Inkaliber: Welcome back folks! It's time for the next chapter in this wonderful story! This time there won't be as much of a time jump so-
Meowth: Yo Chief! Ya got a moment?
Inkaliber: Meowth, I'm in the middle of starting a chapter. What is it?
Meowth: Well, da others was wonderin' when yous would get back ta some of the other stuff so they'd be able to pop up more.
Inkaliber: I have a lot on my plate now Meowth and I haven't gotten anything concrete ready to start up again. I promise I'll get something going soon.
Meowth: Got it. Just makin' sure.
Inkaliber: I really should get on that. Anyway, enough talking. Let's answer some reviews.
The_Literary_Lord- I hope you had a good one too!
OmniArashiKitsune- Yeah the school shenanigans were mainly meant to show how Ben and Jade handle their relationship as well as other kids' reactions. Ben's capabilities are an interesting thing that I'm not gonna answer yet. XD. This chapter is gonna be a fun one for seeing more of Sari. Animo didn't create an Omnitrix rip-off even though he named it the Predatrix. It's more that he made a very powerful version of his original design. It's just an adaptation of his usual shenanigans with an upgrade similar to when he's used Omnitrix DNA, something that he's been shown being capable of using.
Reader (Guest)- Thanks! It was fun showing off the kids' development.
WanderingSage7- Why thank you. It's not always easy but we make it work. The kids have a lot of stuff to grow into and this is only the beginning. Verdona has her own way of teaching which includes letting the kids try to do things themselves. Getting the magic and mana stuff right is very important for the story going forward.
Inkaliber: With all that said, let's begin. I don't own Ben 10, Jackie Chan Adventures, or any other series to appear in the story and the universe. I do own OC characters, objects, ideas, and concepts unless stated otherwise.
Voices
"Talking."
'Thinking.'
"YELLING!"
"Author/Guest/High or demonic entity talking. Also, surprise at the end of a section."
"AUTHOR/GUEST/HIGH OR DEMONIC ENTITY YELLING!"
"Whispering."
"Author/Guest/High or demonic entity whispering."
[Language Indicator]
"Machine or alt communication talking/Talking in flashback."
"MACHINE OR ALT COMMUNICATION YELLING/YELLING IN FLASHBACK!"
"Machine or alt communication whispering/Whispering in flashback."
January 14th, 2008
Bellwood, Pennsylvania
Sari looked around nervously, walking through the Pennsylvania countryside. She had to make sure no one saw her, knowing that it would make things more strenuous if she was followed. She looked down at the symbol that overtook her Autobot decal, considering getting herself muddy to cover it up and go unnoticed for a bit. It would buy her time to- She suddenly shook her head, shaking the mud off her hand.
"No," sighed the Cybertronian girl. "That would only make it more suspicious and Ratchet would make me wash up and oil myself. I'm doomed." She walked forward, a shadow watching her. She gasped as she felt a hand, turning around to see Jade with the others.
"Sari, it's an open field," sighed Jade. "Why are you sneaking around, and why did you just bolt when we told you about Animo's thing being in your chest?" The Cybertronian held up her hands, giggling nervously.
"I just… needed to get my axles greased!... That's a car thing, isn't it?" The others nodded, making her sigh as her shoulders slumped. "Optimus was already gonna kill me for getting this thing stuck in me. It was one thing when those Plumber guys found us and made that deal but now it's a bunch of kids." Ben pointed upwards, frowning.
"Um, kids who've kept your secret and our own since before we even knew you," corrected the boy. "Heck, Paco grew an extra pair of arms and a tail and none of us have been screaming to the rooftops about it." The Hispanic boy rubbed the back of his head, looking away.
"Mama will never let me leave the house again," sighed the boy. "This is muy mal: very bad." Ellie rubbed his shoulder, smiling at him.
"Hey, Grandpa has ID Masks at the base," stated the spiritual girl. "You'll be fine." Sari looked over the group for a moment, sighing again as she stood up straight.
"I'll need to go first just in case the security systems flag me as an enemy," informed the Cybertronian. "I have no idea what this thing could have done to my Energon signature, or my DNA for that matter. Just please, don't make a big deal out of it. You never know who could be around." Gwen looked down, her arms crossed as she had a remorseful frown on her face.
Sari took a deep breath as she turned around, taking a few steps forward as she suddenly disappeared for the group in a shimmering fractal of light. Suddenly, somewhere inside the space, alarms started going off inside a metallic hall. A tall, white, and red Autobot was seen running towards large monitors as the alarm continued to sound off. Bumblebee suddenly drove into view as the vehicle he copied from Ratso, unfolding as he barely made the turn. He ran over, looking around.
"I was napping," admitted the bee-themed Cybertronian. "What's going on?" Optimus quickly approached, narrowing his eyes.
"Ratchet, report," ordered the lead Autobot. "What has triggered the alarm?" Ratchet brings the camera into focus, looking straight at Sari.
"Saris?" questioned the mechanic. He pushed past the duo, the door to their massive beige and brown ship opening as Sari jolted and stood in attention. She gulped as Ratchet stepped out of the cargo bay, stopping halfway down the entrance ramp as he looked behind her to see the others looking concerned. "I don't remember Optimus allowing visitors." Sari looked down, digging her toe into the dirt.
"They KINDA followed me," admitted the girl. "BUT they're friends. They've not said anything about me or the Cybertronians. I just happened to run off because… I forgot something and…" She sighed as she slumped, knowing what was coming.
"Saris, you are a terrible liar. However, I am willing to overlook it since it's clear you were the one that set off the sensors. It's too late to relocate at this rate. Bring them in while I get the examination bay ready." Sari nodded her head as the bigger Cybertronian walked back inside, the girl sticking her head out of the barrier.
"Come on. I'm most likely doomed." She stuck her head back through, Ben being the first to step forward as he carefully pushed through.
"Whoa!" cried the Omnitrix user. "That's bigger than Vilgax's ship." The others followed soon after, Paco being the last as he ignored his senses to push through. They made their way up the cargo bay door, the group marveling at all the technology around them. Gwen tapped a tube, watching the Energon flow through it.
"Some of this is more advanced than what the Plumbers use," admitted the redhead. "It's like an actual sci-fi movie." The group stopped in front of the med bay, Ratchet working on a terminal.
"Likely due to a failure to account for every failsafe this level of technology requires to function," reasoned the medic. "If even one component fails, the ship implements over twenty fail-safes just to prevent the entire system from shutting down." Sari sighed as she stepped forward, suddenly being pulled upwards rapidly as she sticks to a large magnet overhead.
"SARI!" cried Ellie. "Are you okay!?" The metal girl laughs nervously, looking down at them.
"It only hurts on impact," reassured the Cybertronian girl. "The security system sees me as a potential threat at the moment." The magnet suddenly deactivated, the girl falling into Ratchet's grasp before the mechanical man set her down on an iron table of sorts. She winces as her chest is forced to fold open by the prodding of some tools, revealing her blue spark as the components from the Predatrix are seen attached to different systems. The Spark pulses like a heartbeat, Ratchet looking it over.
"By the Allspark," sighed the mechanic/medic. "What did you do to your spark, Child? There are components that I've never seen within a Cybertronian before. It's as concerning as it is fascinating." Ellie floated upwards, seeing the metallic organs as she shivered.
"You really weren't kidding about not being robots, Sari," stated the spiritual girl. "Those are definitely organs, almost human." Ratchet didn't even look towards her, still focusing on Sari and her innards.
"Most races believe us to be machines simply because of our ability to transform into other machines. The ability to shapeshift is not unique to our species as there are others such as Lenopans who do the same on a more biological scale." He hummed, spotting the DNA matrix from the Predatrix as it was attached to Sari's spark by a wire. "Curious. A source of genetic power."
He went to prod it with a tool, only for Sari to suddenly jolt upon contact. "Saris?" The girl moaned in pain, her spark pulsing as her body looked like it was attempting to transform like it had an hour prior. Her body finally settled as she took deep breaths, her eyes closed. "My apologies, Saris."
He looked further into where the matrix connected to, watching the wires that ran across her inner compartment. "The matrix has affected your biological makeup, down to every last organ. I dare say this one is… reproductive in nature? I'll have to inform Optimus of this at once." Sari moaned, her legs twitching.
"I'm doomed," groaned the metal girl. "I'll never get to go anywhere again." Ratchet shook his head, his frown calm.
"You are not doomed, Saris. You have spent too much time around Bumblebee. Depending on your answer to how this occurred, you may yet be allowed to continue your cultural studies. Do not touch ANYTHING." His finger was pointed towards the group as he left, Ellie shrugging as she helped the others fly up to the table.
"He didn't even look once to see that I was flying," huffed the ghost girl. "What a nerd." Sari giggled, looking nervous.
"Even if he did see you, he tends to be respectful towards others unless he has good reason to judge," admitted the metal girl. "Even then it can sometimes slip out in tense moments." Jade looked over the girl, only to look away with a disturbed look.
"And now I wish I didn't look," groaned the Chosen One with a green face. "That looks too much like human organs for comfort." Ben quickly pats her back, rubbing it to try and help her.
"Hey, at least there's no blood," tried the Omnitrix boy. "It's more like a metal casting of human organs… that shift and beat like human organs." Gwen rolled her eyes, crossing her arms.
"Um, the body isn't just full of pools of blood, Doofus," corrected the redhead. "It's mostly empty space aside from organs. Do you even pay attention in biology? You're such a boy." Paco tilted his head, his four eyes blinking.
"How is that an insult?" questioned the Hispanic boy. "He is a niño." Ellie snickered, finding his question adorable. Ben shrugged, showing that he had no idea either. Sari looked down at herself, sighing.
"I'm just grateful that Ratchet knows where to open so that Energon doesn't leak," stated the Cybertronian girl. "That would make this painful." Ellie crossed her arms, humming.
"Hey, I don't think we've talked a lot about what Energon is," realized the ghostly girl. "Is that like Cybertronian blood or something?" Sari bopped her head back and forth, about the only movement she could do in this state.
"Yes… well, kinda. Others are capable of consuming Energon to live as well. You can find raw Energon out in the world but we usually use matter converters to create Energon. I happen to have an internal Energon processor in my stomach that turns organic matter into Energon. We used to have an unlimited amount thanks to the Allspark creating lakes and rivers of Energon back on Cybertron."
The girl then frowned, looking at her metal feet. "Then the War for Cybertron began. We had actual animals and trees all living off Energon, but the animals were hunted to extinction by Decepticons looking for Autobots hiding amongst the fauna or to use for Energon like they did the trees. It became a necessity once the Energon Oceans were either tainted, drained to fuel war machines, or lost in destructive earthquakes. All we have left are seeds and the DNA of animals."
She shivered, looking towards the ceiling. "After that, there was a time that the Decepticons would use our dead as fuel. Megatron actually put a stop to most of that due to not wanting to appear as savages, one of the only agreeable things he did after his and Optimus's friendship ended. Once they tried to negotiate peace to end the war, Optimus going himself to meet them, but Megatron went back to his chaotic ways when someone amongst the Decepticons whispered into his audio receivers that the age of Primes must end." She shut up as loud footsteps were heard, the group looking towards the room's entrance as Optimus joined Ratchet.
"Megatron became lost to all reason beyond that point," continued Optimus. "A life-long friendship, washed away with the Energon of fallen comrades. Those who did not agree with Megatron's madness joined me in escaping, and the war escalated until the Allspark became lost to us for a time. Now our war has made its way here, to your planet. Not by our wish for it, I promise you."
He approached the table as the others moved, looking over Sari. "A story for another time, I suppose. Are you well, Saris? From how Ratchet described this change, it did not sound pleasant." The girl shivered, her legs shaking again.
"It only hurt when Ratchet prodded at the genetic matrix," informed the Cybertronian girl. "It was like my body was trying to transform as a defense mechanism but I couldn't perform the function in this state." Optimus looked towards Ratchet, his face being stoic.
"Is she stable enough to move? I wish to see her function." Ratchet nodded his head, bringing out one of his tools. The others on the table stepped back as he began to reattach Sari's front plates, the symbol that used to be her Autobot decal shining slightly with a metallic sheen as everything was put back in place. The female Cybertronian's chest began to rise and fall like she were a breathing creature, the girl slowly sitting up.
"My only concern is her Spark and reproductive systems," detailed Ratchet. "I am unsure the extent of what this unknown device has done to her. Our race is already in danger of going extinct as it stands. I-" Sari suddenly grabbed her head, her body morphing like it tried to do earlier as the metal bent and her size increased. An orange and yellow tyrannosaurus-like insect stood in her place, standing slightly taller than Optimus as she huffed.
Ratchet watched the girl look around, the others concerned for whether she was conscious or not. "She didn't shed yet she grew in size so suddenly. Where did she obtain the iron and silicon to transform?" The girl looked behind herself, the group on the table slowly stepping back as she turned towards them. She lowered her head to their level, her pupil-less eyes looking straight at them.
"...Why is everyone so small?" questioned Sari, her voice now deeper. Gwen fell on her rear as a sigh of relief was held across the kids, Jade poking her head out from where she had hidden behind Ben. "You're acting weird? Is this one of those human things?" Optimus looked the girl over, shaking his head.
"Saris, look at me," ordered the lead Autobot. Sari did as she was told, her teeth chittering as she stood to where the table made her tower over the leader. Ratchet grabbed the others, setting them down on the floor as Sari jumped down to stand just a few inches taller than her father.
"You're smaller too! Wait… I'm taller?" Ratchet narrowed his eyes, taking in her appearance.
"A Kaosseffexx Ultimasaurias from the planet Terradino," identified the mechanic. "It's remarkable, if not concerning." Optimus reached into his chest as it opened, pulling out a metallic object with an orange core and two handles on the side. He inserted the object into her spark, making her gasp as her body shifted again. She fell onto her butt on the floor, rubbing it in slight pain.
"We will need to work on this new form of transformation," informed Optimus. "Until then, you will not be permitted to transform beyond your human form unless given permission by myself or Ratchet." Sari looked down, feeling uncomfortable. "This is not a punishment, Saris. We must be careful not to cause harm to humans or unleash mass panic."
Optimus got down on one knee, looking her in the eye as she looked up. "How did this happen?" Gwen looked down, holding up her hand.
"It's my fault," admitted the redhead. "We were in a fight with one of Ben's old enemies, a lunatic who uses mutations on animals. He's usually kinda dumb since he hasn't used it on people purposefully but this time he had this device like the Omnitrix rigged up to his tech. He called it the Predatrix, and it gave him access to DNA from alien predators. I told Sari to get it from him, forgetting what happened the last time she touched the Omnitrix."
She looked towards the two adults, holding her hands together. "I should have just done it myself or waited for one of the others to come back." Sari shook her head, looking towards her.
"I forgot as well, Gwen," reminded the metal girl. "I'm at as much fault as anyone else." Optimus looked between them, his face still stoic.
"I do not blame either of you," reassured the leader. "Children are known for making mistakes as it is part of their growth cycles." He looked towards Ratchet, nodding his head. "Inform the Plumbers and have them search the black market for where this device came from. It is unlikely that it was built with anything made by the occupants of this planet."
Ratchet nodded his head, walking towards a terminal in another room. "As for the rest of you, I must ask you to depart for the time being. I can assure you that Saris will return soon, but she needs time to regain control of her transformations. It may take some time." Ben nodded his head, smiling towards Sari.
"Good luck, Sari," wished the boy. "We'll take notes for you in class." The Cybertronian girl could only nod as the group departed, hugging her legs as she sighed. Outside, the group walked out of the barrier. Gwen looked back, still unsettled by the fact that there was nothing visibly there.
"That is freaky," admitted the redhead. "With how big it is you'd expect there to be some sign that it's there." Ben shrugged, shaking his head.
"I mean, we've seen stuff disappear before. It's not that weird." Ellie sighed, shaking her head.
"Let's just get back to base and get Hunky Monkey here an ID Mask," stated the spiritual girl. She picked Paco up under his arms, lifting him into the air with her. She grunted, her back twitching a bit. "And if anyone tells Mom I called him that, you're dead." She took off flying, Gwen making a pink platform as she used it to shakily glide after them.
"Well, who's carrying who?" questioned Jade to Ben. "I might not mind a ride on Wildmutt or being carried by Fourarms." Ben smirked, looking towards her.
"How about a walk back to my place instead," offered the boy. "Mom's been trying to make that Latiao stuff." Jade hummed, adjusting a bag on her shoulder.
"Well I can't be in my leotard for a long flight so I guess that works. Just try not to look at my butt the whole time." Ben chuckled, taking her hand in his as they walked.
"...You wanna go see a movie tomorrow? Maybe after some dinner?" Jade looked towards the boy, a smirk on her face.
"You mean like a date? It totally sounds like one." Ben gave her a knowing smirk, making her pump her fist. "My first date! No way I'm saying no to that."
She ran a hand through her hair, smiling. "We'll have to check with Daddy but I'm sure he'll say yes. Just gotta make sure it's not a movie he'd say no to. That does include anything Sumo Slammers, sorry to say, and we'd need someone with us." Ben didn't lose his smirk, looking towards the sky.
"I have someone in mind."
The Next Day
Ben held his ears as his mother squealed in delight, making him wish he had waited a bit. He had told her about his planned date, knowing she'd be perfectly down to act as chauffeur for it. He knew that she would react this way, yet he chose to do it in the morning before school. He was suddenly hugged close as he let loose his ears, blushing as his head was between her stomach and her chest as he felt smothered. He looked up, the woman having a huge smile.
"MY BABY'S FIRST DATE!" cried Sandra. "You're growing up so fast!" Ben waited until the squeezing stopped to gently push himself back a bit, not wanting to hurt the coming baby.
"Mom, I need you to focus," stated the boy. "It can't happen if we don't have someone to watch us and I really need you on this." The woman cooed, her hands on his shoulders.
"Well I'm a little too far along to drive but your aunt Natalie can drive you. I know how things would go if your father took you, what with his constant calls to ask if the baby's ready yet. The closer we get, the more he calls to ask. He's such a boy sometimes." Ben chuckled, adjusting his bookbag.
"I still don't know why that's an insult or a tease. Gwen said the same thing yesterday." His mother giggled, rubbing him atop his head.
"Oh, it's just a saying for when men act like little boys. Don't worry about it." Ben quickly checked the time, hopping up to peck his mother on the cheek.
"Gotta go before I miss the bus! Love you!" The boy ran out the door, Sandra looking shocked that he could reach her cheek with a jump. Ben ran up to the bus right as the door opened, grinning as he stepped up the steps quickly. Gwen followed after him, helping someone up the steps.
"Way to be a gentleman, Doofus," insulted the redhead. "Such a boy." Ben turned around to watch her and Jade enter, placing his hands on his hips. He then saw that Ellie was helping Jade up the stairs, his mind going into high processing as he saw the pained look on his girlfriend's/fiancé's face. He immediately switched tones, offering her his hand to help her further.
"Are you okay, Jade? Did you hurt yourself?" As soon as she was in and on her feet, the Chinese girl poked his chest with her finger.
"It's just girl stuff popping up," reassured Jade. "Nothing to worry about. I've got pain medicine and Mom helped me with getting psyched for the day. You can help by distracting me, Mr. Tall, dark, and handsome." Ben chuckled, holding her hands.
"Well, if you're feeling up to it, I do have good news. Mom says she'll talk to Aunt Natalie about chauffeuring our date tonight. As long as your Dad says yes we're on for a re-showing of one of those Star Wars movies." Jade smiled as he pulled her gently along, giggling at him. Gwen's eyes widened as she quickly moved to follow, Ellie having a similar expression.
"DATE!?" cried the two girls. Cash glared at them from the back seat, unable to speak his mind at the current time. Gwen stood at the side of Ben and Jade's seat, hands on her hips and a frown on her face.
"You didn't say anything about a date!" cried the redhead. "I was gonna ask you to go to the mall with me later, Jade!" The Chinese girl giggled, gesturing for Gwen to sit with Ellie so the driver didn't have to yell at them to sit.
"Well it was a sudden thing and it's just me and Ben," stated Jade. "Not anything big for the group to know. Ben just decided to ask me on our way to his house. It's so romantic." Ellie looks more excited than Gwen, leaning forward.
"I am SO helping Mom get that messy hair of yours under control, Ben," stated the spiritual girl. "You'll look so cute by the time we're done!" Ben covered his head, a glare on his face.
"No way am I letting you near my hair after you dyed it green a few months ago," denied the boy. "If it wasn't for the O- the barber's quick fix it would have stayed that way for a long time." Ellie giggled as she wasn't even remorseful for her actions, the bus taking off down the road.
"What? You said you LOVED green so I just helped out." Jade decided to lean over on Ben for stability and to rest, cutting the conversation off.
"I will be asking about this little story later," stated the girl. "Right now just hush up and be a good boyfriend pillow." Ben sighed, draping his arm over her shoulders. When they eventually got to school, Ellie was the first to notice that Paco was absent. He continued to be absent for most of the day, something that made her anxious.
Lunch soon came around, the ghostly girl not being her cheerful self as she sat in her usual spot. Gwen sat beside her, more annoyed at the date situation than anything else as she munched on some food. The redhead finally looked towards her cousin, her expression shifting to one of concern as Ellie's food went untouched.
"Hey, what's wrong?" questioned Gwen. "Usually you have all your food finished first." Ellie looked towards her, holding her cheeks in her hands as her elbows were against the table.
"Paco hasn't shown up all day," revealed the ravenette. "What if he was right and his mother sent him back to Mexico? Or worse, he got kicked out?! I know what it feels like to be alone and it's not fun. He could be out on the streets or sent off-world to whatever planet his dad came from." Gwen looked down at her food, trying to think.
"I'm sure you're overreacting. Paco could just… be out with a cold or something. I doubt his mom would throw him out since she blamed the Plumbers more for taking her husband away than at her husband for being an alien. Everything's gonna be fi-" Ben sat down, a surprised look on his face.
"I just had a call with Grandpa after seeing Paco wasn't around," stated the boy. "He's gone." Jade sat next to him as Ellie hid her expression in her hair, Gwen smacking her boy cousin on the arm.
"Ben, you are such a jerk! You couldn't have eased her into it!?" The boy rubbed his arm, glaring at her.
"What? If you let me finish, I was gonna say Grandpa took him to see his dad." Ellie looked up, her eyes a bit watery.
"His dad?" questioned the ghost girl. "Why?" Realizing what Ellie was going through, the boy cleared his throat.
"Well his mother was scared when she saw his changes and called Grandpa for letting him get involved in… well all this Alien stuff. Grandpa convinced her to let the Plumbers take her and Paco to see his father before stopping by the place where his dad was born. They'll be back in about a month once Paco can use his new stuff more freely and won't accidentally web someone with his tail when he's spooked." Ellie sighed in relief, rubbing her face as she snorted a bit. Gwen pulled on Ben's ear, making him wince in pain.
"And you couldn't have started with that?" questioned his cousin. "How dense can you be?" Jade frowned, clearing her throat.
"Gwen, Ben is dense," stated the girl plainly. "It's nothing new." Ben winced as his ear was released, the boy holding it.
"Hey," huffed the boy. "I'm right here." Jade patted him on the head, making him lower it in embarrassment.
"And I love you for it but hush." She then returned her frown to Gwen. "Maybe you could tone down the rudeness and not physically hurt him for it. He's growing up just like the rest of us. Would you prefer him to start acting like Cash or keep acting like he's ten?" The redhead sighed, leaning back in her seat.
"Alright, alright," sighed Gwen. "You'll regret it when he starts showing you his weird boyishness." Ben suddenly scowled, watching as Cash walked towards them. The others quickly noticed his expression, Jade placing a hand on her boyfriend's shoulder as he was in her usual spot. Before any of them could act, however, someone quickly got in Cash's way.
Two girls stood in his way, one looking more confident than the other. The first was a Japanese-American girl with fair skin, black bobbed hair with straight blunt bangs, and brown eyes. She wore a pink t-shirt, a gray hoodie, a white skirt, and white tennis shoes. The second was an American girl with tan skin, long black hair, and brown eyes. She wore a blue hairband, a pink long-sleeved dress, and brown boots.
"Out of my way," huffed Cash. The tan girl looked a bit hesitant, only for the Japanese-American girl to place a hand on her shoulder. The tomboy of the duo puffed out her chest, trying to look bigger.
"I think you've bothered Jade enough, Cash," argued Julie Yamamoto. "I'm done seeing you pick on her and Ben, so go back to your seat and eat like everyone else." The tan-skinned girl swallowed, nodding her head.
"Y-yes," agreed Simone Magus. "J-just leave them alone." Cash jerked like he was gonna do something, spooking the theater child while Julie stood her ground. The two girls suddenly looked behind him, shivering as they looked shocked. Cash only noticed that someone was behind him when he noticed the larger shadow beneath him.
"Hey Murray," growled a voice. The bully shivered, slowly turning around before taking two steps back with a fearful expression. The large, rotund kid who stood taller than him had lightly tanned skin, short black hair that was shaved on the sides, and brown eyes. He wore a large sized green t-shirt, khakis pants, and brown sneakers. Cash held up his hands in defense, laughing nervously.
"M-m-Maynard Munson!" gasped the skinny kid. "I-I thought you moved." Maynard crossed his arms, his face in a scowl.
"Moved back after Christmas. Learned a lot of stuff in San Fran, like how I don't like chumps who pick on girls. Word is you're one of those chumps. That true?" Cash waved his hands, laughing fearfully.
"N-NO! I'd never touch a girl like that in my life!" Jade hummed, seeing an opportunity for chaos.
"Funny," commented the girl out loud. "Could have sworn he pulled my hair the other day and dropped my FAVORITE HAIRPIN so it could break on the floor." Cash bolted at being ratted out, leaving the lunchroom behind. Some of the kids laughed at this, some too scared to speak. Maynard took a deep breath, calming himself as he looked towards Julie and Simone.
"Sorry if I scared you," apologized the big kid. He looked towards his hands, moving them around each other as he tried to think of his words. "I was going through a lot a few years back and was a real jerk, but I know it's not an excuse. BUT I'm trying to be better." Julie looked unsure, only for Simone to smile as she nervously nodded.
"A-At least you're trying," replied the theater girl nervously. "T-Thank you for standing up to Cash. W-Would you like to sit with us?" Maynard gained a big goofy smile, nodding his head eagerly. Ben whistled from his seat, playing with his food a bit.
"Maynard Munson," repeated the alien hero. "Who would've thought?" Jade looked towards him, her brow raised in confusion.
"Who's Maynard Munson?" questioned the Chinese girl. "New girl, remember?" Ellie smirked, nodding her head.
"He was the biggest bully before his mother had to move for a job in San Francisco," informed the ghostly girl. "He was never as bad as Cash but he'd still shake nerdy kids down for lunch money and scare other kids by being mean and loud. Still, I guess anyone can change given a few years. Maybe there's hope for some jerks I know." Jade hummed, leaning into Ben as she smiled.
"Well, at least I didn't have to use the talismans and my handsome boyfriend didn't have to brave the principal's office for my honor. I think that alone gives the big guy the benefit of the doubt." Ellie grinned at this, her cheek-holding turning into her hands propping up her chin.
"You're getting awfully snuggly with Ben. I can't imagine how you'll be acting on your date." Jade rolled her eyes, smirking right back.
"Oh, I'm sure you'll be all snuggly on your period when Paco gets back. You're gonna be all over all four of his arms." Ben furrowed his brow as Ellie blushed, his sister having a look that said she wished she could be invisible at that moment.
"Period?" questioned the boy. "Oh! You mean like when Mom needs the heating pad and her chocolate. Dad had me help him with those days, calling it 'training,' but she hasn't had a day like that since she's been pregnant." Jade moaned, rubbing her head against his shoulder.
"I wouldn't mind having both a heating pad and chocolate. Maybe some Oolong tea to calm my nerves." Gwen smirked evilly, looking towards Ben.
"Well, you just made yourself a monster," teased the redhead. "Once you offer a girl something like that, they never let you go until you give it over before the cycle repeats all week." The Chosen One moaned, sitting up.
"Gwen, please don't jinx it. I really wanna be one of those girls who has their period for a few days and then it's done, not to experience it all week." The redhead moaned, twirling some spaghetti with her fork.
"Welcome to my world. Anyway, the bell's gonna ring soon so finish up what you can." Ellie suddenly began to eat quickly, showing off how fast she usually eats during the lunch period. "Ellie, you eat like such a… Nevermind."
The ghostly girl grinned evilly at this, continuing before the bell rang. Time flew by as Ben could be seen silently tapping his eraser against his desk in each class, paying attention while also becoming impatient. He brought his head close to his notebook as he took notes quickly, a spitball flying over his head and hitting the teacher in the butt.
"CASH MURRAY!" roared the woman. "This again!?" Cash groaned, holding his face.
"DANG IT TENNYSON!" roared the bully. "STOP. MOVING! Your big head should be an easy target!" Ben looked back at him, shrugging.
"Hey, it's not my fault," said the boy calmly. "I'm trying to learn here." Cash stood up with a growl, only to jerk as the blackboard was tapped loud enough to get his attention.
"Principal's office," ordered the woman. "Now." The skinny bully groaned, picking up his book and bag as he stomped out. "Since you've become the center of attention, Ben, maybe you could finish the equation." Ben looked at the board, looking over everything as he sweats a bit.
"X equals fifteen? The two numbers cancel each other out." The teacher hummed, looking over the equation.
"Right reasoning, wrong number. Still, it's good to see someone is paying attention." The boy sighed in disappointment, going through his notes to see what he did wrong. Soon enough the end-of-day bell rang, kids pouring out of the English classroom as Ben quickly put his stuff together. He ran into his house as soon as the bus let him and the others off, the boy quickly looking through his clothes to find a good outfit to wear.
"Come on. I can't look like a total dork on my first date." Ellie looked into the room, smirking knowingly.
"Oh, don't tell me," teased the sister. "You, the 'Great Ben Tennyson,' didn't pick out a nice set of clothes for tonight before going to school." Ben smirked, pulling out a green polo and a pair of khakis.
"This'll work. Don't think I missed that jab, ELEANOR." Ellie blew raspberries at him, the boy making a face back at her. "I gotta fix my hair so DON'T mess with my stuff." He hung the shirt and khakis up on his door, waiting for his sister to move before entering the bathroom quickly.
"I still have Danny's memories, Ben. You've got nothing in your room or in there that I haven't seen before." She leaned against the wall next to the bathroom door, smirking. "So, where are you taking her for dinner?" Ben looked towards the entrance as he had taken his shirt off, smirking.
"I looked up the most authentic Mandarin place in town, not one of those cheap knockoffs. I'm using up my allowance for the next two weeks for this." Ellie giggled at this, shaking her head.
"You know, you could have just asked Aunt Natalie to pay for it. Wouldn't be the first time you did something like this." Ben began to focus on working with his hair, his eyes narrowing.
"Then it wouldn't feel like it's coming from me. I want everything to go well tonight and I'm trying to grow up a bit." Ellie goes to say something, only to cry out as she and her clothes phased through the wall.
"DARN IT! PHASING'S BACK!" She pulled her foot through the wall before it could get stuck, her shoe left in the hall on the other side. Ben looked towards her in shock, helping her up as the comb was stuck in his hair. He made sure she was stable before letting go of her hands, gaining a deadpan look when she was clearly trying not to laugh at his hair situation.
"Yeah, yeah. Laugh it up. You tell Jade about this and I tell Mom and Dad you nearly lost your clothes in the wall. Deal?" His sister shut up immediately, nodding her head.
"Deal. Do you… need help getting that out?" Ben tried to do it himself, only to wince as it pulled on his scalp.
"...Yes. I might need a haircut." At the same time, Jade was pulling out all the stops as she applied makeup and put her hair up in an ornate bun. A towel was wrapped around her, her skin glistening from being fresh out of the shower. She looked at herself in her reflection, smiling with a hint of nervousness.
[Language Change: Mandarin]
"Looking good, Xiaoyu," whispered the girl to herself. "You're gonna knock him dead." She quickly got up from her seat, her towel flopping on the back of it. The next moment saw her wearing a blue qipao dress that had silver coloring to its patterns, a black shoulder bag with a panda face on it, the Talisman belt around her waist to make for a matching set, and black low-heeled shoes. She suddenly heard a groan downstairs, making her look towards her closed bedroom door.
She quickly moved downstairs, finding her mother leaning against the counter. "Mom, are you okay?" Ai held up her hand, smiling as best as she could.
"I am well, Xiaoyu," reassured the woman. "I am just nauseous." Jade quickly took her by the hand, helping her to the couch where she made the woman sit down.
"Let me make you some tea. It will not take long." The girl ran as fast as she could, secretly using Rabbit Talisman magic to make the heat buildup faster as she began to steep the tea.
"You are such a sweet girl, Xiaoyu. The last time I felt like this, I was eight months away from bringing the most beautiful child into the world." Jade felt giddy on the inside despite her own stomach pains, watching the tea carefully.
"I am honored by your praise, Mom. I am grateful to have inherited your good looks and Daddy's strong eyes." Ai looked back, smirking.
"Of course, it came with my rebellious nature and your father's mischievous attitude. Still, you are such a wonderful daughter. Soon enough, you will be a wonderful mother with a strong husband by your side. You and Benjamin will give me many grandchildren, won't you?" Jade stopped the tea on the dot, pouring the liquid into a cup while blushing.
"I would dream so, Mom." She quickly brought the cup of tea to her mother, Ai sipping it carefully as it was still hot. The woman put the cup down, patting the spot next to her.
"Sit, my child." Jade did as she was told, keeping her eyes on her mother. "I will not lie to you, I am excited. If my earlier words were not clear enough, you will be a wonderful elder sister soon." The girl's eyes widened, looking towards her mother's stomach.
"Y-You're pregnant? I-I'm beyond overjoyed." Ai giggled as Jade put a hand on her stomach, rubbing her daughter's hair.
"I had wanted a second child many times. However, I had feared I waited too long. You were a blessing. My own menopause happened only last year, yet somehow your father and I were blessed again. Truth be told, I have never felt so young in my life."
Jade looked down, having a feeling that something was off. She still kept her smile but her eyes were blue as if her past lives were trying to help her discern the truth. Her eyes went back to normal as she was taken back to a memory of her own. She smiled bigger, shaking her head as she decided to hold off on sharing. She rubbed her mother's stomach, nodding her head.
"I will do my best to be the best big sister for the new member of our family. I swear it." She was hugged close by her mother, the girl giggling as she hugged her back. "You haven't told Daddy yet, given the way you told me." Ai giggled, shushing her quietly.
"Don't go telling him, Xiaoyu. I have planned tonight to tell him while you are out." Jade playfully shushed her back, earning another hug. Back in Ben's house, the sound of scissors cutting came from the bathroom. Ben had his eyes closed, doing everything his mother told him to.
[Language Change: English]
"Mom, how much longer?" questioned the boy. "My neck's getting stiff." Sandra held the scissors up, smirking at him.
"Move your head out of position and I'll have to shave it all off," threatened the woman. Ben kept his head in place as the woman went back to work. "I have to say, my barber skills aren't what they used to be but I think my mom would be proud of me. I'm gonna miss your old hair style." The boy hummed, not entirely sure what she meant.
Sandra smiled, moving his head straight up again. "Done. Now, you shower while I unwrinkle your clothes. They'll be on your bed when you get out." Ben opened his eyes as the bathroom door shut, looking at himself in the mirror.
His hair was shorter now, more neatly styled compared to the way it was earlier. He felt his face, the longer hair no longer framing it. He smiled, nodding his head.
"You know what? I like it." He quickly hopped in the shower, making sure to get everywhere he could as he gave himself a thorough cleaning. Afterwards he slid on the polo and khakis he picked out earlier, adding to it a black elastic belt, a black jacket, and brown sneakers. Ellie knocked on his door, looking back at the stairs.
"Hey Ben!" cried the girl. "Aunt Natalie is here and-" She looked towards him, jolting as she leaned back. "Um, who are you and what did you do with my brother?" Ben looked towards her, smirking teasingly.
"He grew up, Eleanor. Be honest, how do I look?" Ellie gulped, looking him up and down.
"Like if I was still Danielle I'd be trying to flirt with you. Jade's so lucky." Ben playfully rubbed her hair, making her squirm. "HEY! I take it all back!" The boy laughed, shaking his head.
"Thanks. Anyway, gotta bounce." He quickly ran down the stairs, Ellie taking a moment to splash her face with water.
"BAD ELLIE! BAD GIRL!" Ben reached the living room, his mother squealing at the sight of him.
"My baby's growing up too fast," moaned the pregnant woman. "You need to shrink down to when you were five right now." Natalie rolled her eyes, smirking.
"Sandra, you have another on the way," reminded the redheaded woman. "Let Ben be an up-and-coming teenager and put all the babying into the next one." Ben stood still as his mother hugged him from behind, the woman pressing her cheek into his.
"NO! He's still my baby and he'll always be my baby. You wouldn't know because you stopped trying for kids at two. I want all my babies to stay little and cute forever." Her son chuckled, hugging her head closer to his.
"Mom, I'll always be your baby but I can't keep Jade waiting," reminded the brunette. "I can't do that." Sandra stood up, cooing at him.
"I can't wait until you two get married and give me grandbabies IN THAT ORDER MISTER. I'm serious about that." Ben gulped, adjusting the collar of his polo.
"Yes ma'am. All clean." Natalie sighed, pulling Ben along.
"Come on, Ben," ordered his aunt. "Let's give your mother time to baby Ellie some." Sandra gasped, quickly hobbling up the stairs.
"ELLIE! MOMMA NEEDS YOU!" Ben quickly followed Natalie, his aunt quickly driving off with him.
"BENJAMIN KIRBY TENNYSON!" roared Ellie. "YOU'RE SO DEAD WHEN YOU GET HOME!" Meanwhile, Jade allowed herself time to do some last-minute checks over herself and her attire. She didn't want anything to be out of place, even reapplying her lipstick at one point to have a subtle blue that matched her qipao. She heard honking outside, grinning as she hooked her bag over her shoulder.
"That's them!" cheered the Chinese girl. She carefully walked down the stairs as quickly as possible, a knock being heard at the door. "[Mandarin] I'll get it! It's Ben!" She composed herself as she opened the door, her eyes widening as green mirrored brown.
Ben gulped as he looked Jade over, suddenly feeling like he might be underdressed with how she looked. The fact that she was wearing the engagement hairpin in her hair again drove his mind insane. Jade shivered as she looked him over in return, purring lightly as she held her arms behind her back. "Well, how do I look?" Ben quickly composed himself, trying to think of what he'd say.
"Hot… BEAUTIFUL! I meant beautiful… You look amazing." Jade giggled, biting her lip slightly.
"Thank you. You look hot as well. Oops~. I meant handsome." Ben chuckled at her, quickly straightening up as her father approached.
"I expect her back before eleven-thirty," stated Shen. "Any later and there will be trouble." Ben immediately bowed, hitting the right angle.
"Yes sir," replied the Omnitrix user. "Thank you for letting us go out tonight." He stood straight again, seeing the man smile softly at him. This allowed him to breathe a little easier, nodding his head gently. Shen looked towards his daughter, nodding his head at her.
"[Mandarin] Behave, Xiaoyu. I will know if anything happens that I did not allow." Jade grinned, bowing with her hands in front of her.
"[Mandarin] Of course, Daddy," reassured the Chosen One. "I do hope you will enjoy Mom's surprise." Ben held out his hand, Jade taking it as the two of them walked to Natalie's car. The ride was smooth, the traffic almost perfect. Ben smiled at Jade, nodding his head.
"We'll get some good chocolate for the movie after dinner," reassured the boy. "I've got everything covered tonight." Jade giggled, playing with a loose strand of hair.
"My, my. Someone's a romantic." Natalie smirked at the duo, making sure to keep her eyes mainly on the road. Up above, on one of the rooftops, Gwen was seen watching over the vehicle in her Lucky Girl suit. She frowned, tilting her head.
"If I can't go with her to the mall, then I'm making sure none of our usual weirdness messes up their first date," declared Gwen. "Let's just hope Ben's idea of a date isn't Mr. Smoothies before a Sumo Slammer movie." She began traversing the rooftops, using Mana to help her with parkour and save energy. She passed by a particular roof, someone turning their head in the shadow as he had his eyes on her.
Gwen watched as Ben helped Jade out of her mother's car, her eyes widening as she saw the restaurant towards which they were walking. "Guan Liu's!? That's real Mandarin, Four stars, and expensive! Ben's way overdoing it, especially for a first date." She looked back as she heard something skid across the roof, watching as a can stopped from where it was hit.
She coated her hands in mana, slowly walking forward as she looked around. "Hello? Who's there?" She gasped as someone covered her mouth, strong arms holding her as she felt a hard chest behind her. She blushed as a shush was sounded in her ear.
"You look familiar," whispered a masculine yet boyish voice. "Have I seen you somewhere before?" Gwen used her martial arts training to flip the guy over her shoulder, only to be grabbed by her wrist and twisted around. The two of them were now face to face as they were at two arms' length. "You're pretty good for a girl."
Gwen took in the stranger's appearance, looking over the hockey-masked teen with fair skin and long black hair. The rest of his outfit consisted of a sleeveless black tank-top, baggy gray slacks, black fingerless gloves, a bear-claw necklace, and black combat boots. She gasped as she was pulled closer, blushing as her chest was gently squished against his. "I think I'd remember a good-looking redhead when I see her." The magical girl kept her blush as she pushed herself back, hearing a chuckle from the boy.
"W-Who are you? You're getting awfully familiar for a boy I just met." The teen hummed, tilting his chin as if looking up.
"...Osmos. Sorry but I'm not good with on-the-fly names." Gwen created mana blades, narrowing her eyes suspiciously.
"Okay, Osmos. Why did you follow me?" The vigilante held his hands behind his head, not exactly looking scared.
"One, who wouldn't follow a girl in a skintight suit? But really, I guess you could say I was saving you from a little operation I've been tailing. You've had some unpleasant eyes on you all night. I did a little something to get them off your tracks but it won't last long." Gwen looked him over again, not letting up her mana blades as she stood straight.
"And why should I believe a boy who decided to get handsy with me?" Instead of answering her, the boy suddenly pulled out a Plumber-grade blaster and fired past her head. A man cried out as he was about to fall over the edge, two halves of a mask falling off his face as the disguised Tetramand fell over the edge.
"Because of that." Four more "humans" were on another roof, the boy pointing behind him. "We should probably run now." Gwen nodded her head as one flew at them, the duo quickly moving as the hunters followed after them. Inside the restaurant, Ben and Jade were unaware of the chaos as the latter of the two slurped up some lo mein noodles.
"Oh my gosh this is so good," sighed Jade. "It carries the spice from the General Tso perfectly and it's not burnt or chewy. The Oolong tea is also steeped near perfectly. You sure know how to pick them, Ben." The boy chuckled, rubbing the back of his head.
"Well, I looked all over to find the best actual Mandarin place in town," revealed the boy. "It was a lot of research, but you're always worth it." His date giggled at him, pointing chopsticks at him.
"My, what a flatterer. I'm falling in love all over again." Natalie took a picture as Ben chuckled, knowing Sandra would want to have something for every moment. Back outside, Gwen did her best to keep up with Osmos. She looked towards a water tower, getting an idea as the flying hunter laughed.
"We got ourselves a young one!" cried the flying man in a screechy, nasally voice. "The Anodite's all mine!" Gwen readied some magic, her eyes glowing pink.
"ENTROPICUS!" cried Gwen. She launched the spell at the water tower, making it burst as it sprayed the hunter into a sign as it electrified it. The mask split as a Lepidopteran fell to the ground, fried almost to a crisp as he groaned. The Tetramand that was sent off the roof jumped up, one of his eyes freshly scarred from Osmos's shot.
"Idiot, this job is supposed to be simple!" roared the red skinned alien. "Work together, get the Anodite, and deliver it to the client alive." Gwen scoffed at being called an it, only for Osmos to quickly pull her into a parking garage. He placed his fingers against one of the columns, looking around the area. Gwen fixed her hair, glaring at the boy.
"You seem to have all the knowledge on these guys," stated the girl. "How do you know them?" Osmos looked back at her, the girl watching as stone suddenly covered his body down to everything but his eyes.
"I do odd jobs and heard Anodite Hunters were looking for new recruits. Lucky for you I have morals. If they see my face, they'll know who I am and I'll be on the chopping block just like you. They're after the Tennyson kids from what I heard, the famous ones." Gwen gulped, looking down.
"I almost led them right to Ben. I just wanted him to have a good date." Osmos hummed like he didn't hear, making Gwen stand straight.
"If you were near the Plumber base they wouldn't have gone for you. Bad day for an Anodite your age to be visiting." Gwen huffed, placing her hands on her hips.
"I'm not visiting. This IS my home." Osmos looked at her again, humming.
"You know, it's kinda hot when you do that." Gwen blushed as red as her hair, the teen chuckling to himself. "In any case, they'll know where you live if we head back that way. Good on you to wear a mask but it'll only work as long as it stays on. They also have mana detectors, meaning if they lose you they'll try to find any others in the area."
He then crossed his arms, tilting his head slightly. "Lucky for you, I know how to beat these guys. Gonna need you to be a team player. Maybe start with your name, gorgeous." Gwen shivered, looking him over.
"Gw- Lucky Girl. Until I learn your name and see your face, that's all you're getting." Osmos huffed a short laugh, tilting his head the other direction.
"Bet you don't feel so lucky right now. Anyway, their mana detectors will find us soon so get ready for action." The duo quickly went about setting up Osmos's plan, Gwen doing her best to put her grandmother's teachings into practice. The Tetramand quickly landed nearby, followed by the crispy Lepidopteran, a frog-like alien that had a humanoid body, a Galvanic Mechamorph, and one that remained in a human appearance as his ID Mask was still on. The Galvanic Mechamorph held out one of his hands, having a sensory device on it.
"It's here," informed the living machine. "Proceed with caution." The Lepidopteran weakly flew forward, still looking cocky.
"What's the hold up," groaned the insect. "It got me once but it isn't that tough." Gwen scowled from their hiding space, Osmos placing a stoney hand on her shoulder.
"They refer to Anodites as 'its' to lower your kind to a lesser species, like an animal," explained the teen. "It's to lure out young Anodites and those with strong tempers so that they can catch them in the open." Osmos then pressed a button, activating a trap that stuck the Lepidopteran to an abandoned car with a sticky solution that stretched and pulled with each movement. "Bet he doesn't like a modified dose of his own slime being launched at him."
The Tetramand tried to get the substance off, only for his own hand to stick as he growled. "NOW!" Gwen snapped her fingers, making delayed spells in the area activate as the Galvanic Mechamorph's circular "eye" spun like a buffering wheel.
"Drat," cursed the machine. Spells went wild around the entire floor, one of them hitting the Tetramand to force him into falling asleep on top of the Lepidopteran. The bug cried out, groaning in pain.
"YOU'RE SQUISHING ME!" cried the villain. "GET OFF!" The Galvanic Mechamorph calculated the placement of the spells as he dodged, aiming at where he believed the optimal spot for Gwen to hide would be. He fired, only to hit a delayed reflection spell as his shot bounced back and destroyed the mana sensor in his other hand. Osmos then tossed a miniature EMP, the blast going off as the mechanical creature cried out and melted down to a puddle.
"He'll be up in ten minutes but the scanner is toast," informed the vigilante boy. "Next floor, go!" They ran up a flight of stairs, the one still masked rolling his shoulders as he squatted down with his disguise shorting out due to the EMP. The duo got to the floor, only for the masked man to jump up and break through the concrete leaving a huge hole. His mask fell off as it lost all function, revealing a huge humanoid dinosaur with brown scales.
"Traitor!" roared the Vaxasaurian. "You were to hold the Anodite down! I'll rip you in half for that!" He roared as he ran at the duo, Osmos swapping the stone for the rubber of an abandoned car's tire as he used the substance to cushion a blow from the creature. "I know everything about Osmosians!"
The big guy went to side swipe Osmos, only for Gwen to use mana to pull him towards her as they ran up the car ramp. They got to the top, only to find that they ran out of floors. "Looks like the little Anodite likes you. Easier to break it's will once I break your back over my knee." Gwen looked around for anything she could do, smirking as she got an idea.
"Ben will never let me live this down," muttered the redhead to herself. "Hey Peabrain! Ever hear of a breath mint! You could use one!" The alien fell for it, roaring at her as he charged.
"Your big plan is to make him mad!?" questioned Osmos. Gwen ran for some of the cars, the enemy changing course to keep up with her. She leapt over the vehicles with a flip, aiming at the floor.
"ENTROPICUS!" The spell hit the concrete, making it crack under magical pressure. The Vaxasaurian stomped on one of the cracks, the floor giving way beneath him as he cried out. Cars went falling with him, repeatedly falling on top of him. Gwen panted as she landed, hearing a groan down in the hole.
Osmos whistles, looking at the damage done. Gwen suddenly gasped as a purple net wrapped around her, making her cry out as she felt the magic for her spells being drained from her. She fell to her knees as her mana went dormant, the Galvanic Mechamorph looking unstable as the green glow it used to have turned yellow as it looked more like a skeleton than a normal one of its kind.
"Y-Y-You b-b-brats!" screeched the metallic being. "I w-will take grea-great pleasure in watching my-my-my-the Highbreed shed your skin, A-a-anodite. M-M-Malware detected. I-I-I am MALWARE!" Osmos readied a blaster, only for a pink energy to suddenly entrap the Galvanic Mechamorph.
"So, that's whose been getting on Max's radar," assumed a familiar voice. Gwen looked up as Verdona floated in the air, the woman looking far from pleased. She moaned, feeling weak.
"G-Grandma," moaned the redhead. Osmos ran towards her, dropping the rubber covering as he stopped right in front of her. Verdona held up her free hand, still glaring.
"Careful, boy. These nets are designed to drain vitality." Osmos stopped as if he was tempted, instead pulling out his blaster as he hit the origin of the net to make it snap. Verdona took the moment to make small flames, sending them at the lines of the net to burn it up as Gwen fell over in relief. She fell on the teen boy's chest, the masked guy holding her shoulder close.
"E-E-Error," buzzed Malware. "S-Systems destabilizing." Verdona looked towards the machine, making a glass jar to hold it in.
"I'll have to capture the rest and bring them to Max. Be a dear and take her home." Osmos looked at her like it was strange to trust him, only to nod his head as he picked Gwen up bridal style and walked with her.
"Wait," stated the teen. "Where am I going?" Verdona giggled, shaking her head.
"Such a nice boy." Osmos sighed, knowing this was gonna be a long night. Meanwhile, Ben and Jade were in the middle of Star Wars: Episode 4 with Jade chewing on a chocolate bar idly.
Ben looked towards her, smiling as he draped his arm over her shoulders. His date leaned into him, giggling as she looked at him. Natalie sat in the seats behind them, watching as the duo completely lost track of the movie. She smiled, knowing that this was a good idea on Ben's part. She could only hope Gwen would find a nice boy for herself.
Speaking of, Gwen was laid down in her bed. Osmos sighed, stretching his back as he looked around. He tried to walk off, only to feel rather exhausted. He looked towards her chair, sighing.
"Just for a bit," the teen told himself. "Then I'll leave before anyone comes looking for her." He sat down in the chair, taking a risk by removing the hockey mask. The teen watched Gwen roll over in her sleep, her mask off as her eyes were closed tight. "Heh, cute."
The teen finally felt sleep take him, snoring lightly as his head fell to the side. Gwen's eyes opened slightly, the noise disturbing her. She saw the boy's face, shivering as her consciousness slowly began to fade again.
"...Kevin?"
Inkaliber: And that's another one in the bag! Sari's adaptation has been mostly explained, showing off the new version of her transforming capabilities with many more transformations to come. Paco goes on a little trip after his Arachnichimp traits set in, likely gone for a good while. Ben and Jade have their first ever date, Gwen saving it from ruination by accidentally putting herself in danger. An unexpected ally in Kevin, AKA "Osmos," saves her from being put to use by the Anodite hunters and their employers.
Zemrocku: For those wondering, Ben's new haircut is the hairstyle from Ben 10: Alien Force. My favorite part was a lot of the lore bits.
Inkaliber: Yeah well it was a lot of fun showing off Gwen and Kevin acting as a dynamic duo. Ben and Jade's date was also fun, even if we didn't see a lot of it.
Zemrocku: And Ellie's words on Gwen choosing a delinquent happened.
Inkaliber: LOL! She hasn't exactly chosen him yet. She only just met him and found out who he is.
Zemrocku: Hasn't YET! This is gonna happen because the girl that likes to be perfect always ends up with the bad boys.
Adran: It helps that, 9 times out of 10, when situations like this happen, it's Ink introducing the love interest for the girl.
Inkaliber: Lol! Guilty as charged. I like doing a bit more than someone just being like "Hi. I'm such and such. Let's start dating."
Adran: And it works pretty damn well.
Inkaliber: XD. In any case, time to end the chapter. I've got my notes beforehand this time.
What did you guys think about the chapter? Did you like the explanation for Sari's changes? What will Gwen do with the knowledge that Kevin is back? Let me know what you think down below and I'll try to respond ASAP, next chapter at the latest. This is-
Zemrocku: This is Zemrocku, signing you insects out.
Inkaliber: ZEM! NO STEALING THE OUTTRO! YOU'RE GOING IN AVOCADO JAIL WITH WADE!