What was she doing?
As the Door closed, Hope found herself backtracking on how she had been acting the past few days.
She was different from most people. Raised to be a queen, then made to be a henchman, just to flip-flop between her kingdom and exile.
And she hadn't had a definition for herself ever since Gwen defeated her for the final time. What she? A mad woman, a murderer, a criminal... alone.
Until Ben.
He had taken her request seriously. And above all, they had become friends. Good friends.
But...
She had grown infatuated with the wielder of the Omnitrix. Forgetting how he was her sworn enemy for years. It didn't matter, he would have more reason to be upset, yet he never denied her advances. Never shut her off. He was flustered by them like she had been several times.
But her confidence grew that it was so amusing to see him like that... it made her smile.
Yet, it still felt like she was taking advantage. He just had a break-up, after all. And while his words would tell Hope that he was also attracted to her, undoubtfully... how truthful would that actually be?
"Really?" A male voice asked behind her, startling the witch, who turned to find out, with dismay, that Michael stood right there, arms crossed.
"What do you want?" She asked.
"Him? Really, Charmcaster?" Michael scoffed. "It's not that he's not a nice guy, oh. But for you?"
Hope narrowed her eyes. "I fail to see what you have to do with it."
"Can't I state my opinion?"
"Not when I can't recall when I called for it." She coldly stated. "Is it jealousy I sense?"
"Perhaps," Michael admitted. "Would you have me feeling any other way?"
"I would not." She said with a twisted pleasure in her words. "I love to see you suffering for the unreachable."
"To think he is now warming your bed-"
"He is not warming my bed, Michael." Hope cut him, though she was a bit flustered by the comment. "And even if he was-"
"It's an outrage." The former blonde said. "You not suited for him."
"And who am I suited to? You?"
"You were. If you weren't so sentimental about a name."
Her eyes began to glow pink. "I don't know why Gwen put you here. Perhaps for you to torture me. But you need to leave now. Before I kill you."
"You wouldn't." Michael firmly stated. "You wouldn't disappoint Ben. Or at least... let him know."
"I did not kill Adwaitya."
"Even depowered, I felt his mana vanishing," Darkstar said. "No mere executioner could do that."
"I made it quick. Quicker than he deserved."
"And when are you going to tell Ben you're back to being you, hm?"
"Maybe when I finish gutting you. Your death would be excruciating."
His laughter was reverberated by the helmet. "So violent. That's what I liked about you."
Hope felt like growling. "Michael, I am not going to tell you again..."
She just knew he had a wide smile behind the mask, knowing he could get under her skin so easily. And without another word, he left Hope alone.
Painfully alone.
Not that she wanted Michael's company.
But Ben's absence was felt dearly in her heart.
...
Benjamin felt so uncomfortable.
And that wasn't an emotion he often felt. But... well, looking at the roster that had taken over one of the biggest of the Plumbers outposts still on Earth...
Phil, Benjamin remembered very little from him. He pulled that stunt with the Null Void aliens, then not another word. Now, he had a full beard and could turn into a Terroranchula.
Then, Malware. Again, Ben remembered him from his childhood, but it seemed that unlike his Malware, who didn't survive the process that would complete his DNA, this Malware was black and crimson, and was always looking at him with some sort of negative emotion.
Mecamorphs took a lot of work to decipher.
With Khyber... the hunter had arrived at an awful time in Benjamin's life. Months after the multiversal fight against the 'good' Bens, the betrayal of Vilgax...
From what Benjamin had gathered, this Khyber had had a way to match Ben with a device called the Nemetrix. His Khyber didn't have that option. So, after a night of constant battle and injuries on both sides, Benjamin finally struck the killing blow.
Finally, there was Servantis. In his universe, it seemed like this problem had taken care of itself thanks to, ironically, Dr. Animo, when he had gone through that buff supervillain phase. Not wanting competition, D'Void had wiped the Rooters.
Something he had just told Servantis as they both drank from coffee on the table.
"It is... weird., Servantis said. "I never had a confrontation with Aloysius Animo. I wouldn't expect myself to be so clumsy."
"Perhaps you weren't trying to hunt me," Benjamin suggested, drinking from his own coffee. It didn't matter if it was poisoned, he had thought, considering the amount of people in this very room that could kill him.
"That could be it." The rooter admitted. "I am struck by how different you seem to be from your counterpart."
"I get that," Benjamin said. "I am older, though not by much. And will I admit my sense of morality has been dubious at times."
Servantis smirked. "Morality will always be relative. Is it moral to let a mere boy possess the tool to omnipotence?"
"Of course not." He answered. "It is a risk the universe shouldn't be willing to take. But said boy's actions could justify it keeping the tool."
"Do they, to you?" Servantis questioned. "Because I find absurd how he has the means to change the universe... or even the multiverse, I should say, with a single thought."
"He mostly tries to do what he deems good, however."
"Yes." The hybrid man responded. "But what is good? Saving people like a vigilante? Is that what defines good? One's actions may be noble, but it doesn't matter if so, much damage is dealt, so many lives are lost-"
"I am no stranger to that." Benjamin interrupted. "And I, for a long time, wasn't set on doing good deeds."
"Yet someone was able to keep you in check." Servantis gazed at his bare left wrist.
"Only thanks to my grief and sorrow at the time."
"Even so," The rooter continued. "You were controlled. No one can put Ben 10 in check. And mere attempts to take the Omnitrix from him would be fruitless."
"So, lethal option," Benjamin concluded.
"Only because of the circumstances," Servantis argued. "It would be a better world without him."
"At this stage, it seems like pure revenge to me."
Servantis's red eyes flashed with amusement, a smirk appearing on his face. "It is. But it is also fair. I do not want to hurt innocents, as much as I can. Ben 10 isn't even popular. If he was a well-beloved hero, maybe you could paint me as a monster. But when more than half the planet thinks he is a menace... why not stamp out this problem?"
"Seems logical," Benjamin commented, drifting off from the conversation and taking a sip from his coffee. "You must be prepared for the reaction to your attack."
"I am." Servantis was firm in his words. "To'kustars will keep him in bay. Tire him off. Then, we can put him down, like a rabid dog. A merciful fate."
"I would question that mercy."
Servantis once more smirked. "I apologize, friend. But if I can do anything to lighten your sour mood, is to say that you're most certainly not that menace. Even if you have done questionable deeds... you are paying for them, showing you are accountable for your actions."
The images of his Elena's cold body in his arms and this universe's Elena's mad stare appeared on his mind.
"I certainly am."
...
Ben noticed something was wrong immediately.
This hill had a very good view of Bellwood, and it was nighttime. If Hope had been right, and six days had passed, this should be the night of Saturday.
Yet, there were only the lights from the lampposts. Like no cars were running around. That was alarming. Had Bellwood been evacuated? Abducted? Was today a holiday?
It took him a moment to realize that more was wrong when he spotted in the very line of the horizon a purple form moving. Walking.
That wasn't a building, a plane, a balloon... that was something humanoid.
No, but it couldn't be. Who would be stupid enough to bring Way Bads to Bellwood? His villains – well, most of them – tended to be smart!
To further complicate his understanding of the situation, his Omnitrix had started to chirp widely. It had many functions, and one he had adopted was that of almost being his second phone. His phone was with Bad Ben, and the Omnitrix had its own channel where he received texts and calls.
And... everything amounted to... five hundred and sixty-seven unread notifications.
What the fuck?!
It had mostly been from his closest relatives and friends. But Twitter mentions were also running wild, so he entered the app, finding pretty quickly an image that shook him to his core.
Had Hope transported him to an alternate Earth?
How on Earth did him leaving for less than a week amounted to Servantis teaming up with Malware and Khyber?!
How was Khyber not still crazy?
HOW WAS MALWARE ALIVE?
Weren't Swift and Leander on the Alien Force? Why were they with them?
Ben had so many questions, but so few answers...
He probably couldn't stay here. Even if he was a bit far from the city itself, Swift would be patrolling from above, and those To'kustars, Ben had learned from his transformations into Way Big, had very good eyesight.
He turned into Fasttrack, and ran. Not towards Bellwood, this would be too risky. At face value, he felt like abandoning his city. But he had briefly read Servantis was here for two days already. And he was exclusively searching for him.
The farther from his home, the better. And Ben had an idea where to go.
It took him less than an hour, but a lot of effort. Fasttrack was not as fast as XLR8, but it was still faster than most Kinecelerans. Getting to South Dakota was important, both to draw attention from most big cities and because of the old base of Mount Rushmore. Getting there, Ben changed back to human and entered the passcodes to the base.
Inside, there weren't any Plumbers, but Ben wasn't surprised. The base hadn't been decommissioned, but it was also less important because of its somewhat isolated location. It was dusty, clearly no one had been here in months, but it was fine.
Ben needed this space for himself.
He sat down in front of the main computer of the base, activating the firewall systems implanted into the Plumbers' network. He searched for what was actually happening, and indeed, there was a worldwide manhunt for him. Servantis was even offering a bounty if Ben was captured alive. Undoubtedly, his less glamorous and more opportunistic villains would be out there to make a name for themselves.
This was dangerous. And Ben remembered, with his heart skipping a beat, about Bad Ben. Ben had grown to tolerate his counterpart, and both of them had been warming up to each other. Much like what happened with Ben 23, although a bit slower. With 23, he was a brat. But Bad Ben was a more complicated figure. Yet, they had made a truce.
But now, where could he be? Ben was tempted to call his phone, but... No, if Malware was involved, comms worldwide could be compromised.
Malware.
No, this could only be a bad dream. Ben had been repulsed by Vilgax using the Mecamorph's remains to make himself a body armor, but for the psycho himself to be back... Ben had seen a picture of the Mecamorph, and he looked just like before he had absorbed the Tachyon Cannon in this very base.
Ben remembered Hope's words. And he wouldn't take half-measures.
Khyber could be a problem. Between all of them, it was either him or Servantis controlling the Way Bads. Either one would have to go. Dealing with all the Way Bads had been impossible just by brute force. He hoped Rook and Patelliday's plan of sending them all to the Null Void could still be applied.
This was a crisis. Not on Dagon's or the Incurseans' level... but a crisis nonetheless.
So, as he did in any crisis... he texted Gwen.
It only took forty seconds before an answer appeared.
Gwen: Ben?
Gwen: Is it actually you?
Ben: Mt. Rush.
His cryptic message was hopefully enough for her to understand. And it had been, after all, since mere moments later, he was being held tightly by his cousin.
"Oh, God. I was so worried."
"Sorry." Ben apologized, hugging her back. "I was busy."
"With what?" Gwen looked at him. She was missing her glasses and was wearing a navy blue shirt along with a skirt. Her hair was somehow even shorter than it had been the last time they saw each other. "Someone told me you were with an enemy of our past."
"Someone?" Ben wondered for a moment who she could be talking about, then it clicked. "Was it Bad Ben?"
"Bad Ben?" Gwen frowned. "Why do you call another version of yourself that?"
"It's a long story." He paused, his breath had faltered when Gwen told him she knew he was with a former enemy. But surely, he couldn't talk about Hope right now, could he?
"I had to attend a mission in the Null Void." Ben came up with a story, and he hoped to God his eye wasn't twitching. "I met with Rojo."
"Rojo?" Gwen questioned.
"Yeah, she looks... normal-ish, I guess. She didn't try to kill me. I warned Bad Ben... and I guess all this happened when I was out... where is he?"
"I don't know." The redhead looked away. "I couldn't track him. And he said it was dangerous anyway. Me and Kevin, we're also hiding. We noticed we were being monitored, and that was uncomfortable enough."
"Do they really mean what they said?"
"I think?" Gwen shrugged. "That new team got battered up pretty bad but everyone's alive and in the HQ. Cousin Lucy told me everyone is anxious for you to return."
"Here I stand," Ben said. "What can we do now?"
Gwen stopped to think, that analyzing look on her face was indicative of that. "Servantis's words were taken seriously. I guess we can expect a legion of your rogues trying to get you. Plus, the Way Bads. And the Rooters. And Malware and Khyber."
"It's a lot..." Ben hummed. "But... Damn... I don't know, Gwen. We could beat them all if we wanted, but..."
"It would be destructive." She spoke. "More than even the Incurseans."
"Yeah..." He scratched his chin, where some stubble had begun to grow. Then, a terribly dangerous idea sparked in his head, and he went for the computer.
"What is it?" His cousin asked.
"Just watch..." He trailed off, focused on the comms channel. With the firewall activated, he didn't fear Servantis looking into what he was doing.
Calling Vilgaxia was easy enough. A Chimera Sui Generis woman who resembled Myaxx picked up the call.
"Yes, how may I-" The alien woman paused. "Ben 10?"
"Yes." He smiled. "This is no ordinary Plumber meeting. I want to see your boss."
"I do not know what you are talking about." She responded, to which Ben smiled.
"You know who. I know he is alive. If you don't let me talk to him, I'm gonna go there, and since I beat him three years ago in combat, I can technically claim your planet as mine. So, if you don't want a civil war, put him on."
While the Chimera Sui Generis was hesitant, she ultimately sighed and nodded. "My lord will be through." Then, the transmission was paused, replaced by a grey screen and a soft song.
"You've gone insane," Gwen stated, shaking her head. "Ben, you can't be serious."
"Let me do this." He requested, and while she was still unenthusiastic, she didn't say anything more. A minute later, the face of his arch-nemesis faced him on the big screen.
And he looked terrible. Ben knew how bad he took after the whole Malgax incident, but he looked worse than after Xylene blew him up while trying to get the Omnitrix. He was once more relying on an external life support system, more of his body parts were mechanical, making Ben wonder if he could be considered a Cyborg, but if one thing didn't ever change, was the way those crimson eyes looked at him with disgust.
"Ben Tennyson." Vilgax greeted. "To which I own this surprise?"
"Hi, Vilgax." Ben tried to come off as calm as he could. "How's your recovery?"
"It has been fruitful." The squid-like alien told him. "I am most shocked I would receive such a call from a sworn enemy like you."
"Yeah. I got a problem."
Vilgax's lips curled up in satisfaction. "And it is I who you contact to solve it?"
"Yes." Ben grimaced. "It's like what happened with Ghostfreak... Earth is being held hostage by some people."
"And why shouldn't I let them strangle your planet?"
He stared angrily at Vilgax. "Because you have a debt. I helped you against Zs'Skayr."
"My debt was paid when I saved your life from Attea and the Incurseans in Incarcecon," Vilgax stated.
"Cut the bullshit." Ben rolled his eyes. "You jumped in front of the blast to free yourself. And you tried to get the Omnitrix from my unconscious body."
"Even still, if you are alive today... you need to thank me."
"Look..." Ben put his hands forward, his patience waning. "I don't consider that as a paid debt. But I can offer you a deal."
The conqueror of planets looked at Ben with amusement. "I am listening, Tennyson."
"Like I told your secretary before I spoke to you," Ben scoffed. "I have a claim to your home planet ever since I beat you in combat three years ago. And if you want to keep playing nice by the rules of interplanetary law... you would need to hand me over Vilgaxia if I chose to."
All amusement had been drained from Vilgax's face. "Go on."
"So, if you help me cast off the people who are doing a manhunt for me on Earth... I will formally drop my claim to Vilgaxia. And we can go back to being sworn enemies, or whatnot."
Ben was aware Vilgax was a lot of things, but he was not reckless. His archnemesis was cunning, prepared, and pragmatic. Ben let the Chimera Sui Generis think for a moment until Vilgax finally nodded.
"I accept your terms."
"But I need you to swear we're on a truce," Ben stated very seriously. "I'm recording this call. Again, if you want to keep being a normal ruler of a planet, you need to state to the galaxy that you're not gonna conquer Earth now."
Vilgax groaned. "I, Vilgax, conqueror of planets, swear on interplanetary jurisdiction to only assist Ben Tennyson as long as he fits necessary, or major threats to the planet Earth have been eradicated."
"Good." Ben nodded. "I will wait for you to come as soon as you can."
"A deal is a deal." Under his mask, Vilgax seemed to smile. "I shall be there, Ben Tennyson."
"See you then." And then Ben disconnected the call. At his side, Gwen appeared to be flabbergasted.
"You're an idiot."
"And you're a dweeb." Ben retorted. "It's gonna be fine."
"Who loosened the screws on your head?"
"Ah!" Gwen exclaimed. "I'm going to warn Grandpa Max of your stupidity."
"Yes. And tell cousin Lucy to rally everyone. I'm gonna need her, by the way."
"Okay..." The redhead gave him a last side-eyed look before she teleported away, leaving him on his own.
Would Hope be angry at him now?