Superman.
The Greatest Superhero of all time.
Rocketed to Earth as an infant, he was found by the loving Jonathan and Martha Kent. They took in the orphaned Kryptonian child and raised him as their son. Under their loving guidance, he learned to control and use his incredible super abilities for the greater good. To help humanity, to save lives, and to protect the world from intergalactic threats. The Kents named him Clark, after Martha's maiden name, but when it was time for the young man from Krypton to make his way in the adult world of Earth, Clark chose a new, symbolic name to best reflect his special purpose: Superman.
He did great things, made new friends along the way and found love. The one he settled down with was Lois Lane. But even then, he never stopped fighting and continues to be a hero.
And now, he has a new family of his own.
A son. A son of two worlds. Of Kryptonian and Humans. One who will inherit the mantle of the Last Son of Krypton and follow in his father's footsteps.
But right now, the boy is learning. He will not only carry the legacy of Superman but will also continue his heroic deeds and defend the people of this world, protecting the earth and saving the day.
Even though his dad's on a mission in outer space and can't come to the phone, the Boy of Steel can handle anything on his own and will stop at nothing to accomplish his goal, which is why the teenager was set to go to Bellwood, where a certain someone lives.
Bellwood.
At it's local school that goes by the name of Horatio Mills Elementary School, a red-haired girl was seen sitting in her seat in class and looked bored. Her teacher was droning on in the background, talking and teaching them all boring stuff. Everyone was paying attention. Well, everyone except the redhead, since her eyes were fixated on the clock above.
She didn't seem to pay attention to what the old man in the classroom was saying, not even listening. All she wanted to do at the moment is that the bell would ring soon so that the last period would end and the final dismissal will take effect, thus marking the beginning of summer vacation and her trip with her Grandfather and Cousin.
The girl let out a small sigh of exasperation. The minutes seemed to pass by like hours. The boredom was almost overwhelming, but she managed to keep herself awake and focused on her goal.
At long last, the minute hand reached the twelve-o-clock position and the hour hand pointed towards the three. That was her cue. As the shrill sound of the bell rang, signaling that school was officially over, she jumped from her seat and quickly ran through the halls, her heart beating rapidly in anticipation and excitement.
The students and faculty alike poured from their classrooms and into the corridors. It's the same scene you'd find in schools all over the country at around 2:30 in the afternoon, and every student is ecstatic because it means that they can finally get away from the four-walled institution. Some are heading to their lockers to gather their belongings, while others are leaving the school building.
They're running to the buses or their parent's cars and some are walking home. But the young preteen girl wasn't going anywhere else. Not yet at least. She wasn't too much in a rush, walking through the hallways.
"I'm not too keen on this upcoming trip...I had a ton of plans this summer..." Gwen said to herself. "...What a letdown. And it's with my geekazoid doofus of a cousin too?" She added before letting a groan. Unlike most of her fellow classmates, she was not looking forward to this year's summer vacation. A road trip with a cousin she was not the biggest fan of.
But then, it hit her.
Perhaps she can somehow temper it. Mitigate it somehow. By bringing someone along. "I could just bring a tag-along this summer. Maybe Cindy's available. No...she's not the type that would go on a long trip, and besides, that won't exactly fly with my parents. What if I were to bring..."
Suddenly, a thought occurred to her, and the gears in her brain started turning, her face showing her surprise. "What if I bring Jon? Would that work? Would he want to join us in a trip with me, his classmate, her doofus cousin and her grandpa driving an RV across America? That's an awfully tall order. We haven't even hung out once. But still, there's no harm in asking, is there?"
"Hey, Gwen. Have fun on the big trip." a male voice called to her from the crowd of students that surrounded her.
"Uhhh...thanks," the girl replied to the random teen, a bit surprised to hear him. She doesn't know who he is, not really familiar with the person. After a few more moments of contemplation, the red-headed preteen continued to walk through the crowded hallway and towards her locker.
Gwen opened her locker and tossed her textbooks in. Closing it shut, she began to leave. Looking around, she spotted Jon right there at his own locker. He was getting ready to head on home, grabbing his backpack and shoving a couple of notebooks inside. Gwen took a deep breath. Time to make her move. Gathering her courage, the ginger walked over and greeted the boy of steel.
"Hi, Jonathan."
"Huh? Oh! G-Gwen!" He stuttered, clearly surprised and startled at her arrival. His body stiffened, his face flushed. "Uh...um. H-hi. Hello." He said. His palms were suddenly sweaty, his mouth was dry. The teenaged alien felt like his throat was full of sawdust. It was hard to swallow, and it was impossible to speak properly. He tried to clear his throat and say something, but no words would come out of him. He stood motionless in front of her, completely dumbstruck. Completely lost at words, trying to think of anything to say. Or do. Something, ANYTHING that could help him avoid further embarrassing himself.
'Just talk to him, Tennyson. Be casual, easy. Make a friendly chat. You're not gonna bite his head off.' Gwen thought. "I hope I didn't scare you, didn't I?" She asked the young half-Kryptonian. He simply shook his head in response, causing the female Tennyson to giggle in amusement. 'Well, at least he's not afraid to be near me.'
Jon gulped, swallowing nervously and taking a deep breath. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, his vocal cords loosened. He cleared his throat and found his voice again.
"Y-Yeah, well. N-no, not at all. You just caught me off guard, that's all. So, um. Hey, nice to see you here."
He awkwardly answered back, giving her a smile. Trying his best to sound cool and calm. But in truth, he was feeling very nervous. His hands were trembling slightly. He could feel his cheeks turning a bright crimson color and hoped she wouldn't notice. Thankfully, Gwen didn't seem to mind, and returned a smile of her own.
"Yeah, nice to meet you, too," the redhead replied. She noticed the faint blush on his face. Normally, she would find that weird, especially when coming from a guy like him. However, seeing him act like this, in a way that was different from his usual confidence and self-assuredness. Well, it's kind of adorable. "Listen, Jon. I got to ask you something."
"Um, yes, of course." The son of Superman responded, his eyes wide with curiosity and eagerness. "What is it?"
"It's about a trip. I was wondering, are your plans on the weekend busy? If not, would you mind accompanying my cousin, his grandfather, and myself on a road trip?"
"Me?" Jon's expression was confused and shocked at the question, his eyebrows furrowing and his mouth hanging open slightly, not knowing whether to laugh, cry, scream, or jump up and cheer. This came completely unexpectedly. It was almost surreal. Was this a dream?
"Yeah. I thought it would be fun to bring someone else along." The red-headed pre-teen explained to the boy of steel. "It's just that my extended family and I are going on a cross-country road trip this summer, and, well, I was hoping that maybe we could spend some time together. Nothing serious or anything."
"S-Sure! Yes! I'd love that!" Jon bellowed before covering his mouth, realizing he was a bit loud. "Sorry."
"Great. Then meet with me outside. You'll see my Grandpa's RV. It's not too hard to miss."
"Uh, could I talk with my mom about it first? I don't wanna go without telling her where I am." He asked, remembering the rules of the household, which were quite simple and reasonable: Always let your parents/guardians know of any activities you're participating in and always check-in on a regular basis, and never wander off alone, and try not to get yourself hurt or worse, killed, unless absolutely necessary. Even then, call for backup. Don't forget that.
"Sure, I'll wait in the RV. You'll know it when you see it." With a wave, Gwen turned around to leave, but not before flashing the Boy of Steel a sweet, genuine smile. She left, making her exit through the main entrance. Once she was gone, Jon pumped his fist in victory and cheered, a wide grin spread across his features. His entire day was made.
But instead of taking a phone out to talk to his mom, when the coast was clear and no one was around, Jon Kent would suddenly start running. But he wasn't running at the speed an average kid would run, oh no. Instead, the teenage half-human, and half-Kryptonian were moving at speeds that are considered superhuman.
Almost in an instant, his form became nothing but a blur, a streak that was trailing behind him.
He arrived at the house his mother was renting while Superman was away. And at record timing. Opening the door and entering the building, the son of Superman saw his mother. Lois Lane. One of the top journalists and reporters of the Daily Planet, the greatest Newspaper Company in the World. A role model to the citizens of Metropolis and the world.
"Mom! Mom!" Jonathan came sliding in with the widest grin on his face. Seeing her, the excited boy ran to her and hugged her. "You are not going to believe the news I have!"
Lois smiled, happy to see her son in high spirits, and was curious about his current mood. "Oh? Let me guess. Did you get an autograph from Captain Marvel Jr.? Or perhaps a ticket to the newest premiere of a movie based on the Amazon Archer of Star City. Oliver Queen, I presume." She questioned jokingly, already guessing the possible answers to her questions and preparing to congratulate her child.
But what Jon said next was not at all close to those things, and it actually made her raise her eyebrows in a surprised manner, stunned by what her son had just asked. Not that the reporter disliked the idea. In fact, the thought was somewhat amusing to her.
"No, better! Can I go on a road trip?"
"A road trip? With who?"
"My friend, or...I guess, classmate, Gwen, from school. Me and a couple of her relatives. We'll travel and drive the Rustbucket and go across the country! Can I go, please?! Can I?!"
"Hm. I know you usually love road trips...but you're only eager to go because of your crush on her, aren't you?" Lois asked while placing some boxes down, causing Jon to blush.
"W-Well...Yeah." He shyly admitted, scratching his cheek.
"You still haven't confessed to her, Jon?"
"I'm working on that. I promise. Now can I, pretty please, go, huh, can I?" Jon pleaded, his blue eyes shining with a twinkle, a hopeful gleam that was begging her to say yes to the offer. They reminded the woman of her husband.
She gave her a soft sigh, chuckling a bit, finding her son's request to be rather endearing. How could she resist that face and deny him his wish, anyway? "Alright. Go on ahead. Enjoy your summer vacation. But make sure to keep a low profile."
"Yes!" He jumped for joy, his fist high in the air. Truly a golden moment for him. But he didn't waste any time. He dashed straight to his room, and in an instant, his bedroom door slammed open. Running in, Jon immediately grabbed his luggage and packed everything needed in the suitcase. Clothes, shoes, a flashlight, and batteries. Toothbrushes, toothpaste. Some towels. Sunblock. Deodorant. Bug Spray. First-Aid Kit. Snacks and other necessities.
Absolutely everything.
With all that gathered, Jon was ready to leave. Zipping up his bag, and carrying it on his shoulders. Ready to set out on his grand journey. Just like before, Jon used his Super Speed to take off and dash to the carpark, leaving his mom in the dust.
Upon his arrival, he stopped at the front of his destination, the vehicle standing in his way. There, right in his sight, was a large, white, rusty-looking recreational motorhome (RV) that looked to be a little worn. It was an unusual and unique design.
Inside the driver's seat, was an elderly man in his sixties or seventies, Grandpa Max was his name.
"Uh, is this it?" Jon asked, looking into the vehicle and asking the man.
"Sure is. You must be Jon. Come in, make yourself at home. We have a spare room." He told the young lad, smiling kindly at the teenager.
"Glad you could actually show, Jon. Sorry if I interrupted anything you had planned this summer." Gwen smiled.
"Oh no way. Not at all. I was free. Didn't have much planned, to be honest. Happy to come here." The hybrid said, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly, smiling awkwardly, and then returning the friendly gesture to her, showing that everything was alright.
"Get comfortable. First, we'll be stopping by another school to pick up Ben." Max spoke.
"My cousin. And honestly, the reason I brought you along." Gwen's expression changed when Ben's name was mentioned. "If it was just me and him on this summer road trip, it would've been totally unbearable. Bringing you along might make it less horrible. No offense."
"None taken. I'm guessing you don't have the best relationship with your cousin?" Jon asked.
"Well..." Gwen grimaced. The answer to that was very much clear, but how it was presented, Jonathan would soon see for herself.
20 minutes later.
"What are you doing here?! What is she doing here?!" And there he was. Ben Tennyson. Cousin on Gwen Tennyson. Once they had arrived at his school and the moment he entered the vehicle, the way both cousins interact with each other was clear as day.
Ben didn't seem to appreciate the presence of a new guest on the ride, and the same can be said about the girl who was glaring daggers at her cousin, and vice versa. The tension between the two was so thick that it could almost be cut with a knife.
"Take it easy, dweeb. This wasn't my idea. Somebody convinced my mom that "going camping for the summer would be a good experience for me". Gwen huffed, rolling her eyes. "So now I'm stuck going on this stupid road trip with you and Grandpa." Her voice was filled with disdain, and her tone conveyed just how annoyed and irritated she felt at having to share the same space as her younger cousin.
"Grandpa, please. Tell me you didn't..." Ben looked to Max.
"I thought it would be fun if your cousin came along with us this summer. Plus, you've got someone extra to tag-along. Is...that a problem?" Max questioned with a smile. Ben and Gwen looked at each other with lowered eyes, clearly not all too happy with this. Jonathan just stayed quiet, letting out a nervous smile while also looking away.
Soon, the Rustbucket was off, starting their long journey. But it would not go without its problems. At the moment, the atmosphere inside the old camper van was very tense. Awkward. Uncomfortable.
"Aw, I can't believe it. I wait all school year to go on this trip, and now the queen of cooties is along for the ride." Ben complained.
"Hey! I had my own vacation already all planned out too, you know!" Gwen exclaimed as she pulled out a remarkably detailed schedule. "Each activity is color-coded, so I never do the same thing two days in a row. Now, I'm stuck with my geekazoid cousin going camping for three months. But to make it easy on me, I invited Jon."
"H-Hi." Jon waved at Ben. He had a faint blush on his face, feeling quite embarrassed that he had to come into this situation. "Nice to meet you, Ben." He greeted.
"Uh, hey." Ben waved back with a less enthusiastic expression. "So, someone else is way better to hang around than your own cousin, huh? Then I would've totally done the same thing if I knew you'd be coming along."
"Oh, please. Who would wanna be around you for three months?" Gwen scoffed.
"Geek." Ben insulted.
"Jerk." Gwen insulted back.
"Something tells me it's gonna be a long summer..." Grandpa Max said to himself, knowing full well that his grandchildren would not get along. And yet, despite this, the elder Tennyson didn't seem to care all that much, simply content to enjoy the scenery that was passing by outside his window.
From his spot on the couch, Jon sighed. 'This is not going to end well.' He thought, shaking his head. He was not enjoying the verbal sparring match that was taking place between the two young Tennysons.
Although, in hindsight, he probably should've seen something like this coming, especially considering that their relationship had always been rather rocky at best.
Still, he hoped that things would turn out for the better and that their shared experience would bring them closer together, even if only slightly so. However, he was doubtful that would happen. For now, it's just him and his thoughts.
'Just relax, Jonathan. You're on vacation. Try to calm down and don't let this bother you. Look on the bright side. You're alone with Gwen. Just her. So that's a plus. And you have the entire summer to do whatever you want. Explore, have fun and adventure. And maybe, find a moment to confess. That's what counts.' The half-Kryptonian, thinking about the positives of this situation, was able to relax, and his mood improved significantly. Feeling a lot more optimistic, and hopeful that his vacation would turn out alright. Things were already looking better, and the trip was just getting started.
Ben tapped his finger on the table for a bit, looking upset and bored for obvious reasons. His eyes would then turn to look at Jonathan, deciding to interact with him while they were heading to the nearest campsite. "So? What's your deal?"
"Huh?"
"You know. Your deal. Like...your backstory. How'd you and Gwen become friends?" The brown-haired boy questioned him.
"Um, well. We're actually classmates. We share the same class in our school. I'm one of her classmates and we've had a few projects and group assignments together, but we aren't exactly the closest of friends. Not really a duo." Jon answered, rubbing the back of his neck. He was pretty nervous. After all, he was technically meeting his friend's family.
"Oh, so that's it. Thank goodness." Ben said to himself, letting a sigh of relief. He thought they were friends which would've made this more unbearable for him if Gwen had support and he didn't. "Uh, sorry about earlier. I was feeling kinda bummed out. Still am honestly."
"It's fine." The Boy of Steel said to the preteen. "Honestly, I was feeling a little nervous and scared that you might hate my guts. Most people are intimidated by me." A lie of course, but that didn't matter, at least not in the moment. Jon didn't want to start an argument.
"Really?"
"Yeah, but that's fine. Not a big deal." The black-haired boy shrugged, giving a small, reassuring smile. He didn't need any pity or sympathy. Besides, he knew that family relationships, especially when it comes to extend family, can be pretty rocky. Who was he to judge? "I'm glad that you're willing to give me a chance, though. So, uh, thanks, I guess." He added, his voice trailing off at the end.
Ben returned the gesture. "No worries. By the way, I'm Ben." He introduced. "Did you bring any games with you? I know I did. Got an RPG that is pretty popular." The boy asked his new companion, hoping to get to know him better.
"No, I kinda forgot. But I did bring this." Jonathan dug into his bag, pulling out a few comic books. He was a fan of them. A major fan. Including some manga. And he was an avid reader and collector, too. He had a stack of them at his home and always took the time to read at least one chapter each night before bedtime.
"Oh, cool!" Ben's eyes lit up, eyeing down the options Jon had. "These one's are so rare! How'd you get that one?!"
"Uh, let's just say my dad has connections." He grinned, referring to Superman. The man had many allies and friends, mainly other heroes. And in return, their actions reflect upon how Jon got a hold of these books. Getting a couple of Comic Books wouldn't have been difficult for him. "And that's not all." Rummaging through his backpack, he pulled out a few action figures and trading cards.
Ben was amazed by this, his opinion of Jon quicky changing. All the while, Gwen watched this, her hand on her cheek as she thought to herself. 'Great. Ben's already chatting with him first. I hope he doesn't rub off on him. I wanted to have a nice, quiet, pleasant, and peaceful summer, and not have to worry about anything else. Just a fun road trip.'
She was a bit annoyed. She wasn't mad, not exactly, but she did feel a little bit of jealousy. It's not like she had any romantic feelings for Jonathan, at least not right now. But she did enjoy his company. And the fact that her cousin, who was the last person in the world she wanted to talk to, was now talking to him and becoming fast friends, was a bit aggravating. If only there was a way to stop this, to prevent them from becoming friends.
A few hours went by, and the Rustbucket eventually stopped at the campsite. It was late at night at the area known as Route 66, the trio of Tennysons and the Son of Superman gathered in the woods around a table-bench. "Chow time!" Max said as he brought a a bowl full of pale, still-wriggling grub.
Ben stared at it, absolutely flabbergasted "...Okay, I give up. What - is that?"
"Marinated mealworms. Hard to find them fresh in the States. You know, they're considered a delicacy in some countries." Max explained.
"And totally gross in others?" Gwen commented, grimacing at the sight of the squirming worms on her plate.
"Ooh..." Jon was also rather disgusted by it. Despite his alien heritage, it was clear that he was still human by nature. Then again, so was Max and he was the one offering this food to the kids.
"If these don't sound good, I've got some smoked sheep's tongue in the fridge...?" Max suggested
"Urgh, couldn't we just have a burger or something?" Ben asked.
"Nonsense. This summer's gonna be an adventure for your taste buds! I'll grab the tongue." Max said while heading to the RV. The trio looked at each other, nodding.
"Okay, I got a half-eaten bag of corn chips and a candy bar in my backpack. What do you got?" Ben asked them both.
"Some rice cakes and hard candy." Gwen answered before looking at Jon.
"I got some fruit and chocolate." Jon added. "We can split it. That is if you guys are cool with sharing."
"Deal." They spoke in unison. They were hoping to make these food options last the whole summer. Anything to avoid Grandpa Max's cooking.
Somewhere out there. In the vastness of the cosmos, away from other planets, a clash was currently ongoing. One between the Green Lanterns and an Intergalactic Conqueror who goes by one name.
Vilgax.
Currently, the Green Lanterns were protecting a ship from Vilgax's clutches, a ship that carried a certain item of amazing importance and power. And they were doing a good job at fending the conquer off, having the numbers advantage.
However, Vilgax was no slouch, his weapons and ship being tailored to handle the cosmic obstacles in his way. With all of his vast experience over the years, Vilgax was able to break through the defensive line and reach his target.
The item he sought after was the Omnitrix.
A device capable of transforming its wearer into any of the many alien species that inhabit the universe. Vilgax, of course, desired its power for his own nefarious purposes.
"Ough...He's getting close!" A Green Lantern groaned, holding onto his head as Vilgax's ship would start firing lasers at the ship that was containing the Omnitrix. Eventually, one of those lasers managed to blast the hull of the ship, causing it to lose its propulsion systems.
"If he gets that device, there's no telling what he'll do!" Another Lantern yelled, using his willpower and mind to the best of his abilities. From his ring, he conjured up a gigantic drill and used it to try and pierce the armor of the villain. But to no avail. The enemy ship was strong and was unfazed from his attack. "Impossible! I put my all into that!"
"Meddlesome Lanterns...Do you honestly think I haven't prepared for you. Your presence across the cosmos has forced my hand to improve even more on my creations." Vilgax spoke from within his ship, using a device to make his voice be heard even in outer space. "Prepare to charge through and board! The Omnitrix will be mine!"
It was at this moment that Lanterns had to pull out all the stops. Vilgax could succeed if they didn't. Thus, all of them came together, holding out their rings and focusing their mind onto one thing. By concentrating in unison, the energy of their green rings would create a massive emerald beam.
The beam shot through the cosmic skies, going straight for the ship. Vilgax's own ship would try and defend against this with its forcefield while also firing its ultimate laser weapon. Both attacks clashed, creating a huge, bright flash of light. It was an intense struggle, a battle that would shake the very fabric of reality itself.
"Keep going! We're almost there!" A lantern shouted, pushing his willpower to the absolute limit. The beam was now pushing Vilgax's ship back, his defense was cracking. "We can defeat him! We can beat him! Keep fighting!"
"Never! Victory is mine!" Vilgax growled, commanding his crew to not yield and keep on attacking. But suddenly, both beams would combust, reaching their limit. A powerful explosion went off, eclipsing them all and sending titanic shockwaves that even reached the small ship in the distance, damaging it further. The Green Lanterns, Vilgax, and his ship were all caught in the blast.
The small ship couldn't continue on like this, parts of it falling apart. From one of those pieces, a small pod ejected and flew down into Earth's atmosphere. That pod contained the Omnitrix.
Back on Earth, the kids were currently hanging out and doing their own thing under the moon. Ben was playing video games while Gwen was on her laptop, looking at the news of the current day. Jonathan was reading a comic, relaxing and taking in the sights and sounds of the forest. The serenity and peace of nature.
Gwen looked over at Jonathan, thinking about her current situation and her choice to take him along. Hopefully, Jonathan doesn't regret it. Gwen realized that since she brought him along, she might as well start getting to know him. The work on her laptop would be paused, and the girl would approach her friend, taking a seat next to him. 'I guess he's a pretty okay guy. And a lot better to have around than Ben.' She thought to herself.
"So, Jon. Is this the first time that you've gone out on a summer vacation?" Gwen asked the half-Kryptonian. Her eyes were still glued to her screen. "Because I'm assuming that this is probably your very first road trip. Let alone any kind of vacation. I know that you're new to our town, so maybe that's why." The redheaded pre-teen said. "So, yeah. How do you find it?"
"No, not really." He answered, closing the comic. "This is not my first time on a trip like this. I've been on a few with my mom and dad. Although, those trips weren't exactly normal." Jon scratched his hair. "I've never done it with classmates more. The most we did were those field trips. Like that one which was..."
"Embarrassing for you, wasn't it?" Gwen remembered that day well. It was the day when their class visited a farm. She, along with her fellow peers, was watching a pig race. Everyone was cheering loudly. However, Jon seemed to be the only one not too interested, preferring to stay silent. "You were the only one who didn't cheer after you were scared of the pigs charging at you."
"Yeah...That was really embarrassing, wasn't it?" Jon chuckled nervously. "Everyone laughed at me back there...But I remember how you came over to find me at the barn. Thanks for that."
"Hey, can't let the new guy be alone on his first week, right?" The female Tennyson shrugged. "I just did my part, that's all." She looked at him.
"Heh." Jonathan grinned, his face turning red a bit as he looked away. Clearly, he was getting flustered by seeing Gwen smile at him, a sight he had seen before but was never able to get used to.
"Blegh." Ben felt sick hearing this as he got up, closing his game and putting it away. "I'm gonna take a walk. Smell ya around, Gwen." He told her, leaving. Gwen didn't seem to care, rolling her eyes in annoyance and letting a small huff. "See, the dweeb doesn't even want to spend a minute here." She commented.
"Uh, maybe he's feeling a little homesick. I mean, I'm sure that he'll warm up to us eventually. Maybe." Jon stated, defending the brown-haired boy. He then realized that Ben was heading off into the woods this late at night. "Maybe I'll go with him just in case."
"Don't get lost you two." Max warned.
Ben was already a few feet deep into the forest. Meanwhile, the teenage son of Superman followed closely behind him, not wanting to leave him alone. "Ben, wait for me, man! Hold on, okay? We're not supposed to go out at night!"
"Come on, Jon. You're not afraid, are you?" The boy playfully asked his companion. "Just need a little privacy." Ben explained, stopping and turning to look at the hybrid. "But thanks for tagging along, though." Ben smiled at him. "That was cool of you."
Jonathan smiled in return, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. "Yeah. Sure, no problem." He replied, not really sure of what else to say. He was trying not to act awkward and nervous, and he was succeeding.
Suddenly above them, what appeared to be a shooting star would catch Ben's attention, prompting him to look up. "Whoa..." he breathed, marveling at the sight of the object in the sky. "A Shooting Star!." Jon turned to look in the direction of where Ben was staring, curious as to what the commotion was all about. His super senses were instantly activated. The first to activate was his enhanced vision, allowing him to see the incoming meteor. And it was heading straight towards their direction.
And it was a big one.
"Watch out!" Jonathan yelled, quickly grabbing Ben and moving him out of the way. The meteor would land, the shockwave launching Ben and Jon, sending smoke and debris in the air.
As it cleared, Ben stared at the glowing crater, getting to his feet. Jon would get on his feet as well, shaking his head a bit. "You okay?" He asked Ben, who nodded. The duo would walk towards the edge, peering down at the mysterious object. It was a strange contraption, a pod, that had crashed in front of them.
"Woah. What do you think that is?" Ben asked, his curiosity peaked. "Some sort of satellite or something?"
"I don't know..." Jon said, climbing down. Ben was hesitant at first but soon followed. The meteor's white-hot light fades. Ben lost his balance, sliding down the crater and almost landing flat on his face. But he was fine. All that did was make him get in front of the object.
Once up close, now with full view of the pod. It opened itself before him, and with a beeping noise, a green light in the shape of an hourglass shines from it. It spills out; revealing it to be the centerpiece of a watch-like device.
The Omnitrix.
"A watch...?" The two boys said in unison.
"What's a watch doing in outer space?" Ben wondered, confused. Jon was equally puzzled. Neither had the faintest clue what it could be. But there was no denying the fact that it was emitting a green glow from it. But even though Jon didn't know what it was, he knew that it was not of this world. There was something off about it.
"Uh, hold on Ben. Maybe don't get too close-" Jon noticed that Ben was reaching out for the watch with a smile on his face. As he did so, the Omnitrix suddenly leaps out of the pod and onto his wrist, latching itself to Ben. "Woah!"
"Ben! What the-?! Take it off!" Jon advised, rushing to his friend's side, ready to use his powers in case anything went wrong. Ben tried to pull it off, grunting in the process, but the Omnitrix was far more resistant than expected. Jon approached, instantly trying to use his super strength to rip it off.
But it was stuck. Jon grit his teeth, using his current best strength to rip the Omnitrix off Ben's wrist, but to not avail. 'I can't rip it off...?' He thought to himself. Even his Kryptonian Strength wasn't enough. This thing was made of some kind of material he had never seen or heard of, and that was saying something, considering that he is half-alien, half-human. Whatever was in that meteor was clearly far beyond their understanding.
Jon groaned, giving up and sighing, backing away. "I can't get it off...Just what is that thing?"
"Urgh...! Grandpa!" Ben called for his grandpa, wanting help immediately.
His voice didn't reach Max or even Gwen. The two were still doing their own thing. But both of them were worried. Max was worried about both Ben and Jon. "Hm. Ben and Jon have been gone a while. Well, I guess they can't get into too much trouble out here."
"Hmm..." Gwen was worried as well. But mainly about Jon. She couldn't help but feel that something bad was happening. And she had a hunch that it had to do with her cousin. It always does. "They're probably just fooling around." She muttered, shrugging it off.
The duo sat down on a nearby log, trying to figure out what this watch was and why it wouldn't come off. Ben tried pulling on it with his teeth, but Jon's strength wasn't even enough. Even though he didn't know Jon was half Kryptonian or even the Son of Superman, he had to try something. So if that wasn't enough, then what hope did the young Tennyson have?
"What is that thing?" Jon questioned. "And why won't it come off?"
"Maybe it needs batteries or a code word or something." Ben suggested, looking at the watch, inspecting it. Ben tried to pry the Omnitrix off with a stick, but the stick broke, angering him. He fell to his knees in defeat, and starts fumbling with the device. He accidentally hits a button and its faceplate springs up.
"Huh? Woah. Look at that." Jon's eyes widened. The faceplate's hourglass morphed into a diamond encasing a black silhouette, showing a single humanoid figure on it.
"Coooool!" Ben was amazed. He was tempted to see what this was all about.
"Uh, maybe getting back to Mr Tennyson and Gwen is a good idea right now. We shouldn't mess with that thing at all." Jon warned. They had no idea what this was, and messing around with alien tech was not his idea of fun. Especially since that device was somehow immune to his super-strength.
However, Ben didn't seem to care. He was too enamored by the strange watch. "Come on. What's the worst that could happen?"
Out of pure curiousity, he pressed down on the faceplate, activating a sudden process.
Suddenly, the Omnitrix's faceplate would retract, shining a bright green light. The energy of the device would start to envelop the boy. In an instant, his entire body became covered in a bright, glowing, green light. "Woah! Oh man, oh man, OH MAN!"
"Ben!"
The light swirled and churned, engulfing the area and the boys. Ben suddenly found himself in a void, crimson rocks spreading across his skin, transforming him into something else.
The transformation was complete, and the light faded. Standing in Ben's place was the same creature on the Omnitrix's display. A humanoid alien that was a fiery beast of a creature, standing at the height of a normal human and his skin, which was colored with a dark red while the inside of his body was glowing with fire. And speaking of fire, his hair was flaming as well.
Jon's jaw dropped. This was the last thing he expected to see today.
"Aaah! I'm on fire! I'm on FIRE! Auuugh!" Ben started running around in a panic. The flames on his head shot upward, and his eyes were wide open in terror. "HELP ME!"
"Wait, Ben!" Jon tried calming him down, his eyes following the flaming being around as Ben kept screaming. "You're not in pain or anything! Look!"
Jon was right. Ben soon noticed that he felt no pain. He saw the fire, but he didn't feel the scorching effects of it. He definitely felt warm, but he wasn't being tormented. "Hey... I'm on fire - and, I'm okay! Check it out... I'm totally hot!" Ben chuckled at his own joke, and his fiery body glowed brighter.
"Hah..." Jon sighed with relief. "What are you anyway?"
Ben looked at his new form in awe, admiring the detail on his hands. "I'm not sure. Some kinda... Fire guy. Yeah, I can work with that. Wait until Grandpa, and Gwen, and everyone sees me like this. They're going to freak. Imagine, me, the awesome fire dude." The young Tennyson was hyped up.
"Uh, is that a good idea to just show up like that?"
"Totally. But hey..." Ben's eyes then shifted, focusing on the nearby trees. Now that he had a form like this, he wanted to test something out. "Oh, yeah! Here goes!" He slings his wrist forward, shooting out a fireball out of his finger, blowing a branch off the tree entirely.
"Woah!" Jon watched the whole spectacle. The alien form that his friend had was capable of incredible feats of power. He was able to create and control fire in ways that no human could possibly match.
"Ha ha! Cool, right?" Ben asked him.
"I guess, but we careful! And we gotta figure out how to turn you back to normal."
"Yeah, maybe. But first, I gotta see what else I can do!" Ben grinned mischievously, his eyes filled with mischief. He was too curious to stop right now. He shot another fire ball through three trees instead of one. His smile drops as he sees the fire spreading to other trees.
"!" The duo grimaced as they saw the forest catching on fire. The sight of the flames caused the two boys to gasp in horror. The heat was intense, and the smell of burning wood filled the air. "Okay, now might be a good time to turn back!" Jon exclaimed, knowing that things were gonna get worse. This was the exact reason why he didn't want to use his powers without proper control. Stuff like this would happen.
"Right. Uh, how did this thing work again? Like this? No. Maybe like this...?" Ben fumbled around, trying to revert to his human form. But to no avail. He couldn't find the way to switch back to normal. "Ugh, come on, you stupid watch. Change me back!"
Unable to turn back, he then tried putting out the fire, stomping on the flames. But that only made things worse. The flames ended up growing, starting a forest fire in seconds. The situation had elevated in mere moments.
Back at the campsite, Gwen and Max would notice a glow along with smoke rising in the air even from this distance, showing just how out of control the forest fire was starting to get.
"What's that?" Gwen squinted her eyes.
"Looks like the start of a forest fire. We better let the Rangers' Station know. Probably some darn fool camper out there, messing around with something he shouldn't." Max said.
That's when it hit them both on who could be responsible.
"Ben!" They said in unison. Max quickly opened a camping kit and grabbed two fire extinguishers, passing one to Gwen. "Better take this!"
Soon, the two of them would run into the forest, worried about them both. And this time, Gwen actually was worried about Ben. Not just Jon.
Meanwhile, the forest was starting to look more and more dangerous. The flames were beginning to spread and engulf the trees. Jon was watching the scene unfold before him, his eyes wide open and his face filled with concern. He could hear the sound of the crackling flames and the popping of the wood. The Boy of Steel had to think of something, fast. His mind raced as he tried to think of a solution. He couldn't just stand there and let the fire consume the forest. But what could he do?
'Man...if only I had Super Breath or Freeze Breath like dad!" Alas, despite being Superman's son, he did not have his full powerset. In reality, Jon was lacking in a lot of the more iconic abilities of the Last Son of Krypton. His strength, flight, and speed were all developing. However, his other powers, like his super breath, freeze breath, and others were nowhere to be seen. It was a wonder to Jon if he would develop them in the future or not. Nonetheless, that was not important right now. What was, however, was saving the forest from the flames. Or rather, helping Ben.
"There has to be another way! Uhh...What's the other way to put out fire again?!" Jon tried thinking, knowing there was other options.
"Oh, this would be so cool...if it weren't so not cool!" Ben groaned at the mess he's created, continuing to stomp on the flames, to no avail. One of the flames got close to Jonathan, threatening to engulf him.
Meanwhile, Gwen made her way through the forest, spraying fires with her extinguisher, up until she spotted a shocking sight. Right before her eyes, she saw how Jon was almost about to be consumed by flames from behind and how a flaming man was near him.
"JON!" Gwen yelled out in horror, running towards him.
"Wha?" Ben turned around, seeing his cousin approach. "Oh, Gwen! Look, I know I look weird, but there's no reason to be scared-"
His words were cut off once Gwen clobbered Ben round the head with the extinguisher, knocking him down. When he tried to get up, Gwen sprays him, knocking out the flames surrounding his rock-like head for a brief moment.
"Jon! Are you okay?! Did it hurt you?!" Gwen went up to Jon, spraying the flames near him away. She was concerned for her friend's safety, more so than her own. She wanted to make sure that he was alright, that the alien hadn't attacked him and that he was unscathed.
"No, no. It didn't. I'm fine. Just a bit shaken up." Jon responded, shaking his head. "Thanks."
"I don't know what you are, but you'll stay down there if you know what's good for you!" She aimed the Fire Extinguisher at Ben, looking down on him. "You keep you flaming hands off Jon!"
"Heh." Ben gestured to Gwen's shoe, setting a small flame on it with a chuckle.
"Ow!" She hopped on one foot until she extinguishes the small flame.
"Gwen...That's Ben." Jon said, making her eyes widen in shock and surprise.
"...Ben?" She looked over at him.
"Hehe." Ben let out a cocky snicker. And that snicker was enough to confirm to Gwen that it was indeed him.
"That's you?! What happened...?!"
"Well, when we were walking, this meteor fell from the sky and almost smudged us, except that it wasn't a meteor or a satellite, but this cool watch thing that jumped up onto my wrist, and when I tried to get it off, I suddenly was on fire, only it didn't hurt when I was accidentally starting this mega forest fire!" He explained as quickly as he could.
"Gwen, are you alri- What in blazes?" Max soon saw the sight when he showed up. His granddaughter, his grandson, and a flaming alien, along with a forest fire. At first, he thought the worst. But upon seeing that the creature seemed to not be attacking and was, in fact, being threatened by his granddaughter, his mind came to a reasonable conclusion. "Ben?"
"Hey Grandpa." He greeted.
"What happened to you?"
"Well, When I-"
"Um! Forest Fire!" Gwen interrupted, reminding them of the issue at hand. "We have to put it out!"
"What do we do, Grandpa?!" Ben asked.
"Backfire. Start a new fire and let it burn into the old fire. They'll snuff each other out. Think you can do it, Ben?" Max asked.
Shooting flames? I can definitely do." He got to work, rubbing his hands together, creating sparks. Then, he claps his hands, creating a big burst of flame. He starts the backfire, which spreads rapidly and collides with the forest fire.
Max's approach worked. The Backfire plan was a smash hit. Not only that, but Gwen and Max both using their own Fire Extinguishers helped put out the Forest Fire before it could truly reach its absolute wors state.
Both sides of the blaze meet and the two cancel each other out. All of the fires are gone in an instant and the forest is saved. "Ha-ha, yeah! Nailed it!"
Gwen sighed with relief that the problem was solved, while Jon grinned. "That was awesome, Ben." The Boy of Steel commented, patting the alien on the shoulder. He was amazed at how his friend's alien form was able to save the day. It was a good thing that he was here, or else they would have had a serious problem on their hands. If not for his quick thinking, they might have been in deep trouble. 'I can't believe I couldn't help that much...' He thought to himself, feeling somewhat guilty and useless.
Elsewhere in space, after the clash between the Lanterns and Vilgax, Vilgax himself was kept inside of a tube to maintain his health as he was currently breathing heavily. The Lanterns had been scattered across space after the massive explosion, unconscious and drifting, and Vilgax was in no better shape.
Despite having a powerful ship at his disposal, it was clear that the battle had taken a toll on him. However, his crew were already at the helm of the ship, working tirelessly to repair it and bring it back to full operational capacity. And staying as loyal as possible, they were still working on finding the Omnitrix.
"What do you mean it's not there? This battle nearly costs me my life! And you say the Omnitrix is no longer on board the transport?!" Vilgax ranted while breathing heavily.
"Sensors indicate a probe was jettisoned from the ship, just before boarding. It landed on the planet below." A robotic lieutenant answered.
"Go. Bring it to me." He ordered, wanting the device more than anything. "Before the Green Lanterns somehow find it as well."
Back on Earth and later at the campsite, the group were eating marshmallows by the fire, Ben having just explained to Max. "And you say that this watch just "jumped up and clamped onto your wrist"?" Max repeated what he had heard.
"I tried removing it, but it wouldn't come off, Mr Tennyson." Jon answered.
"Hey, this time it wasn't my fault, I swear!" Ben exclaimed as he caught a marshmallow that Gwen threw at him.
"I believe you, Ben." Max nodded.
"Think he's gonna stay a monster forever?" Gwen asked.
"Hmm...Looks more Alien than monster. Not quite a Martian Manhunter or anything we've seen thus far.
"Yeah, I don't wanna be 'fire guy' forever. How am I supposed to play Little League this fall if I charcoal the ball every time I catch a pop fly?" Ben sighed.
"Don't worry, Ben. We'll figure this thing out." Max assured.
Suddenly, The Omnitrix's symbol on Ben's chest beeped red 5 times, then let out a blinding light towards Jon, Max and Gwen. When they open their eyes, Ben is standing in front of them, human and all.
"Hah! I'm me again!" Ben cheered with relief.
"Aw, too bad. I liked you better when you were a briquette." Gwen sighed, looking at her roasted marshmallow. Jon couldn't help but smile at that comment.
"But I still can't get this thing off..." Ben looked at the Omnitrix.
"Better not fool with it anymore until we know exactly what we're dealing with. I'll go check out that crash site. You guys stay here until I get back." Max got back up.
Jon took another bite of his marshmallow, listening to the whole exchange. His mind was racing, trying to make sense of what was happening. There was so much he didn't know, and the implications were huge. The fact that there was a watch that could transform a person into an alien was amazing. But the implications were terrifying. What if the technology fell into the wrong hands? Or worse, what if it was used to destroy? 'This is insane.' He thought. 'Alien tech on Earth...Who sent it here? Still, this is cool.'
Not too far from here, a pod shot from Vilgax's ship above orbit, landing deep in the woods, next to the Omnitrix's pod. Revealing itself as a gigantic Mechadroid, it scanned and promptly disintegrated the pod in the crash site, and ejected smaller flying Mechadroids from its shoulders to go find the watch.
All the while, Ben was fidgeting with the device, trying to figure it out some more. "Hmmm..."
"Grandpa said not to mess with that thing." Gwen said.
"Yeah, so? what's your point?"
"Did your parents drop you on your head or something? I'm not letting you turn into who-knows-what again. You almost hurt Jon with all that fire!" Gwen went up to Jon, placing her hand on his shoulder and glaring at Ben.
"Uhh..." Jon blushed, looking at Gwen's hand on his shoulder. "It's fine, Gwen. Ben wouldn't hurt us. He didn't even mean to set the fire in the first place. So no worries, alright?" He gave a smile, reassuring her. 'She is rather close. But I guess that's not a bad thing.' He thought, his cheeks heating up. It was weird, feeling the heat in his cheeks.
"Hmm...Alright, fine." Gwen sighed, backing away from Jon. But that didn't stop the boy from blushing.
'Huh, she's been pretty protective of him. Especially back at the RV. Weird. Maybe she does like him?' Ben pondered, grinning. "Ooh, could it be that you've got a crush on-"
"Say anything and I will hurt you." Gwen glared, cutting him off. Her tone was stern, her glare was cold, and her posture was tense. It was a clear warning that she wouldn't hesitate to act on her threat if he continued to tease her about her feelings for Jonathan.
Ben gulped. "Right. Got it." He nervously chuckled. "Anyway, where were we? Ah, right." He pressed on the faceplate, trying to figure it out. "Look. If I can figure this thing out, maybe I can help people. I mean, really help them! Not just, you know, make things worse."
"So, what did it feel like going all alien like that?" Jon asked.
"It freaked me out at first. It was like I was me, but it was also like I was somebody else-" Ben explained as the Omnitrix showed him a new alien. "Hey! I think I figured it out!" He slammed the faceplate down, transforming in a flash of green light once more.
Ben transformed once again. This time, instead of a fiery humanoid, he had become an orange alien beast with claws and fur. His body was covered in a thick, orange fur, and he had sharp claws and teeth. But noticeably, he had no eyes.
"Ew! This thing's even uglier than you are normally! Hah, wow, put a flea collar on this mutt!" Gwen taunted.
"A dog!" Jon had the oppossite reaction. His family had a pet dog of their own. Krypto. So seeing someone turned into a dog was both weird and yet, familiar. He went up to Ben, deciding to pet this dog-like alien. "Aw, sweet!"
"Gross, Jon! Don't touch it. Who knows where that's been?" Gwen cringed.
"Aw, but look at him! Who's a good boy?!" He asked, patting Ben on the head. However, Ben was not happy with the treatment.
"Stop treating him like a dog. That's my cousin you're talking about." Gwen said, pulling Jon away. "Besides, look at him like that. No eyes? What good is this one? It can't see!"
"She's right." Jon realized. "How are you going to see without any eyes?"
"Hmm..." Gwen then had an idea. Since Ben had no eyes in this form, she decided to mess with him. Holding the stick she previously had the marshmallow on, she was about to whack him on the head.
However, what he lacked in eyes, he made up for in this alien's unique trait. Before she could hit, The "gills" on his neck open up, alerting him like a radar. Ben dodged her swing by jumping onto the top of the RV, smiling smugly.
"Okay. So maybe it's not a total loser..." Gwen admitted, impressed.
"He can see with his hearing." Jon realized. He had seen something like that before, from a certain Batman movie. "That's so cool!"
Suddenly, Ben took off, leaping into the forest while kicking some dirt away, some of it getting on Gwen. "Hey!" She growled. "Ben!"
"Woah, wait up, Ben!" Jon followed after him.
"Ah, Jon! Don't just run off!"
"Don't worry, Gwen! I'll get him back safely! Promise!" Jon would look back at Gwen before continuing to pursue Ben. Gwen sighed, feeling that a lot was happening so quickly. First, she had to deal with Ben's antics and his stupid alien transformations, and now she had to worry about Jon. 'Why do I have to care so much for that dweeb?!' Gwen thought to herself. "I better not have to save your butt from whatever trouble you'll get into, Jon..."
In the forest, Ben was running through, leaping from tree to tree. He could hear everything around him, the rustling of leaves, the scuttling of insects, and the footsteps of a certain young man who was following him. He was in his element, and he was enjoying himself.
Meanwhile, Jon was running after him. While not yet as fast as his dad, the half-kryptonian was still faster than a human and definitely faster than Ben even as this dog-like alien. He stayed behind Ben, using the fact that Ben couldn't see to his advantage. Because of this, Jon could use his Super Speed, stealthily moving at high speeds and maneuvering through the trees. He didn't need to run fast to catch him, just enough to not lose track of him. Ben would stop on a branch of a tree, looking down.
He swore he could see Jon nearby with his extra senses, but Jon moved fast enough to just barely move out of his senses range. And due to the fact that Ben didn't know of his powers, he assumed it was his imagination. But that didn't stop the hybrid from having to move carefully. He was not planning to reveal his secret identity anytime soon, especially to someone like Ben Tennyson. Not to say that Ben was untrustworthy, but rather that revealing his powers could have disastrous consequences, not only for his family and himself, but to the people around him. Especially since his dad was Superman. 'Still. This is kinda fun.'
Ben suddenly came to a halt. He stopped on a tree branch before sensing something.
Something was nearby. Jon stopped as well, carefully observing Ben. Suddenly, one of Vilgax's Mechadroids arrived, targeting Ben.
"What the?!" Jon gasped at the sight of this Mechadroid. Ben sensed that it was about to attack him as he leaped away before it can shoot him. He leapt to other trees, evading the pursuing Mechadroid's lasers. As he did, he caught sight of another drone heading for the Rustbucket. It was the same one from earlier. And because of this, Gwen was in trouble.
"Gwen!" Jon realized this right away. That was all that was needed to make him chase after the Mechadroid. At that moment, Ben's senses saw it. He sensed Jon's heat signature and the fact that he was moving at unexpected speeds. Ben couldn't believe it. Did he sense that right? Was Jon running at high speeds?
Gwen sighed, waiting for Jon and Ben to return, hoping they haven't gotten into any more trouble. But, she decided to find them before something else happens, heading back into the forest. She rubbed her eyes, feeling rather tired due to how late it was getting. Today has been quite the eventful day since Ben found that Omnitrix.
"Huh?" Suddenly, Gwen heard the sound of the Mechadroid, the vehicle approaching rapidly. She turned around, spotting this mechanical creation before that was headed towards Ben's location, screaming at the top of her lungs.
Her scream was heard by the Mechadroid, which reacted to it, promptly attempting to take out anyone that would compromise its mission. As the mech targeted her and prepared to shoot, the young redhead was in the crosshairs. She was in danger and didn't have the slightest clue how to get out of it. But that was when the Boy of Steel acted, his reflexes kicking in as he zoomed in front of her.
He hugged Gwen as the laser beam from the Mechadroid struck the back of his shirt. The beam cut a clean circle through his shirt, exploding afterwards, which made Jon wince in pain. Despite this, he kept his grip strong.
And his hug with Gwen was not interrupted in the least, their faces being very close to each other in the process. They looked at each other in surprise and shock, staring at each other's eyes. Emerald meeting Azure.
"Jon?!" Gwen gasped, seeing the smoke coming from Jon's back. She was shocked to see that Jon ended up withstanding that, greatly caught off guard and confused. How did he survive that?
"Are...you okay?" He asked her, panting a bit. He didn't want to show her that he was in pain, so he tried his best not to. After that, the two teens would separate, looking at the robot.
"I-I'm fine...I think." Gwen replied, shaking her head and regaining her focus. The Mechadroid's cannons were heating up, ready to fire at them. Gwen screamed again at the sight.
Hearing this, Jon turned his attention back to the Mechadroid, his eyes glowing red all of a sudden. "Hey! Robot!" He shouted, his voice deepening and booming. His tone was filled with anger and authority, his words echoed throughout the area. "Don't you dare hurt her!" He yelled, his voice echoing in the night. He unleashed his heat vision upon the Mechadroid, the twin red beams striking its directly and knocking it over. It fell to the ground, twitching and struggling to get up.
The Boy of Steel was in a defensive stance, breathing heavily and glaring at the downed mech. 'Oh man, I'm in trouble. I just revealed my powers.' He thought to himself, worried about the implications of that. But more importantly, he was concerned about Gwen. He had to protect her, no matter what. And if the Mechadroid was still functioning, then he would have to make sure that it wasn't going to harm her or anyone else.
"J-Jon?! You have Heat Vision?" She was in disbelief. "And those scars on your back..." Gwen looked at him, her face filled with surprise and shock. "You...You have Superpowers?!" She couldn't believe it. Her friend, the one who she considered to be a harmless, friendly, and somewhat goofy guy was in fact a superpowered individual. "But that's impossible! How-"
Before Gwen could finish her sentence, the robot got up, targeting the two of them again. Gwen would gasp in fear and the mech was about to fire. But not if the half-kryptonian had anything to say about it. Acting on instinct, he held her with one arm while clenching the other, keeping Gwen close to him.
"Take this!" Jon yelled. He punched the mech, breaking its metal frame. With one punch, the Mech was destroyed, blowing up and turning into scrap. The force of his punch was enough to knock the remains of the Mech far away from them. Debris flew everywhere, some hitting the RV, causing a small dent in the side.
Jon was panting, his eyes and hands were glowing a bright red, as he clenched and unclenched his fists, his body tensed. The heat energy coursing through his veins was intense, making him feel powerful. But he was also scared. Scared that his secret would be revealed, and that his life would never be the same.
"Jon..." Gwen called out to him, her voice soft and gentle. She was in awe of his strength and power, but she could see that he was clearly afraid of the situation, of what might happen next. "That was...Wow. Just wow."
"H-Huh? Oh!" Jon snapped back to his senses, realizing that he was holding Gwen. Blushing a bit, he gently let her go. "Oh man, did I hurt you?" He was concerned that his grip on her was too tight. "Sorry. I didn't mean to-" Jon apologized, rubbing his head sheepishly. "I guess I got carried away."
"No, you didn't. And don't worry about it." Gwen reassured him. She was still amazed at his display of superpowers. "What was that?"
"Oh. Um. Well, I have superpowers." He confessed. "Yeah...It's best I tell you right now. Promise you'll keep it a secret?"
"I promise."
"Okay...My dad is Superman."
Gwen's eyes widened, and her mouth was agape. She couldn't believe what she had just heard. Jon's father was Superman, the Greatest Hero in the World. The realization hit her like a ton of bricks, her mind racing. She had always admired Superman, the symbol of truth and justice, and to know that Jon was his son, that he had inherited his powers, was a lot to take in. "So that means you're half Kryptonian?!"
"Yeah. Crazy, right?" He nodded.
"Oh my gosh...this is unreal! But it makes total sense! You always showed up on time to school a lot more than anyone else!" Gwen exclaimed.
"Yeah, but...I wanted to goof off a lot of the time." Jon nervously grinned.
"You were never tired in class, you never sweat in Gym Class, even when we went out for those trips, you never showed any tans. That place was boiling too!" Gwen went on about all the things Jon had done in school that should have tipped her and everyone else off to his powers. It was hard to deny his abilities, given the events that had transpired. "How did no one even know you were Superman's son with that face?!"
"Every morning, I mush my face up before school to change how I look. It's pretty neat. Now you know. But Gwen...please promise me that you'll keep it a secret?" Jon asked. He was worried that if his secret was exposed, that his family would be in danger. He had to make sure that she would keep his identity safe.
"Of course, Jon. I won't tell anyone." Gwen smiled, holding his hand. "As if I'd ever let anyone else know about this. My friend Cindy would leech off of you, that's for sure."
"Hehe..." Jon laughed while blushing a bit. But they weren't in the clear just yet. Ben was dealing with the other Mechadroid and rather expertly too. He would get on top of the mech, sensing its every move, before using his enhanced senses to pinpoint the weak spot. Finding his target, he would dive his sharp claws into the weakpoint of the robot's armor, penetrating it and ripping out its circuits, rendering the machine useless. Ben's transformation wore off, reverting back to his human form as he landed on his feet, smiling at his victory. "Ha ha, yeah! Score one for me! Oh, and you too, Jon. By the way, what happened to your shirt, dude?"
Jon had something to tell Ben. If he told Gwen, might as well tell Ben since he now had a secret of his own he had to keep hidden. The Omnitrix.
Later that night, the group were at the campsite. Max returned, finding that the camp had been attacked. Seeing his grandson, his granddaughter, and her friend, Max sighed with relief, seeing that the kids were all fine. However, he was surprised to find a dent on the side of the RV.
"You're Superman's son?! Awesome!" Ben exclaimed once Jon explained to him why his clothes were in a mess. He was ecstatic, having a friend who was the offspring of the Man of Steel. It was a dream come true, and Ben was practically buzzing with excitement. "Superman's, like, my favorite superhero ever!"
"Well, I didn't expect this either..." Max scratched his hair. "Quite the day, honestly...I didn't even know Superman had a child."
"Dude! You gotta show me all of your powers! Come on!" Ben was bouncing up and down, unable to contain his excitement. He was eager to see just what kind of powers the son of the Man of Steel possessed. His enthusiasm was contagious, and Jon couldn't help but smile. Maybe having friends in the loop wouldn't be so bad after all.
"Uhh, I don't have many...and maybe not right now. Those mechs came out of nowhere. Where do you think they came from?"
"Beats me." Ben shrugged.
"Whatever it is, we should probably stay in Bellwood. I think you, and Jon, need to lie low." Max said.
"But Grandpa, Summer's already started. There's so much to do!" Ben groaned, not wanting to be stuck inside learning how to use the watch. He was itching to explore and have some fun during his vacation. He didn't want to be cooped up in the house.
"Ben, that thing on your wrist is not a toy. I'm worried that you might get popular with that thing on your wrist. That's why you can't fool around with it until we know what the heck it is."
"I know it's not a toy. But I wanna help others with it. A least I figured out how to make it work. All you do is press this button. Then, when the ring pops up, just twist it until you see the guy you wanna be. Slam it down, and bammo! You're one of ten super-cool alien dudes!"
"What about staying a super-cool alien dude and not transforming back into plain old pizza-face?" Gwen questioned.
"I- kinda haven't figured that part out yet."
"Hmm...I understand, Ben." Max nodded, knowing Ben truly wanted to help others. "With a device as powerful as that watch clamped on you, my guess is we better help you learn, fast."
"Alright!" He pumped his fist high up. All of a sudden, an explosion in the distance went off. It grabbed their attention, prompting them group to look on ahead at the source of it. .Soon, in Max's RV, the radio went off.
"Mayday! Mayday! Somebody help us! We're under attack by some sort of - I know you're not going to believe me, but... robot!"
"Sounds just like those things that attacked me. Must be looking for the watch. Those people are in trouble because of me! I think Jon and I can help them." Ben said, standing up. He looked down on the Omnitrix, knowing what he had to do. Jon would do the same, his hoodie still damaged from earlier.
"Ben's right, Mr Tennyson. I should get going too." Jon nodded.
"Hah...Kids." Max shook his head. "Alright. Go for it, you two. But be careful."
The two boys would run out, ready to stop yet another one of Vilgax's machines, unaware that they were being sent from above or by an intergalactic conqueror. Wanting to make sure they were safe, Gwen, and Max would pursue them. The Omnitrix reactivated as Ben propped it up, viewing his options.
"Eenie, meenie, miney...here goes!" Finding one that looked strong enough, he slammed down on the Omnitrix, activating the device, engulfing him in a bright green light. In a few seconds, the transformation was complete. Now, Ben had opaque crystals emerge from his body covering it like an armor. Spikes come out of his back and he grew in size, turning into a diamond-like alien.
As for this robot, it was the massive one that made landfall earlier. The group arrive to see Vilgax's gigantic Mechadroid attacking a campsite full of RVs and people screaming. This time, it was a larger version, and it was wreaking havoc on the area, causing panic and chaos among the campers.
"Hey! Knock it off!" Jon yelled, running towards the machine. He would pick up speed before suddenly taking flight, ascending to the sky and flying straight towards the machine.
The machine turned around, promptly seeing the fist of Superboy smack it across the face. The punch was staggering indeed, causing the robot to slide backward a bit.
It managed to recover, swinging its arms at the Boy of Steel. Jon turned his head, promptly being smacked away by the robot as he went flying. He let out a yell as he crashed into the ground, creating a small crater.
Ben took action next. The robot spotted him, knowing he was the one that had the Omnitrix on him. The robot advanced towards Ben while Ben's eyes glow. He was able to morph his hand, turning it into a diamond blade. "Cool." He said as he decided to test out his new blade arm. He rushed at the robot, swinging at it, only for it to leap into the air with surprisingly impressive agility. It landed behind him and struck him from the back, knocking him over.
As the robot prepared to strike again, the half-kryptonian was quick to return to the battlefield, grabbing the mech's legs and lifting it up. He threw the robot into the forest. However, the machine quickly got up and fired its lasers, forcing him to dodge. One of its shots hit a tree, cutting it clean through and causing it to fall onto the roof of a nearby RV.
"! Jon gulped. He flew over to the RV and pulled the tree off of the vehicle, setting it aside. He would then notice the Mechadroid aiming at the campers, including a little girl who had wandered from her mother.
Reacting fast, Jon stepped in front of them and took the laser blast, which left a hole in his shirt again, this time from the front. The force of the blast was stronger than the other one, but Jon put all of his muscles into it this time, not letting the beam push him back. "Oh man, I'm gonna need a lot more shirts." Jon groaned.
Assisting him, Ben took this time to power up his own strength, getting a running start for momentum.
And with that momentum, he leapt forward, stabbing the robot's leg while it wasn't looking, making it scream in pain and stagger backwards. "Yes! Alright!"
The mech tried to fire its lasers at him, but Ben was able to create a shield to defend himself from the blasts, blocking the energy beams. After the barrage of attacks stopped, he was able to rush forward and slash at its legs, disabling the robot. But that didn't mean it was completely out of commission, firing at him again.
But Ben was able to defend himself, instinctively raising his arm to defend against it. Turns out, his body could actually reflect lasers, sending them right back at the sender. The lasers reflected off of his crystal body, destroying the mech's cannon.
The robot was greatly damaged by its own laser hitting back at it. It was incredibly vulnerable now thanks to the attacks that have been dealt to it. Thus, it allowed Ben and Jon to go in for the final blow. Together, they approached the robot with Jon flying and Ben leaping. Ben would slice the robot in half, starting from the head to the waist.
And with one powerful punch, Jon would finish the job, breaking the mech in half. Both halves of the robot fell to the ground, exploding in a spectacular fashion, leaving the two of them victorious and proud of themselves. Jon would land on the ground as the robot combusted, looking rather cool in Gwen's eyes when she saw it all play out.
"Wow. Talk about teamwork, right?" Ben asked, smiling at his achievement. He was pleased with his victory, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment. 'This feels good. I can get used to this.' Ben thought to himself, feeling a surge of pride.
"Yeah. Teamwork. That felt great." Jon smiled, having a similar thought to him. He took a deep breath as he held the back of his hair.
"Alright! You two did it!" Gwen cheered, running up to the boys.
Jon grinned while Ben helped him up. All the people were stunned but certainly grateful for this. They didn't know who these two were since they didn't look like any of the known heroes in the world, but they were grateful either way.
The night was won. Vilgax's machines had been destroyed, meaning his retrieval mission had failed. Ben and Jon would walk off into the distance, attempting to look like they were the only ones who came here. They went further into the woods before Gwen and Max would do the same, heading back to their campsite.
Back in his spaceship, Vilgax was frustrated that his minions had failed. "Failure?! Unbelievable! The puny Earth being that is keeping the Omnitrix from me- will soon hang on my trophy wall."
Now, he had a target. Earth. It was where his desired item was and no matter what it takes. No matter how he does it or how far he has to go, the Omnitrix will belong to him. So he believes and so he desires.