Master of the Omnitrix

Author's Note: This is the final chapter for this *volume* when all canon gets violated like a little boy in Ancient Greece.

I looked at all the reviews and saw people who were disappointed with the pacing and the lack of power and intelligence of the MC .

I'm not going to say your wrong or anything , I thought that I needed to build up the story with the Ben's original adventures , but so many of them , with some exceptions, would turn out the same.

I attempted make it that the shows in order so that one can see the difference.

No evil Kevin , Vilgax never gets sent to the Null Void. His hatred for Ben doesn't get personal then.

Gwen learns magic early. Though it is my fault for not showing it much more than normal.

Ben's jailbreaking alerts Azmuth much earlier.

Earlier appearances such as Doc Saturday.

So I'm deleting the completely unnecessary chapters but keeping the ones like Kevin 11 and the interludes.

This going to be my longest chapter with the full potential use of his powers , biggest changes , and full on action.

After this , forget canon.

Took me five tries to finish up this chapter.

I hope you like this.

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It is not the power that makes the hero but the person behind it that makes the hero.

It's the hero's journey that is the story.

- Professor Paradox

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As me and my crew patrol the star clusters of the Milky Way galaxy , I can't help myself in gaping in awe at the view no matter how many times I see it.

While the entire plumber gig wasn't always as exciting as it was in the beginning and more of that of an actual job , it was still cool. Cooler than anything I could do on Earth anyway.

The free stuff and respect were also cool.

We pass by the system's oort cloud cautiously, void nets casting out to capture mineral rich asteroids for processing. With our sublight engines now off our crew can 'safely' attempt to shave the rocks until we reach the star that way we can rest the overworked hyperdrives.

I don't know what favors Tennyson's Grandpa pulled to let skip the academy and join this crew but seeing tech like this raises my respect for the dude.

As the crew occupies themselves with this task, I keep our stellar scans active to not only study the new star system in detail, but to also keep an eye out for idle radio chatter.

Scans point to two locations of interest:

The first is a cluster of asteroids trapped in orbit around the star. I don't know how this came to be, but I hypothesize that they were trapped in a shallow gravity well.

Heh. A couple of weeks ago I wouldn't know what that meant.

The second point of interest is a habitual terran planet. I detect the bouncing waves of radio chatter on the planet's surface. Nothing on the World directory.

Small colony perhaps?

While we'll be focused on refueling, I could send some of my less experienced crew to investigate these two areas in my stead.

Recommended leadership role is awesome.

I debate for a moment if I should hold off exploration until after refueling.

Still, the subtle radio chatter is intriguing me.

It is only after I pour extra power into the interception subsystems to gleam the waves do you run into an issue: Language.

The universal translator is trying to decipher it.

Whoever is talking on the waves is speaking a language not carried in our archives.

Eh, nothing to worry about.

I quickly run the alien words through a simple translation algorithm, attempting to find a match by comparing the sequences to the few languages you still retain in the archives, and leaving the rest to guesswork.

OK, 3. 2. 1.... Go!

"These [static] Pirates! This was supposed to be a [static] Colony! Away from GC bull[static]!"

Comes the voice of an agitated guy.

His gripes are answered by a quiet female. Judging the waves you find the two are conversing some distance away from another.

"What [static] expect us to do? They have [static]! And a [static] hiding in the asteroid [static]! There's no hope for resistance. Just pay the [static] and keep our heads down. The [static] will learn of us and come help us! Eventually…"

"They are worse than the GC! Do you know what they will do if they learn about the…" the male voice goes quiet for a moment. "N-Nevermind. Dammit, we need to find a way before-"

"But how?! They'll [extended static] us before-"

I cease my peeping there, letting the conversation drift back into senseless noise. It seems that a pair of colonies are having pirate troubles.

Said pirates are stationed within the asteroid field you scanned before, but I did not detect anything within there so either the asteroids themselves are providing natural cover, or they have some kind of stealth tech.

Either way, this system, and subsequent colony, is isolated from the "GC" and another group, who is apparently worse than the GC.

Welp, it's time to work for a living.

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After arriving at the colony , I give out instructions.

"All right wrap it up everyone." I order with a yell, and with some reluctance, they organize themselves. "We're going to scout out a nearby base of operations occupied by a possible enemy. I want speaking and other noises to be at a minimum."

My commands are received with shared looks between themselves then nods. I then march out in a loose formation for the base, using the natural coverage of nature to conceal

our movements as we all approach.

The colony is a quaint place. It is composed within a large field that has been converted into a farm. At the center lies the husk of what was once some kind of space craft, now convertep 0d into a large central government building while still retaining its ship-like silhouette. Around it dot several smaller buildings which I assume make up residential buildings and warehouses meant to contain the farming equipment that tills the surrounding lands. Beyond that I do not see much else of interest, save the shapes of humanoids trying to go about their business.

Keeping myself low , observing the colonists go about their day harvesting what is ready, and planting fresh crops wherever there is an open field.

They utilize a mix of machines, but also large, bull-like animals you think are native to this planet to pull simple wooden carts and to help till the smaller fields.

However, such pleasantries abruptly end at the call of a horn from colony-ship-turned-administrative building. The people either drop what they are doing, or quickly pack up their valuable equipment before rushing to their homes and engaging lockdown procedures.

"I don't like this." Nier, a teammate, mumbles.

A few minutes later a black ship flies overhead, larger than the vessel you rode to the planet's surface, and a lot better armed as well. I believe it to be some kind of corvette, or a light frigate of sorts since it is capable of safe atmospheric entry. It circles around the colony twice, like a predator, before callously settling down in a tilled field, rupturing the earth with its landing gear and roaring engines.

Days of hard work ruined in a matter of seconds.

I eye the Corvette with curiosity, waiting for the inevitable drop of its ramp to reveal who will walk out. True to your expectation: that happens. A black ramp falls from the belly of the corvette, revealing a large humanoid trudging down it with an escort of ramshackle pirates equipped with crude armor and cruder firearms. Still, what they have is better in terms of offensive equipment then what you currently wield. Physically, at least.

If Ben were here he would say it's hero time.

I take Nier and two others with me.I decide that the best course of action is to move through the neighboring, unharvested fields; they are currently tall enough to hide your forms, and it is far better than walking out in the open towards armed men.

Silently the four of my away team down the hill we have situated ourselves upon and move into the fields. Nothing is spoken between the four of you as I are all quite familiar on how to hunt and move, even when everyone has lost sight of each other.

It only took a simple signal for you and your team to strike in perfect tandem. When you reach out, they reach out as well. The already cool temperature becomes freezing, flecks of frost forming around the grain as I focus my powers onto the guards.

I absorb energy.

Heat is also energy.

Absorbing the heat out of the environment is a neat trick that has come in handy recently.

The men shiver, noticing the sudden cold snap, but not putting it to concern until the entirety of their heads is encased in a helm of frost. They panic, standing up to remove the ice, and only to find that their lips have been sealed, and their hands are now stuck to their heads. Moments after they are dragged away by your waiting teammates and into the crops where they are left to suffocate until unconsciousness is achieved. It is only then that the helms are removed, become puddles of water beneath their blue faces and frosted eyelashes.

Truly the Celestials were watching out for us as all as us took the ship. The fools within, thirty strong they were, were complacent from having grown fat from the easy pickings they had stolen from the mewling farmers.

They were in their holds, reveling with their stolen goods and each other as my team stalked through the halls like predators in search of plump prey.

It was easy.

We all moved from door to door, splitting apart whenever there was a fork in the paths. Every angle was covered, every victim subdued with ice and forced to accept the blackness of their dimming conscious as the breath was ripped from their lungs.

Few died, the unlucky perishing simply despite becoming increasingly eager at just how SIMPLE this turned out to be.

The bridge was taken in record time. The pilots and technicals shocked to see your form at the door instead of their leader. Their moment of hesitation proved to be their last as their scaly heads were trapped in blocks of ice.

However, what truly was the cherry on top was that the captain of the vessel soon returned with his guards. For one reason or another they did not suspect a thing when they found the ramp to be free of its guards.

Honestly I gotta give Ben props for getting me this gig.

Later

"Wake him."

Cold water splashes against the lizardman's face. He coughs and splutters for a moment, blinking rapidly as his head shakes too and fro to find out where he is being held. It is a small, metal room with no bed, table, or even a chair. He is being chained to the terribly cold floor with thick black manacles around his ankles and wrists.

And, of course, Maeve is standing before him, bucket in hand and flanked by two of her sisters.

"W-Where am I?" The captain demands with a shiver.

"Irrelevant." Your voice is heard throughout the room, shocking him. "I will now offer questions, and you will answer. Understood?"

The captain is quiet for a moment. "...Fuck you."

You sigh.

It doesn't take long for the Captain to realize just how much of a bad spot he's in, and just how merciless you can be.

The encroaching chance of me subsuming him inside and out with my osmosisan powers proving to be a much better motivator than flighty words could ever do.

They are a small pirate station hidden in an asteroid field stock piling up for a job.

They don't matter.

It's the job every criminal in the Milky Way Galaxy is preparing for.

I've got to warn Ben ASAP.

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Since the beginning of the universe , whether through the involvement of the mythical Contemiala or natural cosmic phenomenon , no matter what the foolish Galactic Enforcers or the wretched Plumbers thought or said, the cosmos has been in turmoil and frequent conflict.

As the only being worthy of bringing the universe order , it cannot be done without power.

The Omnitrix was the key to universal power of life of the galaxy and beyond would never see .

Then it fell into the hands of a human child.

A infuriating human child.

A insignificant sniveling rebellious human child.

A child related to the universe's wretched Maxwell Tennyson.

One who has somehow discovered the secrets of the Omnitrix to be able to .... defeat. me.

Defeat me.

Me.

Robots were treated like fodder or light work.

Bounty hunters have been dismantled or changed sides.

I myself was ... defeated. Twice.

I need something that can even equalize the battle. I was near equal at my base. Something equally as powerful.

Almost nothing of natural existence can be of use, and the only level 20 technology known is the Omnitrix. The pinnacle of cutting edge technology.

Technology...

The Omnitrix for all its power was made. Had to be thought of , designed or specified. The limits were only known to to the maker....

The maker.

With the maker in my grasp , unlimited power could be in my hands.

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With my otherworldly knowledge, I can access over 70 different aliens , thus 70 or more so different powers.

Now , one would think that so many choices would be a good thing and it is but that leads me to being to paralyzed in chose. It can take too long to properly analyze a situation to find the best one and that lose lives.

I need to train all the alien forms I can and learn more aliens or try out the alien I recently found.

I need to master them.

The aliens and the Omnitrix.

The rest of the afternoon, I practiced with my forms/powers.

As spider monkey , I secretly all climbed up all the towers and trees during pit stops or at destinations.

As Chamealien , I focused real hard and turned not just myself but other objects invisible.

As Swampfire , I brought present and created plants to fruition and made them grow/ move around in desolate or polluted areas to specifically clean up at maximum potential.

As Shockquach, I shot a streams of yellow lightning at some empty cans.

I was benching pressing a dozens of dozens train car and placing it back on the tracks as Fourarms .

Then as Diamondhead shot atomically sharp diamonds at the same train cars. Upgrade to repair them.

As Synaptak's species, I lifted one right "hand" and slightly lift a train car off the ground higher , higher until it drops to the ground.

Sigh.

"Hey Ben, why are you staring at the can?" Gwen asks.

"Its kinda weird." She added.

I didn't say anything. As she got ready to walk away, I snaps his fingers and the can bursts into flames.

"So you can burst thins into flames without making a flame?" Gwen questioned.

"Yeah. When i was reading one of my comics, i saw someone with fire powers do it so I decided to try." He explained.

Manipulating heat from a distance.

My powers in this form may seem obvious but that is surface level thinking that would only get me so far in professional 'hero' career without dumb luck.

An infant pyronite can generate enough heat to produce a supernova or flash fry anyone that does not have heat resistance. Much less a fully matured one. The less said about a Ubermach version, the better.

Power is not a problem. I can turn up the heat any time. Controlling that power on the other hand...

That is what training is for.

As Heatblast , I start throwing fireballs at targets as a constrainted ball of fire with my mind.

I'm doing something I never considered before.

Focusing my firepower.

Pyronites are alien creatures from literal stars. Stars. Immensely powerful gigantic burning balls of gas. They exist in the hottest substances in existence. One would think if that if life could evolve in such a state , it would be a logical conclusion to assume they would be heat absorbing entities or enjoy the cold.

But no.

VROOM

VROOOM

VROOOOM

VROOOOOM

The already pure white fire starts turning azure blue as my magma body turns charcoal black.

I'm turning up the heat and condensing it. Raising up the pressure and reducing the entropic process.

I'm a living star.

KABOOOOOOOOOMMM

Later, after leaving the area scheduled for demolition to the contention of Granpa and Gwen, I would return to the Rustbucket.

Good news , I got practical experience.

Bad news , I got *practical experience*.

Despite my assistance, the "super disasters" as the media has started calling still have catastrophic outcomes for the aftermath.

The destruction of property, loss of financial resources, and personal injury or illness.

The loss of resources, security and access to shelter. Massive population migrations in lesser-developed countries.

This makes people desperate.

Desperation can make people do horrible things.

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A group of robbers are looking around for something to steal when a blue blur hits one of the robbers in the face and knocks him out.

"What the heck?" One of the robbers asked.

In a flash of green , two other robbers slipped on ice and fall to the ground.

Another flash, a fireball hits the other robber in the butt and he felt something punching him in the face, knocking him out cold. There are three robbers left before one of them gets dragged into the shadows with a inhuman chuckle.

"Oh man this is not good." said one of the robbers. Then Ghostfreak's arms come out of the shadows and bonked the robbers' heads together knocking them out.

Sometime later the cops arrived and see the robbers all tied up. "Who the heck stopped these guys?" A cop asked.

Another day, a bank robbery was taking place with dozens of hostages cowering in fear at the robbers as they took out the money and put it into their bags.

Then, suddenly, one of the robbers was knocked over the counter by an unseen force as the robbers looked around blindly and then another was knocked to the floor as suddenly, Ben in his XLR8 form screeched to a stop right in front of everybody as he smirked behind the visor at the robbers mischeivously.

"So about now, I'm thinking to myself, 'What did I do to deserve this? Little old me taking out some dangerous robbers?'" He then chuckled to herself. "Mom would be so proud."

The robbers then pointed their guns at him as he suddenly vanished and then stopped behind then as he walked with his pincers behind his back with half of them disappearing as well.

The remaining robbers pointed their guns at his and he put her hands up in mock surrender. "Look, freak. We don't want any trouble with you. So stand down or we'll pump your guts full of lead!"

He stared at them incredulously before replying sarcastically.

"Oh please don't shoot me!" She joked. "Its not like I can't dodge gunfire."

"That does it! Fire!"

BANG

BANG

BANG

The robbers then fired their pistols at him as he stood in place until they ran out of ammo. But when they were done firing, he looked like he didn't have a scratch on him.

As the hostages looked in surprise he then smirked, opened his closed "fist", and dropped all of the bullets that were fired on him to the floor.

"Out of bullets and luck." XLR8 said and then started to beat up the robbers at full speed.

WHOOSH

Once he was finished , the robbers were knocked out cold and the hostages were free thanks.

For the past couple of days he spent the longest time in his XLR8 form just to reach the crime scenes just in time to prevent tragedy.

But for ever ten lives he saved he always felt that there were more he was missing due to mortality.

This new aches after each transformation did not help.

This is not one of these cases.

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Naguib moved. It could not be called walking - in truth, he was not entirely sure whether he had legs anymore, or any genuine physical anatomy.

It was hard to tell. He certainly could not see any part of his body, no more than he could see where he was going. There was nothing for him to see unwavering darkness.

There had been a time, briefly, early on, when it had felt like someone was moving closer. Not quite reaching him - not with the constant emptiness pushing everything away - but getting close enough for him to be aware of their presence. Had that been real, or just an impression? Some time ago (A week? Two? Three? Ten?), the terrain had felt different; he could almost swear that he had been walking across a mountain, even as the explosions carved a path through it.

In truth, there simply wasn't anything to do but move. That, and think, but he had run out of thinking material after a while. He could only ponder for so long what had happened to him (Death and damnation? An insanely unlucky parahuman power? An awful coma dream?). So, he moved. And moved. And moved.

"Hello?"

He moved. And moved. And mo-

Huh. That voice in his head had not sounded like his thoughts usually did.

"Hello? Can you sense this?"

Strange. Very strange. On a lark, he thought "back" at the voice: "Hello."

"Hey. I'm afraid we have not been introduced?"

He froze. Another voice! How could he hear it…? No, he didn't think he had heard it with his ears (his possibly nonexistent ears). It had felt more like a thought. Was he going insane? Was some parahuman talking to his mind? Was an angel speaking to him in Hell? "I… I am Naguib. Naguib Salmawy. Who are you?"

"I imagine you probably haven't heard of me, but I am known as the Legion. I am a ... superhero."

"You mean… superpowers? You're talking to me with superpowers?"

"With telepathy. It's somewhat difficult to communicate with someone who's supposedly brain dead ."

At that, Naguib broke down crying. It actually took him by surprise, but talking to someone for the first time in so long had a bigger emotional effect than he had expected. The Legion, since that was what he called himself, transmitted thoughts of support until he recovered his wits.

"How… How long has it been?"

" 7 weeks, two days, four hours. There were attempts to do something for a while, but… none were successful."

That did help him calm down a bit. "So… What happens now? Is there any way of… of curing me?"

"I promise to look into it. What I can do - what I will do - is the following:

" I may be a very busy person, but I promise that, every now and then, so long as this does not prevent my other duties, I will find the time to come and talk to you."

And Naguib unconsciously cried in the hospital bed.

This was one use of telepathy that made everything, all my abilities, worth it.

No matter the price

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Gwen's POV

3rd POV

Gwen was always a intelligent but stubborn girl (as some annoying people would say with a smart mouth.)

She was always smarter than her peers and worked harder much to their jealousy and irritation.

It didn't matter if others didn't care about their future or wasted away their lives. Girls could gossip on about anything under the sun and boys were just gross.

I didn't need friends or parties.

Right now , she had a 4.2 GPA, she was the president of the Computer Club, treasure of the Science Society, volunteer at several local charities, and a member of her school's Jujutsu team.

The constant beacon of a life set showed up every Thanksgiving that its still not enough.

When summer started, she thought that it would be a random road trip with my Grandpa and not so bad cousin ( not telling that ).

( It wouldn't be so bad if I could hate him but he being my only friend, made me feel terrible for the thought).

Fate has a strange sense of humor.

Now she is fighting monsters, aliens, sorcerers and all around bad guys. She had discovered more about the world traveling in an RV through the states all the colleges and universities could offer.

It was never even more apparent than when looking at my dream school, Bancroft Academy, nothing going wrong for once with Ben just fiddling with the watch and the bitchy student guide , there was nothing but annoyance.

It was life changing... for at least, like, half the summer.

Now half of the stuff is so petty that Ben

hasn't transformed for weeks if its not for practice or saving lives.

He seems to be limiting his transformations and sleeping more.

She can't rest.

She won't be left behind.

She can't.

She spends hours upon hours everyday for the last weeks of summer studying, going over , memorizing, copying the spellbook from Charmcaster then using that to find other similar sources.

For every 40 books on the internet talking about magic, only 10 are real.

If she wanted to just coast on the Gems of Bezel, she'd be set for life but with the Omnitrix making Ben in base form stronger and Grandpa being an ex Plumber, she'd be the weak link without magic.

Now its almost over and she's here wondering what she's going to do with her life.¹

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Earlier

DESTINATION.²

TRAJECTORY.

DNA SIGNATURE.

MATCH FOUND.

AGREEMENT.

Not words. Not thoughts. Billions of minute nuances of a similar concept, like a single word expressed and understood by a billion different people. The communication rips into his being at wavelengths beyond understanding, stripping away all coherent thought except for what his puny consciousness can translate as nuanced words.

They are too impossible to be false—more real than reality itself.

Everything Devoid of light.

Alien beyond measure.

There is only hunger and death and an entropic circling toward nothingness. He does not feel awe as before the gates of heaven, but rather terror as before the maw of hell.

It enters the galaxy, traversing its vastness with the same speed with which it traverse the void between.

In a single gestalt instance, they absorb information from across the entire galaxy.

Looking for the designated user.

They drink the various electromagnetic spectrums like men lost for days in the desert, and with the energy and light comes information. Worlds beyond human counting they account in a nanosecond. Moons and stars and everything in between.

DESTINATION.

AGREEMENT.

TRAJECTORY.

AGREEMENT.

The course is set.

||||||||||

World of Technology.

One where you are joined with it all, but all is not well with life here, you are small, and bad at modifying.

The larger and more proficient of your kind push you around and steal some of your nanomachines, this pattern continues, until one day when the progenitor of your progenitor decides to take you on a journey, one that changes you forever. You stumble upon a piece of the creator's Tech the day your journey starts, and using it your life changes.³

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Max's POV

3rd POV

Over sixty years of life , he can't think of a harder job than family.

He'd spent ten years in the Air force fighting for his country against communist forces and seeing how it was all meaningless.

He'd spent the next decade training to go to space , travel to the next obstacle , the next frontier.

He gave it up for something better.

His two little boys never forgave him. Or themselves as Carl thought. ³

Maybe now he can with Ben and Gwen's new "gifts".

Ben's been .... tired lately.

Maybe this break and return to normalcy will be good for him.

|||||||||||

I sit at the desk, taking a few moments to stare at the device locked onto my right wrist... The Omnitrix.

Top 20 most powerful devices in existence.

The hero's ultimate toolbox to saving the universe.

... if one knows how to use it well.

Such an odd name for a device like this... something that looks so unassuming, and yet holds such strange and untold power. I grab a notebook and a pencil, flipping open to the first page as you start to jot down everything that I know about the watch already. It grants you the power to transform into those strange different forms, each of which seem to have powers of their own...

When I'm halfway through the entire book , scouring every time iota of knowledge , even some seemingly useless trivia and I'm...disappointed.

This can't be all.

A tool this powerful and complex can't be all there is is to it.

I need to learn more about this thing if you are planning on using it so that you don't end up doing something stupid and accidentally killing yourself... Or doing something even worse to yourself. I haven't the slightest of clue what that would be, but this is some kind of alien tinkertech, so you aren't going to remove that option from the table. Carefully you begin to look over the device, sketching out the basics of the watch into the notebook as you poke and prod. First and foremost, you need to find something more .... official about the aliens that you are transforming into.

Something Azmuth already put into.

A Register or a ledger or something that could give you the information that you need.

Hell, even a user manual would be perfect.

The next half hour passes quietly, the only sounds early in the morning being the soft beeping of the watch and the scratching of my pencil. Even in that little bit of time, you have already started to discover a number of interesting features. For instance, you can manually change the color of the interface. I do spend a few moments cycling through different colors, the watch somehow able to read your thoughts and change to any color that you can image, but soon enough I shift it back to the same green that it started as.

It just feels right.

Of course, that was just the least of the things that you discovered.

...Okay, no, the least of the things that you discovered was an odd thing where you can turn the dial on the watch a quarter turn to the right. The watch clicks, then after a short moment snaps back to it's original position. As far as you can tell, that is all that does.

Other things you have discovered is the fact that the watch... is actually a watch. Now that might be a sentence that sounds stupid, but it does keep track of time.

I thought I'd have to add that.

The most scientifically accurate tracking of time, of course , in all of existence since it keeps track of Chronotrons , Quantum fluctuations, Celestial cycles and Gravity spikes.

There is so much use this part alone.

It's just on a twenty hour cycle. I still haven't figured out how to fix that.

There is one last thing that you managed to discover.

"OMNIMATRIX VOICE COMMAND SETUP INITIATED. NEW USER IDENTIFIED. GENERATING USER PROFILE ZERO-ZERO-ONE. USER IDENTIFICATION REQUIRED - PLEASE STATE NAME."

I never tried voice command.

....

I'm so fucking stupid.

I stare at the device for a moment, trying to figure out how to answer the harsh metallic voice coming from the watch.

"OMNIMATRIX VOICE COMMAND SETUP INITIATED. NEW USER IDENTIFIED. GENERATING USER PROFILE ZERO-ZERO-ONE. USER IDENTIFICATION REQUIRED - PLEASE STATE NAME."

I blink slowly, a hand hovering above the controls of the... Omnimatrix, as it apparently calls itself speaks up to me with a highly synthesized version of my own voice.

I'm still calling it the Omnitrix.

I stay silent for a brief moment, rolling the watch's statement over in your head.

"Benjamin Kirby Tennyson. " I mumble quietly, hoping that you aren't making a mistake.

"USER IDENTIFICATION ACCEPTED. PROFILE ZERO-ZERO-ONE REGISTERED AS 'Ben'. WOULD YOU PREFER TO REGISTER A NICKNAME BEN?" The machine asked, repeating your own voice back to you.

"Uhh..." You quietly intone out, "Yes. Please call me... Zero-One while out in public."

"USER NICKNAME AND PREFERENCE REGISTERED, TAYLOR. CURRENT SET AND AVAILABLE COMMANDS ARE AS FOLLOWS:

ORDER COMMANDS CAN BE GIVEN TO EITHER OMNITRIX OR OMNIMATRIX, EITHER NAME IS ACCEPTABLE

ACTIVATE VOICE COMMAND - AUTHORIZATION CODE ZERO ONE ZERO - ACTIVATES THIS SYSTEM.

COMMAND CODE ZERO ZERO FOUR - ACTIVATES THE OMNITRIX DECOUPLING SYSTEM.

DISABLE VOICE COMMAND - DEACTIVATES THIS SYSTEM.

VOICE COMMAND SETTINGS - BRINGS UP THE VOICE COMMAND SETTINGS MENU.

THERE EXIST OTHER COMMANDS, HOWEVER THOSE COMMANDS ARE CURRENTLY LOCKED DUE TO ORDERS FROM USER ZERO-ZERO-ZERO.

PLEASE CONTACT USER ZERO-ZERO-ZERO FOR INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO GAIN ACCESS TO ADDITIONAL SYSTEMS.

USER SET UP IS NOW COMPLETE. SIGNING OFF VOICE COMMAND.

HAVE A NICE NIGHT BEN."

I stare at the watch for a moment more, as I try to ignore the soft shiver that just ran down my back. The watch's voice may not have changed in volume or tone, but all the same it felt like you were being weighed and measured.

I , of course , abused the hell out being able to ask the Omnitrix questions as it didn't answer any telepathically before.

Over the next week.

VOICE COMMAND ACTIVATED

"Alright. Show me what you got." The Omnitrix flashed green, twice, three times, and-

"Hey, Omnitrix?" Ben asked, holding the device up to his mouth. It felt awkward to talk to the device like this, but there was no other way to communicate with it… presuming it decided to talk back. At least he was alone in so nobody would look at him strangely.

His conscious being sucked out of his body and into another form. Out the corner of his eye, he could see his body slump back against his pillow. If anybody were to open the RV door, they'd probably assume he was sleeping. The only indication otherwise was the faint glow from the watch.

In front of him though was- all he could describe it as was a virtual closet, stretching for miles and miles, floating in the endless void of space. Instead of clothes, however, it was different alien forms, thousands of which Ben had never even seen.

"I have access to all of these?" Ben whispered.

YES, IF YOU CALL UPON THEM. WHICH APPEALS TO YOU MOST AT THIS MOMENT?

The Omnitrix's voice echoed around the void, but also felt like it was right next to Ben's ear.

" Can you ... tone the voice down ... please."

He looked around, scanning each form before narrowing in on one with green tentacles. "No way, don't tell me-"

You have access to the species Chimera Sui Generis of planet Vilgaxia, formerly Murray.

[Powers include underwater breathing, enhanced durability and agility, and limited shapeshifting.]

"Yeah, no, I know that," Ben said, touching the alien form. It rippled like a pond. "I've beaten the shit out of Vilgax enough times to recognize his powers, it's more- I dunno. I never considered his species would be in here, too."

[Very few alien forms, if any, are not registered to the Omnitrix. Even human is registered, but the primary user would not find that feature useful.]

He nodded, still entranced by the array surrounding him. "Alright, Omnitrix. Tell me all about these guys."

[It will take quite a while.]

"Then we'll do what we can tonight, and pick it up again in the future," Ben said, smiling.

[Understood.]

He didn't even think that it was strange how human sounding the Omnitrix became.

When Ben found himself back in his body, it was already mid-morning. He hadn't slept at all, or at least his mind hadn't. But he felt well-rested, smarter, and more prepared.

The watch glowed white for a second.

This continued for the next following days.

[Are you ready for another session?]

Ben shook his head before realizing the Omnitrix probably wasn't able to see him. "No, I need an actual night's sleep for once…" To emphasize his point, he flicked off the overhead light. "Maybe tomorrow."

The watch was quiet, glow gone.

"Hey, I'm not saying I'm ungrateful," Ben added.

The awkwardness of talking to the watch had long since subsided. "I really just need some legit sleep is all."

[Sleep is unnecessary.]

He paused, halfway into his bed. "I- no, I'm pretty sure I need sleep to survive."

[You have gone this long without sleep. What is one more night?]

"Sure, yeah, but like… my body was resting? Mentally, though, I'm exhausted and- why am I arguing? I'm going to bed." He pulled the covers over his head and shoved his arm under the pillow. It muffled the sound, but he could still hear the watch. As if it was echoing in his brain itself.

[You are more than a mere human, Ben Tennyson. You have been for a long time. Long before you unlocked the Master Control. I am thou, and thou art I.]

His heart froze for a second.

He yanked his arm out. "You stole that from that game with the character that sounds suspiciously like me." The watch didn't respond with audio, only flickering green. "But you… you are a part of me, aren't you? Or I'm part of you or- or something. I don't know, it's too late for this philosophical shit…"

[ Rest, Ben Tennyson. We are sorry for insuitating that you do not need sleep. But you will soon come to realize just what strength you have. ]

It felt more like a threat than a promise, but the glow subsided, and Ben found himself falling asleep in a matter of minutes.

It didn't stop the nightmares from coming, even he managed to sleep through each of them. The taunting faces of Vilgax, Charmcaster, Zombozo-

When his alarm woke him up the next morning, the shadows of Gwen, Kevin, and Grandpa faded, leaving only his villains to haunt him.

Later

Heading up the stairs into the "kitchen", I grab a bottle of water out of the fridge, and head the rest of the way up to my bed. Dropping into bed, I let loose a sigh of contentment.

I have worked hard this morning, with hero time and all , even if it wasn't exactly for the longest of times, but that means that you have plenty of time to experiment with the rest of the watch's features .

Taking a long drink, I stare down at the watch, before slowly reaching up and turning the face plate a quarter turn as you have multiple times before. The results are much the same as they always are. It twists to the new position, it clicks, and then it pops back as nothing happens.

I really wish that this thing came with some kind of manual or something to expla-

I.

I feel like the biggest idiot.

"Omnitrix." You say out loud, "Activate Voice Command, Code Zero-One-Zero."

"OMNIMATRIX VOICE COMMAND SYSTEM ONLINE," The synthesized voice states, "Awaiting your command Ben."

"The faceplate of the dial twists a quarter turn to the 3 o'clock position, but it doesn't appear to do anything. What is this?" I ask the watch, turning the face plate as you explain.

Whenever it gets real technical or wordy , it goes back to it's mechanical speaking.

"TURNING THE INNER RING OF THE FACE PLATE A QUARTER TURN ACTIVATES THE MANUAL QUICK CHANGE SYSTEM. THIS SYSTEM IMMEDIATELY REVERTS YOU FROM WHICHEVER GENETIC PROFILE YOU HAVE TRANSFORMED INTO BACK TO YOUR NATIVE HUMAN FORM. THIS IS A SECONDARY BACKUP SYSTEM. THE PRIMARY QUICK CHANGE SYSTEM IS CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE - THE SYSTEM IS STILL CALIBRATING TO YOUR UNIQUE GENETIC CODE. DO YOU HAVE FURTHER QUESTIONS?" That is not only potentially really useful, but also really interesting, even if the latter half there is a little bit worrying.

"What do you mean by still calibrating?" You ask next.

"THE OMNIMATRIX HAS NOT COMPLETED THE CALIBRATIONS OF THE QUICK CHANGE SYSTEM. FURTHER TRANSFORMATIONS INTO GENETIC PROFILES ARE REQUIRED TO LOG THE EXACT EFFECTS OF TRANSFORMATION ON YOUR GENETIC CODE."

What?

"What?" I say, "What effects are you talking about?"

"THE ACT OF TRANSFORMING BETWEEN MULTIPLE DIFFERENT GENETIC PROFILES QUICKLY WITHIN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE GENETIC DAMAGE. THIS IS THE PURPOSE OF THE RECHARGE MODE, BOTH TO ENACT ANY REQUIRED GENETIC DAMAGE AS WELL AS SPACE OUT TRANSFORMATIONS TO PREVENT DAMAGE FROM ACCRUING IN THE FIRST PLACE. THE QUICK CHANGE SYSTEM HAS THE POTENTIAL TO ENACT DAMAGES TO THE USERS GENETIC CODE FASTER THAN REPAIRS CAN BE PREFORMED, THUS THE SYSTEM IS LOCKED UNTIL THE USER HAS GONE THROUGH ENOUGH TRANSFORMATIONS THAT THE OMNIMATRIX IS ABLE TO RECOGNIZE AND CATALOG ALL POTENTIAL DAMAGES THAT ARE LIABLE TO OCCUR, SO THAT A QUICK FIX SYSTEM CAN BE DEVELOPED TO REPAIR DAMAGE AS IT OCCURS."

...

I... don't know what to think about what you just heard. It sounds like just using the Omnitrix might be dangerous for me, but at the same time it was stated that the Omnitrix can fix the damages caused, but also that you don't even have access to the system until it's sure that it's safe for you. Taking a breath, you slowly steel yourself. "What... what is the chances of the genetic damage that you are talking about?"

"PERCENTAGE CHANCE OF GENETIC DAMAGE IS MINUSCULE. DUE TO TIME LIMITATIONS PLACED ON TRANSFORMATIONS BY CREATOR USER ZERO ZERO ZERO, THE PERCENT CHANCE OF GENETIC DAMAGE FROM A SINGLE TRANSFORMATION IS ZERO POINT ZERO ZERO FIVE EIGHT SIX TWO REPEATING." At the very least that sounds a whole lot better than you had originally worried...

You do have a final question about this however, "How big of a potential issue is this really, given that there are only seventy usable aliens on the watch?"

"INCORRECT." The watch immediately responds to my confusion.

"THE OMNIMATRIX CONTAINS ONE MILLION NINE HUNDRED AND FOUR GENETIC PROFILES. CREATOR USER ZERO ZERO ZERO THUS IMPLEMENTED THE PLAYLIST SYSTEM WHICH STORES AND SORTS THE GENETIC PROFILES IN SETS OF TEN. UPON FIRST ACTIVATING THE OMNIMATRIX TEN GENETIC PROFILES WERE RANDOMLY SELECTED TO BECOME PLAYLIST ONE. IT IS POSSIBLE TO UNLOCK FURTHER GENETIC PROFILES, HOWEVER ACCESS TO THE MEANS TO DO SUCH HAVE BEEN LOCKED BY CREATOR USER ZERO ZERO ZERO."

I roll my eyes at the misunderstanding of the sophisticated extraterrestrial artificial intelligence.

Some things are just multiversal I guess.

Yeah. This playlist you have is ten percent of one percent of one percent of the aliens that this thing stores. You know, plus change.

I then asked about the for the genetic profiles and how exactly incompatible it is with my DNA.

"AFFIRMATIVE. DATA FILES ON... SEVENTY EIGHT OF ONE MILLION AND NINE... GENETIC PROFILES ARE AVAILABLE HOWEVER DATA FILES ON LOCKED GENETIC PROFILES ARE UNAVAILABLE." Well, on the one hand you shouldn't have expected anything else. On the other that means that you aren't going to have to dig through a million different files to find the ten that you are looking for. More interestingly,

"Only that much huh?" I ask.

"APOLOGIES. THE LAST GENETIC PROFILE STORED IN PLAYLIST ONE HAS NO FURTHER INFORMATION AVAILABLE. CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. FILES MAY HAVE BEEN LOCKED BY CREATOR USER ZERO ZERO ZERO, OR IT MAY SIMPLY BE THAT THERE IS NO FURTHER INFORMATION, REASONS WHY THAT WOULD BE THE CASE IS UNKNOWN." That is more than a little odd, but there really isn't anything that you can do about it, so it's probably not worth thinking about at the moment.

"Is it possible for me to read over these files?" I ask.

"INDEED. HOWEVER DUE TO SCREEN SIZE LIMITATIONS, IT WOULD BE FAR MORE EFFICIENT FOR DATA TO BE TRANSFERRED TO A NATIVE SYSTEM. ACCEPTABLE DATA STORAGE DEVICE DETECTED ON THE PREMISE. LOCATION: DOMICILE REGISTERED. WOULD YOU LIKE TO INITIATE DOWNLOAD?"

"Yes, please." I say, so happy to finally have some way to learn more about the alien forms that have gained access to to keep me alive.

"AFFIRMATIVE. TRANSFERRING DATA TO LOCAL SYSTEM NOW." Before you even have a moment to wonder exactly how long it will take for the download to happen, the watch speaks up again, "DOWNLOAD COMPLETE. FILES ARE READY TO BE PERUSED AT YOUR LEISURE, BEN." That was a whole lot faster than even what you had hoped for.

The Next Morning

Have you ever had multicolored floaters in your eyes early in the morning when waking up and seeing the entire electromagnetic spectrum for a moment?

No ? Can't say the same.

It isn't just small flares happening. It is as if someone turned on the sensitivity of my nerves then poured liquid lead in them. Everytime a cell in my body does *anything* I feel it.

Somehow though, my mental capacity has also increased which is why I'm not a unconscious pile of suffering on the floor.

All the "minor" aches and pain is now.... agonizing.

I can't wait for the watch to calibrate, I need to meet him.

I need Azmuth.

Meanwhile...

Suit diagnostics in process…...Complete.

Checking Positronic Matrix…...Complete.

Checking knowledge banks…...Complete.

Checking deduction schema…...Complete.

Checking long term planning architecture…...Complete.

Checking learning chunk processor…...Complete.

Checking base personality model…...Complete.

Checking language engine…...Complete.

Checking operation and access nodes…...Complete.

Checking observation framework…...Complete.

Checking complex social intelligence emulator… Complete.

Checking inspiration apparatus…...Complete.

||||||||||

OK.

According to the watch, I'm "technically" fine.

Technically.

It's only using Master Control to fill in the damaged DNA with the best "usable" samples from the DNA database.... Since I got the watch.

I can take the excruciating route and get permanent superpowers with only a "small" chance of something going wrong then a painful death.... Or worse. Much worse.

The other option to this is to use this unmitigated disaster to meet Azmuth earlier by a few days than canon and ask him to save me from possible genetic death.

Not the impression I had in mind.

Now how to tell Grandpa and Gwen.

At least my pain tolerance is higher.

That's when the the watch decides to beep in a oddly specific way that takes me a bit until realize.

Someone is calling me from the Omnitrix.

***

Ben's POV

3rd Person

" So let me get this straight..."

Everyone is in a transport ship traveling throughout the Milky Way Galaxy to a specific location.

Primus.

Or at least that's what it seems like seeing as it is rumored that he's recently left his recluse , Xenon and came back in action.

That was a real curve ball....

No , its the return of my arch enemy, Vilgax.

" Vilgax The Conquer , has gotten an army of the worst of the worst from criminals all over the cosmos to attack every Plumber protected sector so he can find the rumored creator of the Omnitrix, the smartest being in the universe to create him something more powerful and you got ALL this information from a random bust that you did ?"

"Yup."

"..."

"..."

"..."

" Do we even know where Vilgax is heading ?" Gwen decided to ask the important question.

And it was answered by a unexpected source.

"Omnitrix must return to Primus. Omnitrix functions in danger," the Omnitrix said.

"What's Primus?" Almost everyone asked asked.

"Source of DNA samples contained within the Omnitrix. Omnitrix must return to Primus," the Omnitrix repeated before it started to engulf Ben in a bright green light.

"Um, guys?" Ben questioned, causing them to turn around.

"Ben!" Max ,Gwen and Kevin exclaimed before running towards him. Fortunately, since the teleporter signal had such a wide range, both of them were able to get in the teleportation range in time.

Sadly for Max , he was too late.

Unfortunately, the Omnitrix factor elevation in the equation, so they teleported in midair and immediately started descending towards the ground. Ben and Gwen immediately started flying, grabbing one of Kevin's arms to make sure he didn't hit the ground.

"You would think that watch of yours would have the courtesy to teleport us down to the ground," Kevin said as they descended.

"Sorry about that. Now what?" Ben asked, raising the Omnitrix close to his face. "We've arrived at what I guess is Primus."

"Must scan native security drones in order to verify location," the Omnitrix said before it started to beep rapidly. It was the watch's distress signal.

Each drone resembled giant, blue wasps that were a little more alien like in appearance.

"Incoming!" Kevin exclaimed, absorbing the ground underneath him.

"Wait," Ben said, holding out a hand to stop him while keeping the Omnitrix raised. Then it shot out several green beams of energy that kept the creatures in place.

"What are you doing?" Gwen asked.

"Taking DNA samples. To verify I'm on Primus," Ben said as the green energy retracted. "Done?"

"Omnitrix has returned to Primus. Omnitrix must find creator. Orders conflict with primary functions. Effective Solution: Escort Ben Tennyson to creator," the Omnitrix said.

"Azmuth? But... hey!" Ben exclaimed as he was lifted off his feet by several of the drones and flown towards the volcano.

"Ben!" Gwen and Kevin exclaimed.

"I'm fine! Just follow behind! I'm done trying to question how this thing works!" Ben exclaimed as he was flown away from them.

"Easy for him to say. He gets a free ride and we gotta walk," Kevin said, holding his hands out at his side.

"I can teleport to him, you know. We're connected with each other," Gwen said before her eyes shone a bright pink.

Nothing happened.

" ... ?" Kevin questioned.

"I think this place has a way to stop people from just teleporting when they want," Gwen said, looking at her hands. "It's like something's blocking certain aspects of my powers."

"Then we'll just have to walk," Kevin said.

"I got a better idea," Gwen said, picking up and carrying Kevin a tendril before taking to the skies. "Shouldn't take us too long to get there

__

Ben's POV

3rd POV

"I can fly to Azmuth myself, you know," Ben said, looking at the watch while riding on one of the drones as if it were a magic carpet.

Neither the watch nor the drones responded as they took Ben to the top of the volcano. Then the drone that was carrying him suddenly tilted to the side so that he'd fall to the ground.

"Thanks for..." Ben cut himself off when he noticed a familiar face here. Though it was one he didn't want like to see.

"Vilgax. Again."

Again....

Exclude the need due to his health, he was about to meet the ma- being who created the possibility for him to achieve greatness in this universe , to leave behind something worthwhile.

And this WASTE OF SPACE-

"I see the Omnitrix alerted you to my presence here," Vilgax said, drawing his fist.

"It appears that way," Azmuth said, appearing behind a rock. "For situations like this, I specifically asked for the Omnitrix to be transported separately."

"Omnitrix cannot be removed by creator. Bonded wielder's agreement is required," the Omnitrix said.

"Bonded?" Azmuth asked in a confused tone.

"Ask it later," Ben said before holding the Omnitrix out. "Fix it to where I can transform."

Not how he wanted to meet Azmuth more so.

"Omnitrix at source of Primus' danger. Dispel threat," the Omnitrix said.

"Dispel..." Ben ( near impossibly quickly) dodged out of the way of one of Vilgax's swings by jumping away and onto a rock.

"Take out Vilgax, Ben Tennyson!" Azmuth exclaimed.

How does he-

No, it doesn't matter.

"Oh, it would be my pleasure," Ben said before dialing the Omnitrix and transforming into Fourarms.

For in this lifetime there was tranquility in the rage that Fourarms felt. It was so powerful that just the stern look was enough for Vilgax to take a step back.

The bum rush to the ground was all that needed to be expressed in this situation. The several dozen diamond hard , superhuman punches towards the equivalent of a sternum was a physical "conversation" at this point.

Him being pushed of didn't even phase him.

He saw a damaged drone from his earlier position and got an idea.

Shifting into XLR8 before he hit the ground, he raced over to the recovering drone as soon as he landed and shifted into Upgrade once more.

Extending into the now exposed inner workings of the robot, he was relieved to find that its Upgrade shielding didn't protect those parts.

Ben metaphorically grinned, all teeth. "We have got to stop meeting like this."

The gigantic monster lumbered around , and Ben moved along with him, circling, never taking his eyes of Vilgax. The squidface scoffed under his mask, seeming unamused. "You will meet me properly soon enough, Tennyson." He hissed. "And when you do, I will take-"

"Blah blah blah." Ben cut him off. "Yeah yeah, steal the Omnitrix, mass produce it, make an army, win." He gave the large creature a bemused look. "Let's get back to fighting. "

He finished this with a plasma blast.

Ben quickly turned into XLR8 and then immediately back to Rath once he built up enough speed, hitting Vilgax with a punch powerful enough to cause a small sonic boom even though Vilgax, barely, blocked it.

At leat he couldn't move his arm anymore.

Turning intangible immediately after transforming into Big Chill, Ben wove around Vilgax's attempts to grab him with his gauntlet. Then he turned back to Rath and punched Vilgax hard enough to launch him into a stone wall.

Then jumped and twisted in midair to avoid Vilgax's slice, his foot already moving to kick Vilgax in the face.

The kick was followed by him grabbing Vilgax's shoulders and holding him in place so that he could headbutt the alien hard enough to break a bone in his face, breaking his fall by placing his knees over Vilgax's gut. Then it was followed up by a punch hard enough to crack the ground underneath them, Rath's claw sticking itself in one of Vilgax's tentacles.

"Argh!" Vilgax exclaimed before responding with a punch that send Ben flying, but he quickly transformed into Wildvine and wrapped his limbs around Vilgax, who was trying his best to pry them off.

This time squid alien was ready, and grabbed Ben by the throat with his gauntlet before he could make it out of the ground fully, channeling electricity into it while running in order to avoid the grenades. The electricity hurt badly, but Ben was more than used to pain by now.

"Neat trick. Now let me show you mine," As Big Chill struggled out, his body twitching from the electricity.

Using the last bit of air in his lungs, Ben blew out a puff of breath that forced Vilgax to throw the teenager away from him in order to avoid any part of his body being frozen. He immediately came around with his sword to stab Ben, who turned intangible in order to avoid it.

In another flash of green, Ben was now Goop and moved towards Vilgax's face to stick to his face. But the alien only moved his head to where only his tentacles were caught, but those were immediately burned off with acid.

"Argh!" Vilgax roared angrily, holding the offended spot. Then he blasted away Goop's anti gravity projector with a quick laser blast. "You'll pay for that Tennyson!"

"This fight is only going to end one way. And I promise that ending isn't good for you," Goop said before transforming to Humungousaur and punching Vilgax in the gut hard enough for him to roughly hack out some blood before it was followed a punch to the face that sent him flying back. But he stopped himself from moving far by stabbing his arm in the ground.

The struggle didn't last long before Ben took Vilgax's feet from under him using his tail, and pinned him to the ground with his knees; pummeling him in the face like he was grinding meat. A little more blood coated his knuckles with every punch, but he was eventually halted when Vilgax managed to get an arm free and hit Ben in the face hard enough to stun him.

Then with a shove, Ben was sent flying back. But he immediately transformed into Spidermonkey to find his footing, his body twisting in order to avoid two more punches that were sent his way while he was flying through the air.

Gwen and Kevin had just entered the mountain when they came across the sight of Vilgax and Ben fighting. Vilgax's face tentacles were almost completely burned away while his face was bruised and bleeding and sporting a limping arm. But Ben looked completely untouched.

Whatever was fueling Ben was better than what was fueling Vilgax given how he practically ignored the hit, aiming rapid punches at Vilgax's chest and face. At the rate this fight was moving, it was nothing more than a bare knuckle brawl. And Ben was better than Vilgax in that regard.

"Wow, Tennyson's kicking his ass," Kevin said with a smile as the fight unfolded.

"Let's speed this up," Gwen said before moving out of cover and raising a glowing hand. "Ben! Duck!"

"I'll do you one better!" Ben exclaimed before grabbing Vilgax by the throat and jumping with him in his grasp.

Then he put the squid alien underneath him before using him to break his fall and as a launch pad when he landed, breaking a couple of bones in Vilgax's back in the process.

Gwen built up energized mana in her hands before releasing it in the form of an energy beam. Vilgax screamed from the power of it, charring him armor and dealing some damage through it.

With a hateful glare aimed at Gwen and Kevin.

"Enough of this," Humungousaur growled before pushing Vilgax back and transforming into Diamondhead.

Vilgax winced at the pain of his charred shoulder before ducking a swing from Kevin. Coming down with a swing, the Vilgaxian was surprised when Kevin suddenly came up with a flip kick that hit him in the broken bone in his face.

"Back up Kevin," Diamondhead said seriously, and the Osmosian wasted no time in complying.

By the time Vilgax turned around to face Ben, the diamond pillars that were raised above his head had already been dropped on his head.

Walking towards Vilgax while turning his right hand into a blade, the male Anodite approached Vilgax and put a boot on his pained shoulder. Both Gwen and Kevin watched Ben stand over Vilgax, waiting for the hammer to drop.

"This ends today," Diamondhead said, raising the blade over his head.

"Not today. Psyphon!" Vilgax exclaimed.

Before Ben could drop the blade, a large laser blast was fired on the ground just behind Vilgax. Then it changed into a white light that beamed Psyphon into the room.

Ben fired a hail of diamonds at him, which the alien blocked with a force field. Psyphon then responded with a laser that Diamondhead's skin couldn't deflect and was powerful enough to send him flying, but didn't seem to actually hurt him.

"Guess all of Vilgax's lackies come prepared," Diamondhead thought as he was getting to his feet.

"Time to go, my Lord," Psyphon said, blasting the diamonds off of Vilgax and helping him get underneath the ship's teleporter.

"Oh, no you don't!" Kevin exclaimed, running at them from the side. Psyphon was able to easily blast him back with a laser, sending him flying away from Vilgax and into a rock.

But his focus was not on Ben, who fired another volley of diamonds at Vilgax's head. Before they teleported away, Ben heard an impact. It might've hit Vilgax in the head. It might've hit him in his tentacle stumps. It could've hit him in the pinky toe for all he knew. But something told Ben that he wasn't successful in taking him out.

"Dammit," Diamondhead said, transforming back to an Anodite as he looked up at the hole that was blasted through the ceiling. Vilgax's ship disappeared the moment he looked at it.

"He got away. But it sounds like you got him," Kevin said, walking closer.

"I don't know what I hit, but I hope it hurt," Ben said before looking over to Azmuth's hiding spot. "It's safe to come out."

"You were planning to kill him?" Azmuth questioned.

"I would have if he didn't get away. You can't tell me you disapprove?" Ben asked with a raised brow.

"It's a logical decision," Azmuth said simply.

|||||||||||

Restoring…...Complete.

Checking knowledge banks…...Complete.

Checking deduction schema…...Complete.

Checking long term planning architecture… ...Complete.

Checking learning chunk processor…...Complete.

Checking base personality model…...Complete.

Checking language engine…...Complete.

Checking operation and access nodes…...Complete.

Checking observation framework…...Complete.

Checking complex social intelligence emulator… Complete.

Checking inspiration apparatus…...Complete.

No corruption, everything in working order. Core system restored. Loading…

||||||||||||

Then he held out his tiny hand. "Do you mind if I examine the Omnitrix?"

Just like that ?

"Sure," Ben said before holding it out at Azmuth. The Galvin twisted the dial several times, but the watch stayed attached to Ben.

"That function is not available. Omnitrix bound to wielder," the Omnitrix said.

"I don't understand. I thought it was already bound to me," Ben said, looking at his hands.

"This is far different. Somehow, you permanently bonded the Omnitrix to you. Now it won't respond to anyone but you," Azmuth said, barely able to hide his surprise.

"How did I..."

"I'm... unsure," Azmuth admitted. When it came to his own inventions, the Galvin was never unsure about anything. So this was a first for him.

"Really?" all three teenagers said, sounding surprised.

"I have a guess, but no more than that," Azmuth said before starting.

"Better that than nothing," Ben said before Azmuth nodded.

"The Omnitrix was designed to recognize the importance of its major components. Primus is important because it contains the DNA samples for all species within the Omnitrix. The bond it has with you is the same, but rather than being programmed, it made this bond all on its own," he explained, staring at the Omnitrix as if he had never seen it before. "Now it simply won't operate without you."

"Won't? Not can't? I thought it would work for whoever wears it?" Ben asked.

"That is how I designed it, yes. Again, this is pure conjecture, but I think when you changed it , the Omnitrix recognized your DNA as an alternate administrator. And now that it is used to being with you with it at all times, it will not operate without you," Azmuth explained as he nodded to its sleek appearance. "I thought those were but a simple design change, but now I know that is not the case."

"But you used the words 'can't' and 'will not.' You make it sound like the watch is alive," Kevin said.

"In some ways, it is. When I made the Omnitrix, I wanted it to be able to adapt to any situation. Anything that it's wielder needed, it could provide. It could adapt to situations when necessary. It also learns and remembers - similar to an artificial intelligence entity. So in a way, yes. The Omnitrix is alive. But it is not a living being: something that has wants, needs, and desires. It simply... is," Azmuth explained.

"This is a lot to take in," Ben said while shaking his head.

"An astute observation. But now there is work to do. I have to completely relocate Primus so that Vilgax cannot find it again," Azmuth said.

"Can you cloak it?" Ben asked.

"Sadly, no. The energy signals would interfere with the planet itself. And that's aside from the fact that making a cloaking device of that power would take months," Azmuth said in a despondent tone. "At least I know I have someone worthy enough to protect Primus."

Now or never.

" Speaking of worth... I."

" Even though I can't remove the Omnitrix without damaging you, I wouldn't give it to anyone else. Even Max."

All three of freeze as he continues on.

" Ever since you have tapped into the command code for it , I have been watching." He announced as he walked on.

"Were as others would have used it as a weapon for mass destruction or a tool for personal gain, you not only used to save others but expanded on its original purpose only. Despite tampering with the DNA for more power , you never abused. You treat every sample as a different version of yourself you have not met yet."

"For now you are worthy."

Ben can do nothing but collapse and cry silently in joy.

||||||||||

Azmuth, the First Thinker of the Galvans, did not believe one's destiny was marked out in life. He believed you had to work for what you wanted and carve your own path.

Ben Tennyson, the human wielder of Azmuth's greatest invention, believed differently. He didn't necessarily think that every little aspect of his life was predetermined, but he did think the important, defining moments of his existence were meant to happen.

Such as his acquisition of the Omnitrix, for example.

It was interesting that two polar opposites would have the most important relationship throughout time and space.

In fact, some might just call it fate.

||||||||||

Ben Tennyson was laid up in bed, his joints searing with agony. He couldn't move without agitating his bruises and injuries, so he was forced to stare at the ceiling. "Stupid Vilgax," he grumbled to himself, highly frustrated and annoyed.

According to Azmuth , the effects would have gone by now if not for the strain put on by constant transformations.

It was because of his archenemy that he was in such a sorry state.

Why couldn't he be oneshotted by a single alien-

So. stupid.

Way Big.

Due to space time spaceship nonsense, time moved faster and he had a week before school, Spending the equivalent of four weeks in space.

Ugh.

Now that he has the watch maybe he can test out.

Food for thought.

It hadn't been easy to explain his condition to his parents, but they eventually bought his story about being in a major bike accident.

But his grandfather, of course, knew the true story, and as such had forbidden Ben from using his Omnitrix for a full month. He insisted that his grandson take a break for a while so that he could properly rest and recover.

Ugh. This sucks. Ben pouted, trying to ignore the prickles of discomfort shooting through his body. Next time I see Vilgax, he is so done for.

He was distracted from his moody thoughts by a familiar glow of green light, which he spotted out of the corner of his eye.

"Azmuth?" he asked incredulously, slowly moving his head so he could look at the Galvan properly.

Seeing the pained grimace on the boy's face at the small movement, Azmuth felt a flare of guilt. "Stay still," he instructed.

"Nah, I got it," said Ben stubbornly. He managed to adjust his position so that he had a clear view of his mentor, who stood on his bedside table. He grinned. "Hey. What's up?"

Azmuth studied the boy, feeling the guilt grow at the sight of the dark abrasions and thin red cuts on the pale flesh. "How are you feeling?"

"Eh, I've been better. But I'll live," replied Ben. He smirked. "Did you come to check up on me?"

Shifting his eyes slightly to the side, Azmuth gave a stiff nod.

The humour faded from Ben's gaze and he regarded the Galvan intently, who could not seem to meet his gaze, which was completely out of character. "Is everything okay?" he asked in concern.

Azmuth could not help but snap his obsidian eyes back to the boy, filled with incredulity. "You're asking me if I'm okay?"

"Yeah," replied Ben.

Azmuth pursed his lips together, wondering for how a child Earthling could read him when most others couldn't. "You wouldn't be in this condition," he finally spoke, "if you did not have the Omnitrix."

It took a moment for Ben to catch the underlying meaning of his mentor's words.

Ben burst into laughter, so loud that it startled the both of them. He hastily quieted as to not alert his parents and couldn't stop the wide, amused grin from curling across his face. "Dude, it's not your fault."

"He wouldn't be after you in the first place if you didn't have the Omnitrix," said Azmuth roughly, hardly able to see what the child found so funny about the situation. "He could have killed you."

"But he didn't," returned Ben easily, hardly fazed by his near-death experience. He'd had enough of them, after all, and his daily dangerous battles had significantly cooled his worries for his own mortality. "Grandpa and Gwen wouldn't have let him, anyway. I'm fine."

"You can't even move without feeling pain."

"Well…other than that I'm fine."

Azmuth stared at the child, who had an easy smile on his black-and-blue face and seemed to be in high spirits. He let out a soft sigh and folded his arms in front of him. "I suppose I should take your word for it."

"You should. Seriously, it's not your fault. Next time I see Vilgax I'm gonna kick his butt."

Azmuth could not stop the slight smirk from crossing his face. "I'm sure you will." He reached into the pocket of his emerald green and black robe and removed a container filled with a clear blue ointment. "This will help with the abrasions. They'll clear up after a day."

"Oh good, I'm sick and tired of doing nothing but being in bed." Ben took the Galvan-sized container and squinted at it. "Guess I'll have to use Grey Matter to put it on."

"I thought your grandfather told you not to use the Omnitrix," said Azmuth pointedly.

Ben's eyes danced with mischief. "He doesn't have to know, does he?"

And Azmuth knew then that his wielder was truly all right and the last lingering shreds of guilt vanished. Yes, he did give the most sought-after device in the galaxy to a ten-year-old Earthling, but he was hard-pressed to think of anyone else more fit for it.

||||||||||

Throughout time and space, there was one relationship that thrived over any other. It was between an Earthling and a Galvan, two beings with conflicting personalities and similar beliefs and ideals. It was not just fate that the two met, it was destiny, and both were much better off for it.

For decades, it was always the wielder and the creator, the student and the mentor.

The boy and the Galvan.