After a last goodbye, Attea let Ben go on his terms, turning into Jetray. He'd rather go this way than to wait for a pod to drop him at the hotel. So, it wasn't long before he had arrived, transforming back to a human when landing. But, to his dismay, he was stopped by a glassed woman with brunette hair, a small notebook present in her hands.
"Ben 10, may I have a word for a moment?" The woman said, looking like she had just run a marathon judging by her heavy breathing.
"I'm a bit busy, at the moment?" He stated, wanting nothing more than to just drop to his bed.
"I swear I won't take too much of your time." The woman promised. "I am Rose Parker of the ET Magazine."
"ET Magazine," Ben repeated, inclined to believe the name was made up.
"Indeed," Parker spoke with a smile. "I was hoping to know... you've been seen with a dark-haired girl recently. And that's right after your alleged break-up." Ben could feel anger bubbling up in his stomach. Was turning into Humungousaur or Toepick to scare her off the table? "Who is her? Everyone is very curious about it."
Ben stared at the reporter for a second. She looked young, barely older than him.
He supposed the least he could do was put bread on someone else's table.
"She is my cousin." He stated plainly.
"Cousin?" Parker sounded genuinely surprised. "I wasn't aware you had another cousin apart from Gwen Tennyson and Lucy Mann!"
He nodded, impatience growing. "Yeah. Is that all?"
"I was hoping you could give me more details. What's her name? Is she also an alien?"
Before Ben could fully lash out at the reporter, the one person he didn't expect to see at this exact moment but the one they were – kind of – talking about, showed up.
"Ben!" Charmcaster said, fully playing to her Sunny persona. "What's with you taking so long?"
"Hello, miss!" The reporter changed her target. "Do you happen to be Ben's newfound cousin?"
The witch looked from him to Parker, back to him, and finally set her eyes on the reporter. "I think you should leave now... whoever you are. I was waiting for Ben half an hour ago and you've been holding him for too long."
"But, if I could just-" Parker trailed off when she noticed Charmcaster's eyes had begun glowing in a bright shade of pink. Without another word, the reporter stored her notebook and left in a hurry. Ben looked at the face of his cousin with gratefulness.
"Thanks." He said. "But you shouldn't have done that. They will now leak that you have powers."
Charmcaster just shrugged, motioning Ben to walk to the hotel, which they did. "People already noticed. And this façade can only last for so long before Gwenny shows up."
Ben couldn't help but fear that possibility. "You don't think that could happen soon, right?"
"How come I know?" She spoke as they entered the elevator. "What happened for you to have to leave the planet?"
"A, uh... friend of mine called me." Despite what Ben said to Attea, he was a bit skeptical to fully call the Incursean empress a friend. "Some messy things going on in space. Nothing we should worry about, at least for now."
"Mhm." Charmcaster didn't seem worried, indeed. "We made a stop at Burger Shack if you don't mind."
Ben frowned. "Did you? But how did you pay for it? I didn't think you had actual money with you."
The witch smiled. "I do not. But someone happens to know your credit card password."
He stared at her for a few seconds, processing the information. Then he smiled. "I kinda want to be mad, but I can't say I have any reason for it."
"Indeed." She opened the door to their room, where inside, Bad Ben was lying on the couch, watching television. Charmcaster immediately removed her mask, black hair replaced by silver, Sunny's purple and black clothes by magenta robes.
"What happened?" Bad Ben inquired, not bothering to open space on the couch or look away from the TV.
"Attea." He told his counterpart, who then chuckled.
"The less said the better than." The sea-green-eyed version of himself grabbed the controller and switched channels.
"Wasn't actually that bad." Ben removed his jacket, placing it on the chair. "She is much friendlier than before."
Bad Ben frowned his lip. "I am reluctant to believe that, funnily enough."
"Same." Ben yawned. "If you excuse me, I'm going to bed."
Bad Ben shrugged, still focusing on the television, and still uncertain of what he wanted to watch. Although it was hard to believe that they were the same person, his indecision when it came to picking what to watch was similar enough. He went to the room, and fell onto his bed, the comfort of the mattress being quite divine to his body. It was like all the aches had gone away. Even his headache, to his surprise.
"Are you going to sleep?" A voice asked, and Ben opened his eyes to find Charmcaster looking at him near her bed.
"That was the plan." Ben stared at the witch. "Is there something wrong?"
Charmcaster clicked her tongue. "Not really." She took off her robe, the rest of her black attire remaining. Ben noticed he had never seen Charmcaster with clothes that weren't her magical robes, so that was a first. "I just wanted to talk. He," She nodded towards the door. "isn't the best company I've ever had."
"Just as long as you don't tell me to get up, I'm fine," Ben said, to which the witch laughed.
"Don't worry, I'll not." Charmcaster sat on her bed. "Are you tired?"
"Like I've been working all day. Which I haven't."
"But you haven't slept either." She argued. "It is equally as bad."
Ben sighed. "I don't know what to do. Don't you have a spell to make people sleep?"
Charmcaster rolled her eyes, although it didn't seem like she was annoyed, only amused. "Magic isn't that simple. Magic is better used for rituals and through artifacts. Spells are a part of it, but even they are subjected to the things I mentioned. Through magic, seemingly impossible things can be achieved."
"I know all about it," Ben said. "I'm still not over how you technically killed me, Gwen, and Kevin to resurrect your father."
If anything, he could see that she was clearly uncomfortable. "I... I have no defense for that."
"Or when you tried to kill my family working in tandem with a space crime lord and a psychopath."
She crossed her arms. "That is quite enough."
"Or when you allied with Darkstar only for him to pick Gwen over you..."
"You are being petty." Charmcaster hissed. "I said I'm sorry for all I did."
"You know what they say, after sorry was invented, nobody else ever died again." Ben sighed. "But alright, I am being unfair. I'm just too worried and tired about everything now."
The witch gazed at him, silent for a few seconds. Thankfully, it didn't seem like he was mad at him. "Because of... Kai, right?"
He shrugged. "I suppose. But I don't have time to absorb everything. Not when I am a hero and all that. But..."
"I get it." Her eyes were filled with sympathy. "I know what you're going through."
"Darkstar?" Ben guessed.
The witch chuckled, changing her gaze to the roof. "Yes. Although I doubt Kai is nearly as despicable as Michael was."
"Definitely not," Ben stated. "But to be fair, at least in the past she preferred me when I was transformed."
"That's... not ideal. For a relationship especially."
"Eh. She managed to tolerate me." He smiled, remembering their early days as a couple. "But I guess I was too busy. Especially now that I have become a full-time Plumber."
"Yet you still wish that things could have been sorted out," Charmcaster said to which Ben nodded.
"Yeah. Of course." That was what Ben most wanted. He had gone through what happened with Kai in his previous relationship with Julie, trying to strike a balance between his duties and his personal life. With Kai, it had been exacerbated.
She turned back to face him. "I felt the same with Michael. I was so desperate... after what happened with my father... I let him poison my mind. I... I told him my name. And he forgot it." Her voice was laced with anger. "Like you said, he would always choose Gwen first."
Now Ben felt bad for what he said. "Hey, sorry for saying it like that. I didn't want to bring bad memories or anything."
"The truth hurts." Charmcaster recited. "I hate it when your cousin is right."
"She happens to be right a lot of times," Ben commented. "But... now that I think about it, I never even thought of you having a name other than Charmcaster."
She raised an eyebrow. "Did you seriously think that was my actual name?"
"Not that, it's just that I never even thought about it." Ben paused. "What is it?"
"What?"
"Your name. What is it?" Ben noticed Charmcaster's expression and quickly tried to retreat from the question. "If you want to tell me, that is. I'm not pressuring you or anything."
"It's Hope." The sorceress told him.
"Hope," Ben repeated. "That's a pretty name."
Charmcaster... no, Hope smirked, looking a tad bit distraught but at the same time as she was feeling better. "Thank you. It is more appropriate anyway. And..." She briefly paused, breathing deeply. "If you want any guarantees that I am not deceiving you this should be enough. My given name is not something I share lightly."
He nodded, taking her words seriously. "I'll keep that in mind." Once more, he yawned.
"I think I should let you sleep now," Hope said. "I think I'm going to take a nap myself. Better to entertain myself with him."
"I wouldn't mind sleeping," Ben admitted, stretching his arms. "Good night, Hope." He said, despite the fact it was probably still afternoon. He didn't know for certain, since he hadn't checked, but that was his best estimate.
Hope chuckled. "Good night, hero." And in seconds after closing his eyes, Ben was already drifting asleep.
At least a moment of rest, that's all he asked for now.
So of course, he just had to be woken up by the ringing coming from the Omnitrix ringing frenetically. The sun seemed to be going away, so he had slept the entire afternoon. Either that or it was early morning of the next day. Which was something that had already happened in the past. Regardless, he looked at his watch to find that it was his grandfather the one who was calling him. Ben frowned. Didn't he send the entire file on what he had discovered even before he went to see Attea? And Grandpa did say the Plumbers would have taken over from here.
So, what could it be now? Only one way to find out. Ben picked up the call, bringing the Omnitrix close to his face.
"Yes?"
"Ben." His grandpa's voice was enlaced with apprehension. "Something has happened."
"Not hard to figure." He yawned. "Sorry, I was sleeping. What is it?"
"We chose to send the team to investigate what you sent us earlier." Grandpa Max started telling.
"And?" Ben couldn't see how it could have gone wrong enough for his help to be needed. Like, come on. The team wasn't as experienced as him, but they weren't completely green. And they were heavy hitters in their own right. Now that the initial shock had subsided, Ben might actually appreciate having them around to ease up his schedule.
"They were captured," Max stated. "There was radio silence for a moment, but then we received a transmission."
"From them?" Ben asked, now starting to think that he might have overestimated the team.
"No." Grandpa coughed awkwardly. "It was from Elena Validus."
At that, Ben froze, head spinning. The name echoed in his head. Elena. Ben had not heard from her... in a long time. The last he had seen from her... he was still with Julie, and she had overpowered him as Ultimate Echo-Echo. Okay. Maybe he should cut the team some slack.
"She called because... she has demanded that you go there. Just you."
"Why only me?" Ben asked, but deep down, he knew the answer. He knew why Elena would want him and him alone to face her.
"We don't know. But she has threatened to kill the team should any Plumbers try to approach her. This a very serious situation, Ben." Max said ominously. "But I expect you to rescue them. And to deal with Elena. Don't let your feelings get in the way, Ben."
"Elena was a long time ago, Grandpa." Ben awkwardly defended himself.
"That doesn't matter, Ben." His grandpa argued "I know that you are going through a lot right now. Don't let her get into your head."
Ben chose to answer shortly. "Mhm. Sure. I get it."
If his grandpa was dissatisfied with his answer, he didn't show it. "I'll be sending you the coordinates. Good luck."
With that, Ben turned off the call, feeling very lost. Not ten seconds later, a notification showed that Grandpa had sent him the coordinates.
"What is it with you being a magnet for problems?" Ben was startled to see that Hope was still in her bed, only now sat with her legs crossed.
"Welcome to my life." Ben tried to get up, noticing how much of an effort it was. Nevertheless, he managed to do it, feeling very sore.
"Are you going alone?" She asked, sounding concerned. "If this Elena is strong enough to overpower the team..."
"I can deal with her," Ben stated, looking up to face Hope. "But you can come with me if you can wait in the car."
Hope smirked. "Sure. Someone must pick you up after you dealt with the bad guy, right?"
Ben couldn't help but laugh back. "Couldn't agree more."
When they got to the place, the first thing they noticed was a van parked at the side of the road. Judging by the color, being the same red shade as the team's jet. Which by itself wouldn't be a good sign, if Ben came here without knowledge of what was going on. He parked the car near the van, sighing.
"Are you sure you want to go alone? We can go with you, you know?" Hope urged.
"I know," Ben said. "But I wouldn't want to risk any of you two."
"And it is my problem to solve." He said before they could argue against it. Hope looked like she disagreed, while Bad Ben simply gazed at him, an unfamiliar look on his face. His usual disdain was gone, at least partially.
"Do not fall for what she has to say." He stated. Ben was surprised, to say the least, to see his counterpart advising him. "You know better."
Ben nodded. "I do." He chose not to comment on how similar this piece of advice was to Grandpa's. Something he would have to ponder about at a later time.
"Good luck." Hope wished, and Ben left the car, letting the door close on its own. The teen walked forward a few steps before the ground began to shake heavily. His hand lunged for the Omnitrix by instinct when he saw something large emerging from the ground, only to find out it was something akin to a building. Upon closer inspection, a pair of doors opened revealing a small elevator.
Ben entered the elevator, the doors closing subsequently. He couldn't help but chuckle, he knew what was going on. Leaning at the elevator, it started to go down, into the underground.
He thought of what he should say to Elena. But what was there to say? She tried to kill his friends, girlfriend and only stopped at killing him because of her shame and apparent love for him.
Could that even be called love, though? Trying to remove all obstacles between him and her? Elena had been the first girl he had really been into... but he denied it at the time. And with all that happened with her father, seeing her when they fought against the swarm was refreshing. But he was with Julie, he didn't even allow himself to garner any feelings for her. At first. When she cornered him at her lab, with Julie tied behind a locked door, he succumbed for a moment. But what she had done had woken him up.
It wasn't long before the elevator stopped, and the doors opened, revealing a similar lab to the one Elena had inherited from Victor Validus. Not even a second in and he spotted her, with her back turned to him. She seemed to be... making coffee.
"You actually came," Elena said soothingly, turning to face him. She was in human form, olive skin, black hair, and wearing the clothing he had last seen her wear, a long-sleeved dress that went all the way to her thighs, highlighting her curves. Ben mentally reminded himself not to get distracted. "I was almost thinking you weren't coming."
"Well, I was sleeping." Ben slowly walked forward, keeping his hands together in case he needed to transform. "Then Grandpa called me, and told me that you abducted the team?"
Elena simply shrugged. "I needed a way to get your attention. And I was curious to see if this new Alien Force is as competent as the previous."
"Is that what they're calling themselves?" Ben looked around, not seeing anyone apart from Elena. Were they hidden? Knowing the microchips, it's likely this entire lab wasn't even real.
She laughed. "Yes, can you believe it?" Elena said friendly. "Like they can live up to you, Gwen and Kevin!"
Ben, however, was not amused. At all. "Only they can tell. If you release them."
Elena's smile faded, and she was quiet for a moment. "Can you come closer?"
Ben crossed his arms. "I'm comfortable here."
"I am not going to hurt you." Her voice shook slightly. A thought went through Ben's head, has she lost her mind completely? Considering everything, he wouldn't be surprised if she had lost her sanity. "I would never hurt you."
"Only when you did." Ben could almost feel the microchips filling his lungs, making it impossible to breathe.
"Not gonna happen again, okay?" She quickly approached him, and Ben wanted to fall back, but the doors to the elevator, were closed. When Elena got close to him, she simply grabbed his hand, trying to pull him to the table where she was previously. "You look so handsome with your hair larger."
"Thanks," Ben said nervously and reluctantly followed her to the table. Indeed, there was coffee.
"Sit down." Elena pointed to a bench, and Ben sat, tense and ready to jump away if needed.
"How have you been, Ben?" She questioned, placing her elbow on the table and holding her chin.
While Attea hadn't poisoned him earlier, there was no way in hell he would drink this coffee. "Good. Mostly."
"You're lying." For some reason, she smiled. "I know when you're lying. I mean, look at the news! You broke up again, didn't you?"
Ben scratched the back of his neck. "Yes. I did."
A flash of anger coursed through Elena's black eyes, almost making Ben go for the Omnitrix. "How could her break your heart? You shouldn't have to go through this."
"It's life, Elena. Sometimes, you just need to get over things." He put a heavy emphasis on his last words. While he wasn't really applying his logic to his situation with Kai, he certainly was not pursuing his ex or going after her friends and family.
Elena, in return, squinted her eyes. "I could never get over you."
"That's a lie!" Ben exclaimed. "We weren't even a thing!"
The nanite queen gazed at him with a distant look, like she was barely paying attention. It creeped Ben out. "I waited so long for you to come back..." While her tone was affectionate, her eyes didn't share the same emotion. Frankly, they looked indecipherable to Ben. "I had plans... to go after Kai... like I did to Julie..." She paused like she wanted Ben to comprehend her horrifying words. "But I waited. I wanted you to come to me. I wanted you to see that I changed."
"You kidnapped five people, Elena."
The girl brought her face to her hands. "That was just to get your attention!" Now, she truly seemed desperate. "I was bluffing with the Plumbers! I don't want to kill anyone! I never did!"
Ben's face hardened. "You did. And... Elena... the chips... they drove you insane. This isn't you..."
"This is me," Elena affirmed. "Everything that I could ever want... apart from you..." Her voice trailed off. "Why don't you want me?"
"Elena..."
"Ben Tennyson, answer me." Her voice was icy, her eyes desperate. "I am better than anyone that has passed through your life. Be it Julie or Kai, I can give you my full attention. I don't have anything to worry about apart from you. Hell, I don't care about what companions you keep. You can keep trying to rehabilitate that witch in the car and that clone of yourself."
He froze. She... "Elena... how much do you know?"
"It doesn't matter, because we don't care. Just as long as no one steals you from us." Her eyes flashed dangerously, and Ben was put in even more of an edge.
"This... needs to end..." Ben chose his words carefully. "It's... not that I didn't like you..." Even in this situation, he couldn't help but feel a bit awkward. "But... I couldn't live peacefully knowing that I left you like this. You're almost like one of your drones."
"You... don't understand us." Elena's voice cracked, and from human, she morphed into her nanite queen self. "We can bring you so much more. Anything you want." She extended her hand, caressing Ben's face, but he put it away.
"Sometimes it is best to not have everything. Choosing is important. It makes things mean something."
"Then choose ME!" She bellowed, the glasses around the lab exploding, shards flying everywhere. "Why can't you choose me?!"
"Because I wouldn't be choosing you!" Ben told her, voice just as raised. "I would be choosing this shell of yourself."
"A... shell..." Elena closed her now pure white eyes, flinching heavily. Ben got up from his bench, backing up slowly. "Is that how you see us?"
"That's who you are now." He activated the Omnitrix's dial, not daring to take his eyes off her. He would have to trust his watch.
"You are so wrong." She opened her eyes. "I am tired of running. I shall have you, one way or the other."
Ben raised his hand. "Don't come closer."
Elena got up, smiling. "You don't know any better, Ben. I'll make you see the truth." She opened her arms, a wave of microchips coming out from her very body. Ben immediately pressed the Omnitrix's core, a green light engulfing the lab. When it went away, He noticed he was flying, and that suddenly Elena had become much larger. Looking down, he noticed he was...
"Nanomech?" Even Elena didn't seem to believe it, chuckling. "The Omnitrix might just be on my side."
"It's never on anyone's side other than me." She lunged forward, trying to grab him. Instead, he shrank and flew away, hitting her with a shot of green energy that knocked Elena away a few feet.
"Ah! How dare you, you insolent drone!" Elena got up, a look that felt like daggers pointed at him.
Ben grinned, returning to Nanomech's normal size. "More than a drone. You made up the decoy queen, didn't you? So, you know what I said to her. Drones can adapt, but humans never give up!" Once more he launched an attack at Elena, who this time dodged.
"I remember it, yes." Elena morphed her left hand into a thin blade. "But you forget... Even the decoy could almost break your mind... I shall be the one to finish what she started."
It was incredibly hard to resist her commands. Obey, submit, give up... But Ben was stronger than that. He was not a simple drone.
"Why don't you try that yourself?" Ben responded to her orders, leaving her shocked.
"W-what?" For the first time, Elena seemed taken aback. Ben smiled.
"You pride yourself in being the queen... let's see if you like a usurper." Not truly knowing if this would work, Ben reached out for Elena's mind. All drones were connected to the queen, but he really was more than just that. And he benefitted from Elena's confusion, hijacking her power and turning it on her.
"Get out of my head!" She cried, clinging over the table so she wouldn't fall. "You cannot do this! A vassal can't overtake their queen!"
Ben narrowed his four eyes. "Yet that's what I'm doing." His effort was monumental, Elena's will being almost too much for him to handle.
Almost. He could feel the brain of the queen, undoubtedly the same way she could feel his and the other drones' minds.
"You can hear me." He declared.
"BE GONE!" Elena's voice, even inside her head, was overwhelming, almost breaking the connection.
"I will not." He stated firmly. "Remember who you are."
"Don't you understand, Ben?!" Elena asked hysterically. "WE ARE ONE. I AM THE QUEEN. I AM NOT BEING CONTROLLED; I AM THE ONE WHO CONTROLS!
"You're right." He conceded on that. "But you are infected. Infected by the microchips."
"You lie! They make me strong! They make me feel alive!"
"And you won't be anymore!" Ben declared, pushing further. "The Swarm. They shall not serve you any longer."
"You cannot do this!" Elena tried to push him back, to no avail. "I am the queen!"
"NO MORE!" Ben replied. "They flock to me!"
"NO!" Elena's voice was filled with such desperation that it made Ben's heart feel sore. But he couldn't let go now. He willed the chips to flock to him, and they finally obeyed. With a final scream, his old friend fell to the ground, changing back into human form while the swarm left her body from every possible corner of her body. It was an ugly sight, but Ben barely had time to evaluate the situation before he felt it. The urge to command, the feeling of almost omnipotence, like he could do anything. He felt the minds of the drones bowing to his own. Begging him for orders.
But he didn't give in. He had experienced near-total power with Alien X, and even with its limitations, he knew what it was like. So instead, he commanded the chips to destroy themselves. No more. They would not claim him, Elena, or anyone else. And while the chips weren't satisfied, they were forced to oblige. The Swarm began to kill each other, bash themselves into the walls, and run into lightbulbs. Ben could feel each mind being taken away from his mind. And it pained him. It pained him when it shouldn't have. So, it was a relief when the last of the chips finished their assigned task, and at that time Ben dropped to the ground, changing back into human form. He was panting heavily, his whole body filled with pain.
But he remembered Elena. She was also on the ground, her eyes widened, her breathing just as labored as his. She seemed in shock, which was a definite bad sign. Ben scrambled his way to her, holding her in his arms.
"Elena? Do you hear me?" Ben tried calling her, but there was no answer. Thankfully, her eyes sprang to life, turning to gaze at him. But there wasn't a response. Instead, she closed her eyelids, and for a moment, Ben panicked. He checked her pulse, happy to see that it was still there. Suddenly, a loud noise echoed around the lab, making Ben jump away from her, hand on the Omnitrix. But he lowered his hand and wrist when he saw the new Alien Force coming out of a door that Ben was sure was not there previously, all of them looking like trash.
"Ben?" Lucy asked, running in his direction. She kneeled beside Ben, inspecting Elena. "Is this...?"
"Yes. But I got the microchips off her. She is no longer a threat. We should take her to a hospital, though."
"Are you forgetting the part where she tried to kill all of us, and not count you too?" Manny indignantly asked.
Ben did not have the strength to find him, so he said "She was ill. And she was my friend. It wasn't herself. I am going to take her to be treated now." Ben span and pressed the Omnitrix, turning into Four-Arms, who towered over all the Alien Force, including Manny. He then walked to the elevator, impatiently pressing the button to open it. He only gave Lucy a last look as she darted at him with concern and gratefulness before the doors to the lab closed.
Elena WILL NOT rob the spotlight, don't worry. Hope will remain the focus.