At the Clara Vista University Stadium, the game was in its final moments. The stands vibrated with the roar of the crowd, the tension palpable. The scoreboard read 24 to 24, with only 10 seconds left on the clock. The home team was on the opponent's 20-yard line.
"Ladies and gentlemen," the narrator's voice echoed through the stadium, filled with excitement, "it all comes down to this! And the fate of the game rests in the hands of none other than Max Tennyson!"
Max was positioned, his helmet slightly tilted as he surveyed the defensive formation. He signaled for the snap, the center hiked the ball, and Max dropped back, his eyes keenly searching for an opening. Under pressure from two defenders, he scrambled to the right and, with an impressive leap, launched the ball directly to the wide receiver in the endzone.
TOUCHDOWN!
The stadium erupted in celebration, and Max raised his arms, surrounded by his teammates.
"MAX TENNYSON EXECUTES THE PERFECT PLAY! IT'S A HOME VICTORY!" the narrator announced.
As the team hoisted him onto their shoulders, a visibly excited student from the stands rushed up to him and, without hesitation, kissed him. The stands roared even louder, the celebration widespread.
Later, at the victory party, Max was surrounded by friends and teammates. The sound of music filled the hall, and students celebrated the historic win.
"That was legendary, man!" one of his friends said, patting Max on the shoulder.
Max laughed, but his eyes were searching for someone. After a few minutes, he excused himself. "Be right back."
He left the party, his footsteps echoing through the silent university corridors. He stopped in a secluded corner, where he found his girlfriend, leaning against the wall.
"Hey," he said, approaching. "You're different today. What's going on?"
Verdona tried to disguise it, but there was something in her gaze. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Verdona," he insisted, his tone growing firmer, "I know you. Something's wrong."
She sighed deeply, crossing her arms. "I didn't want to ruin your night, Max. But... we need to break up."
Max's eyes widened, shock taking over his face. "What? Why? What did I do?"
Before he could continue, Verdona raised her hand, signaling for silence. "It's not because of you. I... I'm leaving the university. I already withdrew my enrollment at the beginning of the week."
"You're leaving? But why? Verdona, this doesn't make sense!"
She looked away, hesitating. "I should have left already... But before—"
A sharp sound cut through the air, and Max barely had time to react before laser beams shot towards them. Verdona raised her hand, creating a shimmering barrier that blocked the shots.
Max stumbled backward, his eyes wide. "But what—?!"
Verdona murmured words, and a bolt of energy shot from her hand, hitting the attackers and knocking them down. She pulled down her jacket sleeve, revealing glowing runes along her arm.
"I'm so sorry, Max..." she said, sadness in her voice. "But you don't belong in this world."
With a swift movement, she pointed at him, the runes on her arm pulsing. Max instinctively dodged as a beam of energy fired in his direction.
"Verdona, stop! What's happening? Talk to me!"
"Stay still, Max. This is for your own good!"
Before she could attack again, more knights appeared in the background, firing at them. Verdona conjured another barrier to protect them, but she was hit by a stray shot, falling to her knees.
"Verdona!" Max shouted, rushing to hold her.
Without a second thought, he pulled her into his arms and began to run through the corridors, dodging laser beams as the attackers pursued them.
"Max, you have to leave me!" Verdona tried to protest, but he only quickened his pace.
"I'm not leaving you alone! We'll get out of this together!"
Max rushed into the library, carrying Verdona by the arm. The place was silent, with soft lights illuminating the overflowing bookshelves. He knew he didn't have much time before the knights caught up.
"Stay here," Max said, placing Verdona behind a bookshelf. "I'll distract them."
Before she could protest, the knights entered, their metallic footsteps echoing on the marble floor. Max held his breath, peeking between the shelves. Two of them were approaching, glowing weapons in hand.
Without hesitation, he pushed one of the bookshelves with all his might, knocking it over with a deafening crash. One of the figures was crushed by the books and shelves, emitting a muffled scream before falling still.
The other knight immediately turned, firing at Max. He lunged aside, rolling to avoid the beam of light that exploded a nearby bench. Getting up quickly, Max ran towards the attacker and, with a perfect football move, tackled him and shoved him forcefully against the floor.
Max picked up the weapon the knight dropped, firing at him before he could get up. Without wasting time, he spun and shot the other knight who was still trapped under the bookshelf.
More footsteps began to echo in the distance. Max took cover behind a reading table, firing at the arriving reinforcements.
After a few exchanged shots, Max ran back to where he had left Verdona.
She was getting up, breathing heavily. Max suddenly stopped when he saw the burnt hole in her shirt, revealing completely intact skin underneath.
"How...?" he asked, unable to hide his surprise.
"I'm a witch," Verdona replied simply, adjusting her messy hair. "A magic user."
Max was still trying to process the information when Verdona asked: "And who are these... Forever Knights?"
Verdona looked at him with a serious gaze. "They are a millennial organization. They hunt anything not considered 'normal'... Me. They found me, and now they're hunting me."
"And that's why you want to leave the university?" Max asked, his tone indignant. "That's stupid!"
"I don't have a choice, Max!" she retorted, exasperated.
They argued for a few moments, each trying to convince the other, until Max stopped, looking directly at her.
"If you go, then I'm going with you."
Verdona's eyes widened. "You can't!"
"Yes, I can. And you won't stop me. Even if you try to erase my memory with some... crazy hocus pocus, I'll remember. And I'll come after you."
Her face turned red, matching her red hair. "You're an idiot, you know that?"
"I'm your idiot."
They laughed, the tension of the moment dissolving for a brief instant, before they kissed, the world around them fading away.
"So, where are we going?" Max asked, still holding Verdona.
"Bellwood," she replied.
"Bellwood?" Max repeated, confused. "That little town in the middle of nowhere?"
She shook her head. "Bellwood... the alien capital on Earth."
Max's eyes widened. "Aliens... are real?"
Verdona laughed, touching his face softly. "You have no idea."
_________________________________________________________________________
Max smiled as he recalled Verdona's words back then. "You have no idea," she had said, laughing at his incredulity as they fled into the night.
In the present, sitting in the Rustbucket, Max looked at Ben and Gwen as he recounted the story.
"So, she took me to Bellwood," Max continued.
Ben blinked, surprised. "Wait... Bellwood? Like... the same Bellwood where I've lived for the last ten years?"
Max nodded, a nostalgic glint in his eyes. "Exactly the same. But what you probably didn't know, Ben, is that Bellwood isn't just an ordinary town."
Gwen frowned, curious. "What do you mean, Grandpa?"
"Beneath Bellwood," Max said, pointing to the floor as if revealing a secret, "lies UnderTown. It's an underground city where alien immigrants live safely. It's one of the reasons why Bellwood is so important. It's Earth's alien capital."
Ben's eyes widened. "UnderTown? That's real? How did I never know about that?"
Max chuckled. "Well, you weren't exactly looking for aliens, were you? UnderTown is a well-kept secret, but it's vital for maintaining peace between aliens and humans on Earth."
At that moment, Gwen interrupted, her eyes wide, the realization finally dawning on her. "Wait a minute. You said Grandma was a... a witch? I mean, a magic user... like me?"
Max turned to her, and his nostalgic smile gained a layer of deep affection. "Heh. She was more than that, Gwen. She was the best I ever knew."
Gwen fell silent, processing that revelation. Her grandmother, the woman she barely had memories of, shared the same gift, the same secret, that she was just beginning to discover within herself.
"So... you lived in Bellwood and knew about this UnderTown all this time? And it all started because of that attack at the university?" She asked, her voice a little softer now.
"Yes," Max confirmed. "After that night, Verdona and I didn't have much choice. Bellwood was a place where we could be safe while we planned our next move."
Ben leaned forward, clearly excited. "And UnderTown... what's it like?"
Max smiled. "It's... incredible. A mix of cultures, technologies, and species from across the galaxy. It has markets, restaurants, even schools and residences. It's a small city of a few hundred, hidden right beneath our feet."
"Wow..." Gwen murmured. "And no one notices?"
"The aliens in UnderTown know how to hide," Max explained. "And the Plumbers help keep things under control. It's always been a delicate balance, but it has worked."
Ben looked at the horizon, thoughtful. "So, Grandpa, that means Bellwood isn't just a boring little town, after all..."
Max chuckled, placing a hand on Ben's shoulder. "No, kid. Bellwood is much more than it seems."
The three fell silent for a moment, each absorbing the magnitude of what Max had just shared. Gwen was the first to break the silence.
"Wait... you hide this? Why?"
Max took a deep breath, looking at his grandchildren with a serious and tired expression, but full of conviction. "You need to understand something. Many bad things have happened to planets that interacted with outside species before they were prepared for it. Some civilizations took advantage of the technology they found to start arms races, destroying themselves or their neighbors. Others were exploited, abused, or completely dominated by more advanced species, unable to defend themselves or even comprehend what was happening."
He paused, letting his words sink in. Gwen and Ben exchanged glances, realizing the weight of what he was revealing. The shadow of one of them moved momentarily before returning to normal.
"But that's not all," Max continued. "The opposite also happens. Some civilizations become interplanetary and start wars for expansion, trying to dominate or even exterminate other species they consider inferior or a threat. This creates an endless cycle of destruction."
Ben frowned, confused. "You're saying this has happened before..."
Max sighed, slowing his pace as he looked at his grandchildren. "Actually, it's closer than you imagine. The Sludgepuppies left their planet a few decades ago and started warring with neighboring worlds, and Earth was one of them."
Gwen's eyes widened, incredulous. "Earth is at war?!"
Max raised a hand to calm her. "Calm down, Gwen. That was until last year. We managed to broker a peace agreement with them."
Ben blinked a few times, confused. "A peace agreement? With aliens? And that worked?"
Max smiled and nodded. "For now, yes. In fact, one of your cousins, Joel, is getting married to one this summer. Now that you know about this, I think we can include you in the wedding invitation."
Gwen put a hand to her mouth, clearly surprised. "What?! One of our cousins is marrying an alien?! That's..."
While Gwen was still processing the idea, Ben seemed much more excited. "An alien wedding? That's going to be awesome! I can use the Omnitrix to turn into the most elegant alien in the galaxy!"
"Only you would think of that," Gwen replied with an eye roll, before turning her eyes back to Max. "So, what happened next?"
"After a while, I realized I wanted something more. I applied to Earth's Plumbers, and Verdona did the same. From then on, my life completely changed."
"How so?" Ben asked, leaning forward.
"Well," Max continued, "once in the Plumbers, I got a chance to leave Earth. It was a unique opportunity, and Verdona agreed that we should go. We spent a lot of time in space, dealing with intergalactic threats, protecting planets, and exploring places you can't even imagine."
Ben's eyes sparkled with excitement, while Gwen seemed more skeptical. "You stayed in space for over ten years?"
"Yes," Max replied. "But eventually, Verdona got pregnant. We decided it was time to come home. It was best for our family. I took the post of Earth's Magister and re-established roots here."
"But that's a story for another day," Max said. He shook his head. "Gwen, I think I have something for you."
Max walked to a compartment in the back of the Rustbucket. He opened an old metal box with time-worn latches and pulled out a carefully folded blue fabric. As he unfolded it, it revealed a long cape of a deep blue hue, with silver edges and subtle magical symbols sewn into the lining. A wide hood draped elegantly from its shoulders.
He held the cape for a few seconds, the fabric seemingly absorbing the ambient light, before turning to Gwen.
"Gwen, you know that spellbook I gave you?"
She frowned, before pulling the book from her pocket. "This one, from Hex?"
Max nodded slowly. "Yes, but I lied. That book... it was Verdona's, I picked it up at college."
Gwen's eyes widened, holding the book more carefully. "Really? That... that was hers?"
"Yes." Max took a deep breath. "She left it behind in a hurry when we fled the Forever Knights... It's good that someone in our family could use it."
Gwen looked at the book, now with a mix of reverence and surprise. She slowly ran her hand over the cover, feeling the raised runes as if they were more alive than ever.
"And this..." Max said, holding the cape "accompanied Verdona through many moments... good ones... and bad ones."
He held out the cape to Gwen.
"And I think now... it should be yours."
Gwen held the cape. As her fingers touched the fabric, it shimmered lightly, as if recognizing its new bearer. Slowly, the cape began to adjust itself, shrinking, molding perfectly to her body. The shoulder pads diminished, the length rose to the ideal level, and the hood became exactly the right size.
"Wow..." she smiled, pulling on the hood and adjusting her shoulders. "Cool. It adjusts itself."
Max smiled, crossing his arms. "Smart magic. Verdona never liked wasting time with seamstresses."
Curious, Gwen ran her hand through the cape's side pockets. She felt something... strange. As if the internal space was larger than the exterior. She frowned, plunged her hand deeper, and pulled out a heavy object.
It was a dark leather grimoire, with silver clasps and symbols that pulsed softly, changing shape as if they were living holograms. The book looked ancient, but perfectly preserved, exuding a strong magical aura.
"This... will definitely be useful," she commented, quickly flipping through it. Inside, pages filled with diagrams, magic circles, formulas, and handwritten notes, probably by Verdona herself.
She closed the grimoire and, with a smile, placed it back in the cape's pocket. As she let go, it vanished into the fabric, as if it had never been there.
"Definitely useful," she completed.
Max looked at her, crossing his arms, with an expression that mixed pride, affection, and a hint of longing.
"If she could see you now... Verdona would be very proud. Very proud indeed."
A sharp beep cut through the air, coming from his communicator in the corner. Max sighed, his expression suddenly serious. "Looks like it's almost time. Come on, let's take a tour of the base before the meeting."
Max guided them out of the Rustbucket, where the damage caused by Vilgax's invasion was visible. Large craters marred the ground, walls were cracked, and damaged equipment was scattered everywhere. Soldiers and engineers worked frantically to restore what they could.
"This place..." Ben commented as he looked around. "Vilgax really did a number on it, huh?"
Max stopped in front of a large installation with reinforced gates, partially destroyed. "This used to be the base's prison. Many of the prisoners managed to escape during the attack."
Ben narrowed his eyes, trying to remember something. "I saw Hex, Dr. Animo and those... Circus Freaks next to Vilgax at that time."
Max nodded with regret. "We imprisoned them here. We not only deal with threats, but we also have to clean up messes and eliminate any trace of operations to protect humanity."
Ben scoffed, crossing his arms. "Like in Rapid City? How do you plan to cover up that disaster?"
Max shrugged, with a tired expression. "It's already being resolved. News of a natural disaster is already in the headlines. It's how we've always done it."
Gwen, walking beside Max, raised her eyebrows. "And that's... legal? How do you manage to hide all this? Does the government know about it?"
Max smiled slightly, tilting his head. "We have a cooperation agreement with the world's governments. In fact, George Washington himself authorized Earth's first Plumbers. Since then, all governments are aware of our existence."
Gwen seemed intrigued. "So you also deal with local threats, like the Forever Knights and mutants?"
Max nodded. "Exactly. Plus, we warn governments about natural disasters and terrorist attacks when possible."
He then stopped walking and looked directly at Ben and Gwen. "For example... do you know about the World Trade Center attack?"
Gwen blinked, confused. "What attack?"
Max gave an ironic smile. "Exactly."
"Well, kids, it's my time. Behave yourselves," Max said before turning and heading for the meeting.
"Of course, Grandpa," they both replied in unison.
The main hall was filled with Plumbers. Tired and worried faces filled the chairs, and the murmur of tense voices filled the room. When Max entered, all eyes turned to him, a mixture of hope and despair. He was the Magister again, the highest authority of the Plumbers on the planet, and his return from retirement was the only thing maintaining a semblance of order for those of lower rank.
Max walked to the head of the holographic table, his gaze sweeping the room. "Phill, please begin. A summary of the current situation, for those who haven't had access to the full reports."
Phill, with an exhausted expression, nodded and activated the main projection, which displayed alarming graphs and Earth news headlines with questions about the "mysterious explosion" in Rapid City.
"The situation is disastrous." Phill began, his voice heavy. "Vilgax's initial attack on the Plumbers space station was a fatal blow. We lost over fifty percent of our contingent there, including the former Magister Labrid, Tennyson's old successor. Of all our assets here on Earth, only twenty-five percent survived the subsequent attack. And of those, only ten percent are currently operational."
A murmur of shock and despair ran through the room. "And the base?" asked a Plumber with a technician's insignia. "Do we have confirmation of how many prisoners escaped?"
Phill nodded gravely. "Most containment cells have been compromised. A significant number of highly dangerous criminals are at large on our planet. Our containment teams are overwhelmed, barely able to deal with civilians who witnessed the attack, and the escapes. On Earth, of all our assets, only ten percent are currently operational."
Another Plumber, a tall alien with scaly skin, cleared her throat. "And as if that weren't enough," she grunted, gesturing to the headlines, "the terrestrial government is in an uproar over the 'tornado' in Rapid City. We're working overtime to cover up what really happened. The pressure is immense, and the questions only increase."
"Communication is our biggest problem," a third Plumber, hunched over a side terminal, added. "We've lost contact with the rest of the galaxy and with the Magistracy. Most of our data along with the main database at the station has been compromised or destroyed. We are blind."
Another nodded. "We are looking at alternatives. We need to re-establish a secure and robust communication point, far from any terrestrial or non-terrestrial interference. Long-range communication lines are inoperative."
Max pondered for a moment, hand on his chin. "What about the lunar base? The old relay station? I know it's been deactivated for centuries, but if we can reactivate and fortify it, we could have a secure galactic communication hub."
Several in the room seemed surprised, one of them spoke. "Magister, it's a gigantic operation! It would take months, maybe years, and would require resources we don't have."
"But it's our only chance!" argued a Plumber in a field uniform, pounding his hand on the table. "We are isolated! If we don't re-establish contact, we will be crushed! The lunar base is the only option that gives us some autonomy. As costly as it may be, the risk of doing nothing is greater."
"We can't risk what's left of us!" Another retorted. "We've already lost too much! Focusing on containment and Earth's security is the priority. If we fail on the Moon, we might come back and find nothing left."
"Months we don't have," Max interjected, his voice firm and cutting, silencing the debate. "But it's our best bet to get out of this hole. A remote base, with controlled gravity and orbital defenses... it's risky, but viable. What's needed for at least an initial assessment of the structure?"
The discussion, though still tense, began to delve into logistical and engineering details, with other Plumbers presenting challenges and counter-arguments.
As Max's meeting unfolded amidst grim reports and audacious plans, Ben and Gwen walked through the damaged corridors. Vilgax's drones, some dented and charred, lay scattered, and on some walls, dark, thick bloodstains indicated the ferocity of the battle.
Gwen shivered, looking at a dented wall someone had probably slammed into. "Ben... I'm so sorry," she began, her voice almost a whisper. "For you being captured... I should have done more."
Ben stopped, turned to her, and placed a hand on Gwen's forehead. He lightly pinched her cheek, with a suspicious look. "Hold on. You're not a Limax in disguise, are you?"
Gwen frowned, confused. "What? What are you talking about? Of course not!"
Ben chuckled, taking his hand off her forehead. "Oh, for someone who thinks they're so smart, you're pretty dumb, huh?" He gave her a light shove. "No stupid watch is worth more than your worm-brain, Gwen. Relax."
Gwen scoffed, annoyed by the insult, but a faint smile appeared on her lips. She knew it was Ben's way of saying it was okay.
She was about to respond when she saw something move. "Hey Ben, did you see that?"
"See what, Gwen?" Ben looked where Gwen was looking but saw nothing.
"Nothing." She replied before they continued walking, the silence filled by the echo of their footsteps and the distant hum of machines.
They reached a more brightly lit area, an improvised medical ward. Several healing chambers, filled with a glowing green liquid, floated in the air, with pale human and alien figures suspended inside, receiving treatment.
Ben's eyes swept across the chambers until he abruptly stopped at a specific area. Inside, Steel floated, unconscious, but what shocked Ben was to see the arm Psyphon had torn off slowly regenerating, muscles and tendons forming almost magically within the liquid. It was a disturbing yet fascinating sight.
Ben extended a hand and placed it on the cold glass of the chamber, the Omnitrix on his wrist glowing a persistent red. More than a day had passed since they escaped Vilgax's ship, but the watch was still locked. A pang of guilt hit him.
A soft hand touched his shoulder. It was Gwen. "It's not your fault, Ben," she said, her voice gentle. "You did what you could. No one expected Vilgax to be so... and you didn't even ask for this! You didn't ask for this stupid watch, or an intergalactic tyrant chasing you!"
"I know," Ben interrupted, but he didn't even convince himself. He turned his face, looking at Steel's chamber. "I should have done more. I just... I wish I had had more time, you know? To think of something. To not have been so... useless."
"Useless?" a feminine, slightly hoarse voice suddenly echoed, making Ben jump and let out a high-pitched yelp. He turned, heart pounding, and looked at the chamber to the right of Steel.
There was Xylene, the alien figure who had helped them in the Chimeran Hammer and apparently knew something about the Omnitrix. Her eyes were open, bright and alert, focused on them. A faint smile played on her lips.
"You're awake!" Ben exclaimed, feeling a mix of relief and embarrassment from the yelp. "When? Are you okay?"
Xylene chuckled softly, a sound that seemed to rasp a little due to her time in the healing chamber. "Just woke up. And I've been worse, child. Much worse." She winked at him. "And you, useless? I was there fighting Psyphon, you know? I saw what you did. I never thought I'd see Vilgax get a beating like that." She laughed again, a fuller laugh now. "He won't forget you anytime soon if he's still alive."
That comment, coming from Xylene, did something to Ben. He felt a small but significant relief. Gwen smiled at him, with an "I told you so" look on her face.
"Well, that's great!" Gwen said, relieved. "Grandpa Max will be very happy to know you're okay."
Xylene nodded. Her eyes widened slightly, and she cleared her throat. "Alright, that's enough bubble bath for today." With a flick of her hand, a panel on the side of the chamber glowed and the green liquid quickly drained away, revealing her pale and still somewhat wrinkled body.
"Miss, you shouldn't leave yet!" said a Plumber doctor, rushing to the chamber. "Your recovery is not yet complete. We need to monitor your vital signs and—"
"I've spent enough time floating, doctor," Xylene interrupted, her voice firm as she stepped out of the chamber, her body still a little unsteady. Ben and Gwen made a move to help her, but she refused with a wave of her hand. "I need to find Max."
With that, Xylene activated her telekinesis and floated smoothly out of the medical ward, her body enveloped in a vibrant purple glow. She headed for the base's corridors, quickly disappearing from view.
Gwen looked at the door Xylene had exited, a mix of surprise and concern on her face. "Is she going to be okay? I mean, she just got out of a healing tank and she's already flying around."
Ben shrugged, still a little dizzy from the scene. "Probably? She seems tough."
Suddenly, a Plumber doctor approached, his face irritated. "You two! Less noise! This is a medical ward, not a playground! Patients need rest!"
Ben and Gwen exchanged glances, and Ben just gave an awkward smile. "Oh, sorry, doctor."
The doctor pointed to the exit. "Now, if you would be so kind as to leave and let the professionals work, I'd appreciate it."
Ben and Gwen sighed and left the medical ward, continuing to explore the base. _________________________________________________________________________
The meeting's discussion was still unfolding, Plumbers debating the lunar base's viability and Earth's disastrous situation. Tired and worried faces filled the chairs.
One of them pondered, hand on chin. "What about calling the retirees to reinforce our forces?"
A Plumber, in a field uniform with a scarred face, sighed. "Among the files lost in Vilgax's attack was the personnel file. We barely know how many agents we had to begin with. Contacting the retirees would be like looking for a needle in a haystack, and we don't have the resources for that now."
The room's heavy metal door slid open with a dragging hiss, and Xylene entered. She walked directly to the center, her eyes fixed on Max.
"Max," Xylene said, her voice a little hoarse, but firm. "I'm glad your reunion with us isn't under worse circumstances." She made a small bow. "I wish it were in a quieter environment, but the situation is critical."
Max nodded, returning the gesture. "Same here, Xylene. But there's something we need to clarify. The Omnitrix and, from what Tetrax told me, Primus too. Azmuth's records on their defenses were legendary. No fleet, no matter how large, could breach that barrier. Something must have happened for Vilgax to succeed."
"I don't know what happened, Max," Xylene replied, her eyes serious. "Not even Azmuth himself knows. He was incredibly meticulous, almost paranoid, with Primus's security. He didn't allow anyone with the slightest suspicion near the project. And yet, Primus fell. Who could have the capacity to sabotage something like that without him noticing? But someone betrayed his trust. It was an internal sabotage that allowed Vilgax to invade and destroy Primus."
Max processed the information, his face contorted with anger and frustration.
"But the Omnitrix," Max continued, his gaze fixed on Xylene. "You're the one who sent it to Earth, aren't you?"
Xylene nodded, her tendrils swaying slightly. "Yes. When Primus fell, the Omnitrix was launched in a hurry. After the betrayal that led to Primus's downfall, Azmuth trusted the only being he knew to be truly worthy and honorable to protect his greatest creation: you, Max Tennyson."
Max's eyes widened slightly.
"The Omnitrix was locked to only accept your DNA, Max," Xylene explained. "That's why only you, or someone of your lineage with compatible DNA, like Ben, can activate it. It was a gift, a last resort from Azmuth for a galaxy in peril."
Max thought about the Omnitrix and the weight of all Ben had been through, and that it was all his fault. This thought weighed heavily on him.
"So, that explains a lot," Max murmured, more to himself. He looked up, his face now filled with a grim determination. "But the fact is that the Omnitrix is a magnet for trouble. Vilgax and God knows who else wants it, and with it on Ben's wrist, my grandson has become a constant target. We need to take it off Ben. It's the only way to keep him safe."
At that moment, Servantis, who had noticed the shift in conversation, approached the table with cold, professional confidence.
"And it will be done," Servantis declared, his voice firm. "I've already prepared the Galvanic disionic diffuser. It's the only method we know that can force the Omnitrix to release its connection to the host without causing permanent damage. I guarantee you, Magister, the removal will be safe and effective. No risks to the boy."
Max looked at Servantis, his expression a mix of hope and resignation. "Are you sure, Servantis? We can't risk Ben's life."
"Absolutely, Max. My calculations are precise," Servantis assured, his eyes fixed on Max's. "It's complex technology, yes, but the diffuser has been calibrated to neutralize the Omnitrix's connection at a molecular level, detaching it from the host's DNA without causing trauma. It's the cleanest solution we have in this urgent situation."
Max sighed, the weight of the decision visible on his face. "Very well, Servantis. Proceed with the preparations. I want this diffuser ready as soon as possible."
"It will be done, Magister," Servantis replied with a rare smile of satisfaction, nodding before turning and hurrying out of the command room.
Max and Xylene exchanged glances, both aware of the decision's implications. The meeting continued.
_________________________________________________________________________
The heavy metal door slid open with a dragging hiss, revealing the Confiscation Room. Ben let out a long, impressed whistle. "For the love of... Grandpa never told us the Plumbers had a museum of cool stuff!"
The room was a vast cavern lit by strange glows. Shimmering display cases housed artifacts that defied imagination: ray guns with organic shapes, armors that seemed to have a life of their own, and energy spheres that pulsed with an alien rhythm.
"A 'don't touch, Ben' museum, you mean," Gwen retorted, arms crossed, observing her cousin's ecstatic expression. "You look like you're about to break something just by looking."
Ben ignored her, his eyes glued to a slender, shimmering blade in the center of the room. It was a laser sword, its edge pulsing with contained energy. "Wow! That sword there... Man, imagine what I could do with something like that! Like cutting a giant pizza... or a wicked villain!"
Gwen rolled her eyes. "Or cutting yourself into little pieces, knowing how clumsy you are."
Ben chuckled, moving away from the sword and approaching a side display case that housed a large, faceted crystal. The crystal hummed softly, emitting a greenish light that drew him in. "You talk as if I'm a magnet for disasters, Gwen." He leaned in, almost touching his nose to the glass, fascinated by the micro-vibrations he saw on the crystal's surface.
Suddenly, the crystal inside the display case emitted a sharp hum, intensifying its vibrations violently. It trembled, swayed, and then, with a dry crack, slammed hard against the inner wall of the display case. The containment surface cracked, and in the blink of an eye, the crystal was hurled out. It spun in the air, hitting another nearby display case with an explosive impact that shattered the glass and activated a blaring alarm.
The entire room plunged into chaos. Lights flickered like a horror show. Force fields pulsed and failed, releasing devices that rolled and crashed into each other. Energy blasts shot in random directions. A containment dome of a strange spiky device cracked, and one of the sharp spikes detached, flying like a projectile towards Ben.
"Ben, get out of there!" Gwen screamed, reaching out, a small flickering light beginning to form at her fingertips as she tried to conjure a shield spell. But it was too late; the projectile was milliseconds from hitting her cousin.
At the last instant, Gwen's cape, which she wore over her shoulders, stirred on its own. A rune embroidered on the fabric glowed with an intense blue light, and the cape moved on its own, placing itself in the air between Ben and the projectile, intercepting it with a soft thump before deflecting it to the wall. Ben and Gwen were safe, but both looked at the cape, perplexed.
The room's door burst open with a crash, and a figure rushed in, a plasma gun in hand. It was a tall man, with a rigid demeanor and sharp eyes, dressed in the Plumber uniform. Servantis stopped abruptly, his urgent expression transforming into shock and pure fury at the sight of the devastation in the room and the two teenagers in the middle of it.
He looked from Ben and Gwen to the destroyed artifacts, to the deafening alarm, and then, with an angry grunt, marched to a panel on the wall and silenced the alarm with a slap. The silence, suddenly, seemed to fill the void with an almost palpable tension.
"What in the name of all planets happened here?!" Servantis exploded, his eyes burning as he looked at Ben. "How did you get in here?! Get out before you ruin the rest?!"
Ben, furious at the accusation, immediately retorted. "I didn't do anything! It's not my fault your little toys explode on their own! And I came in through the door, genius!"
Servantis advanced, pointing to the broken display case and the trail of destruction. "Things don't 'explode on their own' in a high-level confiscation room, brat!"
"I don't know! I swear I didn't touch anything!" Ben yelled, feeling increasingly wronged. "This is ridiculous!"
With a frustrated grunt, Ben turned abruptly to the exit, muttering about adult incompetence. "I'm not staying here to be accused of things I didn't do!"
Gwen shot a worried glance at Servantis. She ran to follow Ben. "Ben, wait!"
Servantis stood alone in the chaotic room, his eyes scanning the damage, he just shook his head, watching Ben walk away. In the midst of the mess, the sword Ben wanted to grab silently floated in the air for a second. Then, like a ghost, it completely disappeared, leaving no trace.
_________________________________________________________________________
The two went to the cafeteria, with tables arranged in rows and a counter where aliens and humans lined up for food. The mix of species created a vibrant and diverse environment, with dishes of different shapes, colors, and smells being served.
Ben and Gwen stood, watching the movement around them, when a blue-skinned alien with yellow eyes and horizontal pupils approached. He wore an apron and a slightly crooked chef's hat. "So, young ones, want some fries?"
The two exchanged hesitant glances. Gwen was the first to speak. "Um... fries? Like... normal?"
The chef chuckled heartily. "Yes, normal. Not your grandpa's extreme menu. Some of us Earthlings also like food. Here, try some." He placed a portion of golden, crispy fries in front of them.
Ben cautiously picked one up and put it in his mouth. His eyes widened. "Hey, this is... just fries! Like, really normal!"
The alien laughed, his horizontal pupils narrowing as he laughed. "Of course it is. Max's tastes are... unique for some species, to say the least. Believe me, many of us prefer to keep dishes simpler. I can't even imagine what you've had to try at his hands."
Gwen laughed, picking up a fry and agreeing. "Yeah, I think he tried to make us eat something with antennae once."
Ben, with his mouth full of fries, pointed at Gwen. "Or that green broth that kept moving!"
The alien smiled, amused, as the three laughed, bringing a brief sense of normalcy.
_________________________________________________________________________
Ben and Gwen continued exploring the base when a blaring alarm began to sound throughout the base, and digital signs flashed red, pointing to a specific area.
"It's there!" Ben exclaimed, with stubborn determination.
Gwen frowned, trying to stop him. "Ben, you idiot! What are you doing?! The Omnitrix is still red!" She called out to him, but he was already running towards the emergency. Gwen, exasperated, sighed and followed him. "I'm going to kill you after this, I promise!"
They arrived at a more isolated area and saw a massive metal door broken open, its remains twisted and smoking, as if something powerful had sliced it open. A cold, distorted laugh reverberated down the corridor. Ben and Gwen entered, cautiously. They spotted a figure with mottled purple skin, three triangular eyes of distinct colors (one red, one green, and one blue), slender limbs, and a wide mouth full of sharp teeth. Its tail with a retractable stinger lashed in the air.
"You!" Gwen exclaimed, recognizing the species from Tetrax's alien compendium. "A Merlinisapien!"
"Right, a... what?" Ben tried to point at him too but was confused.
"A Merlinisapien, basically a chameleon alien," Gwen replied as she grabbed her spellbook and prepared to conjure something to stop him.
"My name is Kytel," the Merlinisapien growled. "And the Plumbers will pay!"
Ben noticed a plasma sword lying on the floor, near Kytel, and his eyes lit up in recognition. "Hey! That's the sword! How did you get that here?!"
Kytel, his three eyes glowing with malevolence, let out a dark laugh. "Ah, human-boy. You gave me the perfect tool for my revenge. Your little 'accident' in the confiscation room released this plasma cutting device. And for that, I am grateful."
He pointed his tail stinger at the Null Void Projector, the red glow intensifying. "You imprisoned me! Now, this base will be the first to be swallowed by the Null Void! I will unleash chaos from the Null Void and watch all of you writhe in fear! This base, this planet... everything will be destroyed!"
The Null Void Projector's energy increased exponentially, the red glow becoming almost unbearable. From the projector, small fissures tore the fabric of reality in the air, and distant screams and monstrous roars began to echo, coming from the depths of the Null Void. Deformed and spectral creatures, exiled to that pocket dimension, began to force their way into reality.
The first to emerge was a grayish Null Guardian, with long bodies and open mouths, lacking eyes or ears, resembling Vulpimancers. Thick, strong tentacles writhed at its base, and short spines covered its dorsal side.
It let out a sharp screech as it flew out of the portal, followed by a Null Void Leviathan, a huge, serpentine creature with multiple glowing eyes and a mouth full of irregular teeth, which writhed in the air before falling to the ground with a heavy thud.
The sound of alarms and the shaking of the base alerted the other Plumbers. They ran with a group of Plumbers to the Null Void Projector room.
"What's going on here?!" Max shouted.
"He's overloading the Null Void Projector!" Servantis exclaimed, pointing to the aberrations that were beginning to materialize. "If it explodes, the entire base will be sucked into the Null Void!"
Max advanced through the front line, closely followed by a squad of heavily armed Plumbers. The sound of gunfire, roars, and explosions made the air vibrate. His eyes fixed on a Null Guardian advancing directly towards Ben and Gwen.
The Guardian let out a sharp screech and fired a beam of purple energy from its mouth, aiming directly at the two. Without hesitation, Max raised his energy weapon, firing a concentrated ray that intercepted the beam. The shot swallowed the purple ray and hit the Guardian's chest, which stumbled backward, letting out a distorted howl of pain.
Max wasted no time. He activated his jetpack, propelled himself forward, and landed between his two grandchildren and the creature.
"Stay behind me, kids!"
He fired the concussion cannon attached to his forearm, launching the Null Guardian against a wall, opening a crater in the concrete. Without wasting time, Max turned his body, activated the plasma cannon on his shoulder, and began pouring blasts over a horde of Havoc Beasts that were climbing the walls, spitting green flames.
"Focus on the smaller ones! Don't let them spread!" Max shouted to the Plumbers, who promptly opened fire, knocking down the small beasts that writhed and rolled on the ground.
It was at that moment that Max quickly looked at Gwen. "Gwen! Listen! Those Null Guardians... they're blind! They don't see like us. They hunt mana, life energy, any source of living force! The grimoire! Look in chapter 57, illusions section! There must be a spell for that!"
"Life energy illusion... got it!" Gwen replied, beginning to leaf through the grimoire while taking cover.
Meanwhile, the Dagger Aliens advanced, muscular, blue-skinned, and black-spined, brandishing pieces of metal as weapons. One of them struck a Plumber, sending him flying. Servantis activated a barrier generator, repelling the attack of a Wigzellian Orc Beast, a grotesque creature with crystalline spines and fiery breath.
"Maintain formation! Don't let them leave this room! This containment can withstand a stellar explosion, but not if we lose integrity!" Servantis shouted, sweating as he operated a holographic panel.
Xylene appeared floating, hands raised. Metal fragments rose from the floor, forming a rotating barrier that crushed the Alien Vermin trying to infiltrate. She then grabbed a Null Void Leviathan with her telekinesis, spun the monster in the air, and hurled it back into the portal.
"Max! These rifts keep growing! We need to close this soon!" Xylene shouted, her voice filled with urgency.
The Null Void Projector cracked more and more, releasing spacetime distortions that spewed endless hordes of deformed creatures. In the center of the chaos, Kytel cackled, his three triangular eyes glowing purple.
"Yes! More! Bring me more servants! More food for the Nullifier!" he roared, pulling a Plumber into a portal, sucking him into the red void of the Null Void. The man's scream faded in a flash of light.
"BEWARE THE NULLIFIER!" Phill warned from the console. "If you get pulled in, there's no turning back!"
Kytel raised his arms, firing a dimensional ray that distorted space. Several Plumbers were hit, their bodies fragmenting, shattered by pure energy.
Max shouted "FLASH BANG!" and threw a light grenade. The flash blinded Kytel, who stumbled backward, his eyes blinking uncontrollably.
"He's vulnerable! Advance!" Max activated his jetpack, crushing a Havoc Beast on the way. He fired a laser at Kytel, who dodged at the last second. A new portal opened right in front of Max, and the purple void of the Nullifier exploded, pulling everything with an overwhelming force.
"Ugh! No! NO!" Max fought against the suction, activating his thrusters, but the force was brutal.
"MAX!" Xylene grabbed him with her telekinesis, pulling him away from the rift. "Are you rusty or something?!"
Max rolled on the floor, breathing heavily. "Maybe... more than I'd like!" He wiped sweat from his forehead. "Alright! Everyone! Zeta 23 formation! Reorganize forces! Keep distance from those portals and concentrate on him, but don't hit the Projector!"
Max rolled on the floor, breathing heavily. "Maybe... more than I'd like..." He wiped the sweat from his forehead, looking around, quickly assessing the situation. His left shoulder creaked, part of the outer armor was open, exposing charred wires and cracked circuit boards.
Sparks escaped from his forearm, and one of the jetpack's thrusters failed, spewing black smoke. "Alright! Everyone! Zeta 23 formation! Reorganize forces! Keep your distance from those portals and focus on him! But NO ONE hits the Projector!"
Max's orders echoed through the communicator and the room, and the Plumbers, exhausted and wounded, regrouped with a discipline forged in a hundred battles. But it was like trying to dam an ocean with bare hands. The chaos didn't diminish—the portals vomited horrors from the Null Void, and the air trembled with a chorus of roars and shrieks that seemed to tear at sound itself.
Ben, seeing the base crumbling around him and Kytel laughing in control of everything, clenched his fists so hard that his nails dug into his palms. His eyes fixed on the Omnitrix, a red and frustrating symbol of his failure at that moment. He looked around, despair seeking a solution, any solution—until his gaze fell on the Hoverboard, tucked into his side pocket.
A terrible, reckless, gloriously stupid idea.
"Time to fly!" Ben shouted, throwing the Hoverboard to the floor. The device unfolded with a metallic snap, its blue lights instantly coming on.
"GRANDPA, GWEN, COVER!" he fired, and the board launched him forward like a missile. He accelerated straight into the heart of the battle, dodging monsters with energy blasts and lurking teeth.
"BEN, NO!" Gwen screamed, running a few steps before stopping, horror on her face. "Look around you! If you go there... there's no coming back!" She pulled out the grimoire, her eyes scanning the pages with desperate speed, biting her lip with anxiety. "Damn... damn... DAMN!"
"BEN, DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT ADVANCING! GET BACK HERE, NOW!" Max's voice sounded like hot steel being forged—hard, unyielding, but trembling with pure concern beneath the fury. He raised his arm, the armor creaking, and fired plasma shots to clear a path, his rays vaporizing two Null Guardians that blocked his view. "DAMN IT, give him cover! Alpha 42 formation! ADVANCE!"
Ben didn't stop. He was in an adrenaline tunnel, the world reduced to a single objective. "Trust me!"
"IDIOT!" Gwen growled, fear turning into protective anger. She clutched the grimoire so hard her knuckles turned white. Her hands rose, and a bluish, almost electric glow radiated from her fingertips. "ILLUSIO OBSCURA!"
An ethereal mist of blue mana spread like liquid waves across the battlefield. In an instant, dozens of illusions began to form—ghostly copies of Plumbers running, firing, teleporting. The Null Void creatures, guided by simple predatory instincts, plunged into the confusion. Havoc Beasts and Null Guardians thrashed, attacking shadows, biting the void, or turning on each other in a frenzy.
"That should keep them busy, dummy!" Gwen shouted, feeling the mental strain increase, veins throbbing in her temples as she channeled the large-scale spell.
Max planted his feet on the cracked floor, the plasma cannon on his shoulder glowing hot as he knocked down the few creatures intelligent enough to try to bypass the illusory mist. "GIVE COVER! PUSH THEM BACK, NOW!"
But he knew it was just a band-aid on a mortal wound. It wouldn't be enough. With a swift movement, he grabbed his utility belt, pulling out a translucent cylindrical capsule with a glowing lime-green liquid. Without hesitation, he smashed it against the floor. A thick mist with a pungent, sweet smell instantly spread.
Havoc Beasts, Null Guardians, Wigzellian Orc Beasts—all of them froze for a fraction of a second. Their deformed heads twisted in unison towards Max, their primitive senses completely overwhelmed by the intense smell of concentrated aggression pheromone.
The roars became one.
Max raised what was left of his shield, activated his remaining cannons, and pounded his metal-gloved fist against the armor's chest. "Come on, you bastards... COME AT ME!"
The creatures threw themselves at him in an avalanche of claws, teeth, and fury. Sharp claws tore at his armor, the sound of metal breaking echoing through the room. Armor plates detached, wires flew amidst sparks, and the right shoulder of his armor cracked with a sickening sound. The chest plate cracked in three places, and his metallic leg began to buckle under successive blows. His helmet's visor shattered into a spiderweb of glass, forcing him to rip off the helmet and toss it aside, exposing his sweaty face with a deep cut on his eyebrow that was already bleeding.
Even so, Max stood his ground. He was a besieged fortress, spinning with concentric plasma blasts, delivering armored punches, and unleashing electrical discharges that kept the beasts fixed on him, a whirlwind of destruction and sacrifice.
"GO, KID... GO!!!" he roared with all the strength he had left, his voice muffled by the weight of three Orc Beasts and two Null Guardians pressing down on him.
Meanwhile, Kytel, who had until then reveled in the widespread chaos, finally noticed Ben's persistent advance. The boy was not just a target; he was a projectile, cutting through enemy lines with jumps, maneuvers, and challenging agility. His three triangular eyes widened.
"You're more than a nuisance, boy. But not enough!" He shouted, raising a free arm and firing a beam of dimensional energy.
Ben, in mid-flight, saw the distortion in the air. He jumped off the Hoverboard, his body spinning in the air like a gymnast, and let the ray pass millimeters below his feet, feeling the heat of the energy almost lick his boots. He landed back on the Hoverboard in the same spin, a fluid and instinctive movement, as if the board were an extension of his body.
Without hesitation, he leaned, his right hand stretching out and grabbing the plasma sword lying on the floor. He activated it in mid-motion—the blue blade crackled with electrical sparks, illuminating his determined face.
Kytel growled, opening a micro-portal right in front of Ben—a pulsating vortex that began to suck in air and debris around it.
"BEN, PORTAL!" Xylene's voice cut through the noise. Her hands were already glowing purple. With a psychic snap that made the air ripple, she crushed the dimensional portal before it could grow and swallow Ben.
"THANKS!" Ben shouted in mid-flight, his eyes still on target.
Kytel tried to raise another arm for a second attack, but it was too late. Ben accelerated, propelled himself upwards using a twisted piece of metal as a ramp, jumped off the Hoverboard, spun in the air, and brought the plasma blade down with surgical precision on Kytel's left arm—exactly where the Null Void Projector controls were attached.
The sound of flesh, metal, and bone being cut mixed with the Merlinisapien's sharp, shrill scream. Purple blood splattered in all directions. The entire arm, still with some wires, controls, and circuits, fell to the floor, sparking violently.
Ben rolled on the floor to absorb the impact, sliding on his knees to the main control panel. The large green button flashed, almost begging to be pressed.
"This must be the right one!" he punched with all his might, without a second thought.
The fissures in the air immediately began to close. The creatures' roar was replaced by desperate shrieks as they were sucked back into the collapsing tears in reality. Claws tried to hold onto the floor, onto pipes, onto anything—in vain.
Max, his armor practically in tatters, half his chest exposed, his left arm broken, and blood trickling from the corner of his lip, finally fell to his knees. His eyes followed the last creatures being torn from reality, as he gasped, fighting against pain and exhaustion.
"Good... job, kid... good... job..." he gasped, leaning against the cracked wall, trying not to fall completely.
Ben spun on the floor and faced Kytel, who writhed, bleeding, holding the stump of his amputated arm.
"It's over, Kytel!" said Ben, the plasma sword still crackling in his hand.
But the Merlinisapien's eyes widened, his face completely overtaken by an expression of suicidal madness. "NO! IT'S NOT OVER!" he roared. His stinger shot backward, plunging with a sickening sound directly into the Null Void Projector's exposed core.
SHRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIEK!
The device groaned, cracks spread across its surface like spiderwebs of glass, and then a gravitational distortion emerged at its center. A mini-singularity began to grow, pulling everything around it—debris, pieces of the ceiling, the floor, consoles, even the crushed bodies of the creatures.
Kytel's own body began to writhe, his bones cracking, his flesh tearing, as he was pulled, screaming, until he was completely distorted, crushed, and swallowed by the anomaly.
Ben jammed the sword into the floor, trying to hold on, but the vacuum was too strong, ripping the weapon from his hands and pulling him relentlessly.
"BEN!!!" Max shouted, activating what was left of his jetpack—smoke, sparks, and flames shot from it in violent protest. Even so, he lunged, crossing through debris flying like bullets, grabbed Ben by the arm at the last second, and activated the emergency thrusters.
The jet exploded behind them, but it was enough to pull them out of the singularity's reach.
Both rolled on the floor, stopping a few feet from the crater, which now pulsed, unstable, hissing as if reality itself was writhing in pain.
Max, coughing blood, bruised and broken, clutched his communicator. "ALL PLUMBERS! EVACUATE! IMMEDIATE EVACUATION! THE PROJECTOR IS UNSTABLE! I REPEAT, EVACUATE NOW!"
Red lights flashed, alarms blared throughout the complex.
The Omnitrix, amidst the chaos, beeped. The red turned green.
Ben looked at it. He felt that familiar wave of energy, mixed with fear and adrenaline. He squeezed his eyes shut, took a deep breath.
"Grandpa... Gwen..." he said, clutching the watch. "I think... we still have a chance."
FLASH!
Ben's entire body exploded into light. His skin turned pale, greenish, almost sickly. His eyes swelled, becoming enormous, yellowish, with thin, vertical pupils. His mouth widened, irregular, sharp teeth protruded, and several thick, slimy tongues extended, almost dragging on the floor.
He shrank—now just over 80 centimeters tall. His feet were short, hands wide, with four fingers each, and dark plates protected his shoulders and knees.
Xylene, who had watched everything with her heart in her throat, widened her eyes. A shocked but relieved smile appeared on her face. "Perfect!"
The little alien turned its head to her, emitting a confused sound, something like "Blurp?".
"It's perfect!" Xylene shouted, pointing to the singularity. "You weren't made to fight! You were made to eat! SWALLOW THAT! SWALLOW IT BEFORE IT SWALLOWS US!"
The alien's instinct took over. He didn't know how, but he knew what to do.
He launched himself towards the smoking crater. Midway, his tongue lashed out, extending with impressive speed and grabbing the Null Void Projector's core, which pulsed uncontrollably, on the verge of implosion.
Immediately, the energy was sucked in. The sound was grotesque—chlop, schlurp, glorp!—as if he were chewing plasma rays, distorted gravity, and unstable matter at the same time.
"It's working..." Max gasped, trying to stay on his feet, even with his armor crumbling every second.
But then... Ben's body swelled.
"GLURP...!!"
"Oh... this isn't good," Gwen commented, taking two steps back.
The plates on his body began to separate, his belly inflating like a balloon, pulsing red inside. His eyes spun wildly, crossing in opposite directions.
"He... he's overloading!" Servantis shouted, desperate, seeing the data flashing on the still-functioning consoles. "The singularity is too much energy! His body won't hold!"
"BEN! Release it! NOW!" Max roared, limping a few steps, clutching the side of his cracked helmet.
The alien trembled, gasped, bloated.
"GLURRRK...!"
And then, with a dry crack, he spun towards a reinforced metal wall, opened his monstrous mouth, and vomited a colossal beam of red-purple energy, pure compressed dimensional energy.
The ray tore through the wall, opening a hole almost twenty meters in diameter, vaporizing steel, concrete, and anything in its path. The entire base trembled as if it would collapse.
The sound was deafening—THOOOOOOOOMMMM!!!
The jet lasted seven whole seconds, until Ben, now swaying like a deflated balloon, finally closed his mouth.
"BLORP..."
And... he burped.
A small blast of energy escaped his mouth, ricocheting off the ceiling. "ZAP!"
The Omnitrix beeped, and Ben returned to human form, falling to his knees immediately, holding his stomach with both hands, his face completely green.
"Ugh... never... NEVER again eat... glowing red stuff..." he groaned, hunched over.
Max limped to him, falling to his knees beside him. "Are you okay, kid?"
"I think so, Grandpa," Ben replied, still nauseous. "I just need a giant antacid... or maybe an 'Upchuck'." He chuckled faintly, forcing a smile. "Because I 'upchucked' the whole singularity! Get it? Upchuck!"
Gwen ran, kneeling beside the two, relieved. "You are a complete... COMPLETE idiot, Ben... but I... I don't know what I would do if you hadn't... if you hadn't come back."
She then pulled him into a tight hug, completely ignoring the slime still dripping from his shirt.
Max looked around. The base was destroyed. Lights flickered, alarms blared, and pieces of the wall were still falling.
He activated his communicator, which sparked. "This is Max Tennyson... The threat has been neutralized. I repeat... neutralized..."
The Omnitrix beeped one last time, returning to its standard green.
Ben looked at it, smiled—faint, but genuine.
"And you... you crazy little watch... you're the best."
_________________________________________________________________________
After all the commotion, Max took Ben and Gwen to one of the base's laboratories. The environment was vast and filled with advanced technological equipment, with holographic screens projecting scientific readings and devices in various stages of analysis. In the center, a large capsule with the Galvanic disionic diffuser was ready for use.
Max paused upon entering and turned to his grandchildren. "Gwen, do you mind giving us a moment alone? I want to talk to Ben."
Gwen nodded, understanding the seriousness in her grandfather's tone. "Of course, Grandpa." She looked at Ben and smiled. "Don't take too long, I'll see what Xylene is doing."
As soon as Gwen left, Max crossed his arms and looked at Ben, who was observing the room with curiosity and a little uneasiness.
"Ben," Max began, his voice laden with a mix of seriousness and affection, "the Omnitrix wasn't something we chose for you. It landed on your wrist by accident, but since then, you've had to deal with much more than any kid your age should face. That was never fair."
Ben looked away for a moment, reflecting. Then he shrugged, trying to lighten the conversation with a faint smile. "Yeah, maybe it wasn't fair, but... you know what? I won't lie... despite everything, I liked it. The watch gave me incredible experiences. Sure, there were scary moments, but it was really cool being a hero. If I had a choice, I think I'd keep it."
He paused, looking at the Omnitrix on his wrist, the greenish light reflecting in his eyes. "But..." Ben took a deep breath. "All good things come to an end, right? Maybe it's time to say goodbye."
Max was silent for a few moments, watching his grandson intently. His gaze was one of pride, but it also carried something deeper—the certainty that Ben had grown far beyond what he had imagined. Finally, a small smile appeared on his face. "You can keep it, Ben."
Ben blinked, confused, almost incredulous. "What? Seriously? But... why? I thought the plan was to remove the watch or something."
Max took a step forward, placing a firm hand on Ben's shoulder. His gaze was serious, but calm. "The Omnitrix is not a weapon, Ben. Azmuth created it so you can walk a mile in others' shoes. But in the wrong hands, it could cause more destruction than anything you've ever seen. But, despite everything that's happened, I trust you. You've shown that you won't misuse this power. I know you would never do anything that could hurt others with it."
Ben smiled, but there was a hesitation in his expression. "I appreciate that, Grandpa, but what if... I don't know, I can't protect the Omnitrix? Or what if I mess everything up? This watch just seems to attract trouble."
Max sighed, squeezing Ben's shoulder gently. "Ben, problems will always exist. With or without the Omnitrix, you'll find them—that's just how things are. But the watch isn't just a source of problems. It's a tool to do good, and you've shown you know how to use it for that. Besides..." He paused, giving a more relaxed smile. "I know you. Sooner or later, you'll probably join the Plumbers, and I'd rather know you have the Omnitrix by your side to protect you. At least until we can talk to Azmuth."
Ben was silent for a moment, looking at Max and then at the Omnitrix. Finally, a wide, genuine smile lit up his face. "Wow... that means a lot, Grandpa. Seriously, thank you. I promise I won't let you down. Ever."
Max smiled, pulling Ben into a tight hug. "I know you won't, kid. You already make me proud every day. You don't need to prove anything to me or anyone else. Just keep being yourself."
When they pulled away, Ben looked at his grandfather with a gleam in his eyes, full of determination. "You're the best, Grandpa. No doubt."
Max chuckled, lightly patting Ben's shoulder. "And you, Ben, have everything it takes to be even better. Now, let's sort some things out with Servantis. He won't like it, but it's my decision."
After the conversation, the two walked further into the lab, where Servantis and other scientists were adjusting the controls of a large metal device, the diffuser. The machine emitted a soft hum as green and blue lights flickered rhythmically. Servantis's face was deeply concentrated, but noticing Max and Ben entering, he looked up.
"Magister," he said, adjusting his glasses and frowning. "The calculations are finalized. You've arrived just in time."
Max maintained a firm posture, crossing his arms. "You can cancel the preparations, Servantis. Ben will keep the Omnitrix."
The scientist blinked, completely surprised. "Cancel? Are you sure what you're saying, Max?" He gestured to the machine behind him. "This diffuser was designed to safely remove the Omnitrix. We've spent weeks adjusting every detail. The Omnitrix is too dangerous to be in a child's hands! We can't..."
Max raised a hand, his voice calm, but undeniably authoritative. "The decision is final, Servantis."
Servantis hesitated, shock visible in his eyes. He opened his mouth to argue again, but seeing Max's resolute gaze, he closed it, clearly defeated. With a heavy sigh, he turned to the controls, slowly shutting down the machine. "Very well, Max. As you wish. But know that I do not agree with this."
Ben watched the scene with a mix of nervousness and curiosity. He leaned towards his grandfather, speaking softly. "Is everything okay, Grandpa? He seems... kind of mad."
Max placed a reassuring hand on Ben's shoulder, his gaze briefly passing to the dissatisfied scientist. "It's okay, Ben. Servantis is just doing his job, and part of that is being skeptical. But my decision has been made, and he knows to respect that. Now, come on. We still have more things to see before we leave here."
As they walked away, Ben couldn't resist looking over his shoulder, watching Servantis shut down the diffuser with abrupt movements, his frustration barely disguised. The scientist cast one last look at Max and Ben, before returning to what appeared to be another project, muttering something inaudible.
"He'll be fine, right?" Ben asked, trying to hide his concern.
Max chuckled lightly, shaking his head. "That's just Servantis. He doesn't like it when his plans are interrupted, but he's dedicated. He'll get over it before you know it."
Ben sighed, relaxing. "Good, at least. Because for a second I thought he was going to try and rip the Omnitrix off by force!"
Max laughed lightly and patted his grandson's shoulder. "Don't worry. Even if he tried, he wouldn't succeed. Now let's go, kid. We have a hangar to visit."
With that, the two walked down the corridor towards their next destination.
_________________________________________________________________________
The three reunited in the main hangar, where an imposing ship, with an aerodynamic design and bright lights on the edges of its wings, was being prepared. Alien technicians worked around it, adjusting components, while Gwen stood beside Xylene, who pointed to different parts of the structure and explained enthusiastically.
"This beauty here has interstellar flight capability," Xylene began, gesturing to the ship's engines, which pulsed with a vibrant blue light. "In addition to advanced defense systems. It can repel even small fleet attacks, and the camouflage system is practically impenetrable."
As Ben and Max approached, Xylene cast a glance at Max, who gave a slight nod. The two exchanged a few words in low voices, with Xylene saying something that made Max purse his lips, but nod in agreement.
Turning back to the three, Xylene took a deep breath before announcing: "It's time for me to leave. I need to locate Azmuth. Since the destruction of Primus, he has disappeared. Finding him is essential."
Ben raised his hand, curious as always. "What is Primus? Does it have anything to do with the compendium Tetrax gave me?"
Max scratched his chin before explaining. "Primus was an artificial planet created by Azmuth. He used it as a base to design the Omnitrix and conduct genetic research. Although many think it was just a cultural and genetic database, that was only a secondary function."
Ben frowned, processing the information. "Cool... So you know about the Omnitrix, Grandpa, about changing shape or me turning back into a human... When Vilgax tried to take the Omnitrix, it responded to my commands and I could change shape at will."
"In a way," Max replied. "But Azmuth blocked the commands during testing for safety, and I don't know how to revert them or give you access. And even if I did, it would probably be outdated. It's been decades since I tested the Omnitrix."
He looked at Xylene, who gave a slightly enigmatic smile. "It's true, Azmuth was always very reserved. And there's a reason the Omnitrix is so... peculiar."
Ben tilted his head, curious. "Peculiar how?"
"The Omnitrix has no user interface or manual commands," Xylene explained. "Probably because it wasn't finished yet. Azmuth controlled it directly by mental commands. He never planned for anyone to use it this way. I don't know much. But..." She paused, leaning towards Ben. "I know one thing that might be useful to you."
Ben took a step closer, eyes wide with anticipation. "What? Show me!"
Xylene smiled, leaning over the Omnitrix. "Observe closely."
She pressed the Omnitrix button twice quickly and held it for five seconds. The device began to emit a yellow light and a silhouette of a Merlinisapien appeared, before disappearing and a male silhouette of Xylene's species appeared on the display.
Ben's eyes widened, recognizing the process. "Hey! I got that before, but I didn't know how I did it!"
"This is scan mode," Xylene explained. "When you activate this, the Omnitrix registers the genetic data of a nearby species and unlocks that form in the database. Or, if it's an unknown species, it adds it to the catalog."
Ben nodded, fascinated. "That's incredible. It all makes sense now!"
Ben looked at the Omnitrix, fascinated. "So that's how it works... That's incredible! How did I not know this before?"
Xylene shrugged. "Because Azmuth never wanted it to be easy. Everything on the Omnitrix was designed to be complex and secure. And that's the only thing I know how to do. The other commands... well, they remain a mystery even to me."
Gwen crossed her arms. "So he basically built something incomplete and threw it into the universe?"
"More or less, but not exactly," Xylene replied defensively. "This Omnitrix is an unfinished prototype because of Vilgax's attack. But it's still a masterpiece. And who knew it would end up in a kid's hands?"
Ben smiled. "An amazing kid, might I add."
Xylene chuckled softly. "You have a lot to learn, Ben Tennyson. But I think you're on the right track."
Before entering the ship, Xylene turned one last time. "Take good care of the Omnitrix. And, Max, take good care of him."
The ship began to take off, its lights intensifying as it left the hangar and disappeared into the starry sky.
Ben looked at Max, still thinking about everything he had learned. Then, as always, curiosity and excitement took over. He activated the Omnitrix and transformed into a male version of Xylene's species. "Cool!"
He spread his arms, trying to fly, but lost his balance, spinning uncontrollably in the air and falling flat on his face. "Ow! This is much harder than it looks."
Max laughed, helping him up. "Uxorites fly using telekinesis, Ben. That requires concentration."
Gwen laughed too. "You need to use your brain, if you have one."
He got up with a mischievous smile. "Of course I do! Now I'm... Neurolizard!" He chuckled at his own joke and tried to fly again, with equally disastrous results.
Max shook his head, still smiling. "Maybe it's safer for you to practice that in the danger room."
Neurolizard blinked, suspicious. "Danger room? That doesn't sound encouraging at all."
Max gave an enigmatic smile. "Trust me, you'll love it."
"Well, if you say so," Neurolizard replied, adjusting his posture before standing up.