut through the air as a flying piece of Taydenite hurtled toward them. The girl moved instantly, pulling Ben out of its path with surprising strength.
"Look out," she said calmly.
The crystal slammed into a display case, shattering it. Ben straightened, trying to focus on the fight, but his mind kept drifting back to the mysterious Plumber.
"It's real, it's real!" Fistina shouted, her mechanical arm scooping up handfuls of Taydenite as she prepared to bolt.
Cannonbolt rushed into the fray, his armored form slamming into Bubble Helmet, who staggered but didn't go down. The alien activated a device on his arm, starting a bomb countdown.
"Let's blow this place!" he snarled, motioning for his accomplices to retreat.
Ben turned to chase after them, but a voice stopped him.
"Maybe you need some help from Miko," the girl said.
Xxx
Ben spun around just in time to see her step forward, her Plumber goggles beginning to dissolve as if melting into thin air. Slowly, her face was revealed—those piercing blue eyes, framed by dark lashes, her strong but delicate features, and the faintest hint of a smirk tugging at her lips.
"Kuri?" Ben whispered, his voice barely audible.
"No," she corrected with a teasing smile. "Miko."
The air seemed to shift as she reached for the sword at her waist, drawing it in one fluid motion. The blade gleamed with an ethereal light, its edges shimmering with raw energy.
Ben's heart skipped a beat. She looked radiant—like a warrior stepping out of legend. The air around her seemed to hum with power as she moved with purpose toward the criminals.
"Time to show these guys how we do things," Miko said, her voice steady but full of quiet intensity.
Cannonbolt watched, momentarily frozen by the sight of her. She wasn't just Kuri anymore—there was something more. The way she held herself, the confidence in her movements, the sheer command she exuded—it was magnetic.
"Miko!" Ben shouted, shaking off his trance. "That bomb!"
She turned toward him, her expression calm. "Then let's make this quick."
Xxx
Bubble Helmet charged at her, firing energy blasts from his gauntlet. Miko ducked and weaved with practiced precision, her sword cutting through the air in glowing arcs. Each strike deflected the blasts, sending sparks flying.
Ben barreled into Fistina, knocking her back against the wall. "One down!" he shouted, rolling to avoid another hit.
The insectoid accomplice scurried toward Miko, its claws clicking menacingly. Without missing a beat, she sidestepped its attack and brought her sword down in a clean, sweeping motion. The blade didn't strike flesh—it released a shockwave of energy that sent the creature sprawling.
"Nice move!" Ben called, admiration slipping into his tone.
Miko glanced at him over her shoulder, a playful glint in her eye. "Don't just stand there, Alien Boy. Go stop that bomb!"
Ben rolled toward the bomb, using his momentum to plow through Bubble Helmet, sending the alien flying into a shelf of canned goods. "Stay down!"
The countdown timer on the bomb ticked lower. "Uh, any tips?" Ben called.
Miko rushed to his side, her sword glowing faintly. She placed her free hand on the device, her fingers tracing the circuits with precision.
"Cut the green wire," she instructed.
"Seriously? That's so cliché!"
"Just do it, Ben!"
He reached out, snipping the wire with a clawed finger. The bomb powered down with a faint beep, and the store fell silent.
Xxx
As the criminals were hauled off by the authorities, Ben turned to Miko, his expression a mix of amazement and confusion.
"So… you're back," he said, scratching the back of his neck. "And you're… a Plumber now?"
Miko sheathed her sword, her smile softening. "I've been training. Skye was just the beginning, Ben."
He nodded, still processing everything. "You were incredible back there. Like… seriously."
Her teasing smirk returned. "What, surprised?"
"More like impressed," he admitted, his cheeks flushing slightly.
Miko stepped closer, her voice dropping just enough to make his heart race. "Well, Alien Boy, I couldn't let you have all the fun, could I?"
Ben grinned, feeling a flicker of his old confidence return. "Guess not. But you better not steal my spotlight."
"Wouldn't dream of it," Miko said, her gaze lingering on him for a moment longer before turning away.
As she walked out of the store, her dark hair swaying behind her, Ben couldn't help but stare.
"Dude," Mr. Baumann muttered from behind the counter. "Close your mouth before you catch flies."
Ben snapped his jaw shut, his cheeks burning. But as he followed Miko out into the sunlight, he couldn't shake the feeling that his life had just gotten a whole lot more interesting.