Things had become, uncertain with life in the Rust Bucket.
Hardly anyone spoke a word, not even Kevin's usual teasing or general whining had made itself known ever since we returned. It was just yesterday it seemed like that even though there were struggles we could still have fun and enjoy ourselves.
Nothing was fun anymore, despite our best efforts.
Though I wasn't sure how much effort I had left to give.
The rumbling and sputtering engine of the RV pulled into a local fair ground, lots of small canopies set up with various foods and homemade trinkets nearby the extremely hot and humid swamp.
Seriously, it was awful to be in Florida during the summer. I only went during the Christmas season before, and despite my tolerance for high heat the humidity didn't help as I stepped out to have a wall of steaming swampy air to wrap itself around me. Kevin was already dripping with sweat, Gwen was fanning herself, and Max just handled it like the well experienced man he was.
That night, it didn't matter if I tried sleeping in the Rust Bucket or under the stars. The steaming air refused to let me cool down enough, not that I would be getting much sleep after what happened the other day.
With my chin propped up on my arm, I kept watching as we were driving through one of the smaller local cities that could be argued it was a town. Briefly I questioned if anything else occurred in Florida in the show but, nothing was ringing a bell.
At this point I didn't know if fighting more creatures or criminals would ease my troubled self or not, and I had no idea how to break the thick tension that was riding over our heads.
All of a sudden, Max turned into the small parking lot for one of the oldest commercial buildings in the area.
"Let's stretch our legs for a second." Max suggested as he put the RV in park. "Before we go to the real attraction."
With no argument or comment, each of us complied as we filed out of the Rust Bucket door. Kevin didn't even push or shove his way past to see where we were.
A retro record store, can't say I was expecting that. I know I chatted about a few bands with Max but I only knew of the more famous oldies instead of his much wider experience living through the earlier decades.
Walking in, passing through the aisles of several vinyls, I hardly recognized any except for a few artists that most people would know. I had a best friend who I knew for a few years, and he had a wide collection of them. I wonder what he would recommend to me right now.
Now curious, I looked around to see if Gwen or Kevin had found anything they enjoyed. Kevin hadn't really been listening to music much on his bribe as far as I was aware, and Gwen always seemed too focused on her research to have anything on in the background.
They seemed to just be, aimlessly wandering without a specific goal in mind, quiet and not touching anything. Gwen and I shortly made eye contact, to where she immediately retreated her gaze and went somewhere out of sight.
"Well Ben?" Max came up to me, his tone a little softer. "See anything you like?"
Anything I liked? I saw a few artists I knew and liked but most of them I only knew a couple of their bigger hits. As for bands that I listened to their full albums, well they still had a decade before their songs were released. My favorite band had yet to exist, or maybe not at all.
"It's been a minute since I listened to some AC DC." I confessed as I reached over to where the artist was at, realizing they didn't even have their Iron Man 2 album out yet. Man, sometimes I was more focused on being in a whole new universe than the whole being thrown back almost two decades. I already had a couple Red Hot Chili Peppers albums and the little Breaking Benjamin there was so far, but what other artists did I like as a whole? "Hard to go wrong with Frank Sinatra."
"That's some pretty wide tastes there." Max commented, picking up one of the rock discs nearby. "Makes me wonder how you'll feel about Shag Carpeting."
That's right, there was an episode revolving around that band. "What genre are they?"
"Classic rock. I have a couple discs already that I'm hoping to get signed soon. We could give them a listen and I could share a little history about them if you want?"
For everything that happened lately, that sounded great. "I'd like that."
His warm smile always seemed to uplift my downed spirit, and I was happy to know when he felt like we took a liking to his interests. It didn't cure everything but, it was a reminder about appreciating the small things and those around you. "That's wonderful to hear Ben. Why don't you pick a few out? My treat."
This man was probably already spending a fortune on this road trip. I didn't want to increase his financial burden if there was one. I still had a suspicion he was secretly loaded. "Are you sure?"
"You've been through a lot Ben, and almost this whole trip you've been helping us out in any way you can. You've even spent a lot of time making things for Kevin to keep him feeling welcome and not letting him mess with Gwen's stuff. So, even if it's just for today, let me treat you to something you seem to enjoy."
There was a fine line I was keeping between myself and Max, because I didn't want to pretend we were family and think of myself as Ben when there was a chance the kid could come back.
But, for just a second, I wanted to think of him as my grandpa. Unable to restrain myself from giving him a quick hug, I could feel his arms quickly wrapping themselves around my shoulders.
I caved in, I didn't want to let go, but the guilt was overwhelming the comfort and I had to pull away. "Thanks, I'll try to be quick about it."
"Take your time." He said as he waved me away towards the selections. "It's summer after all."
Summer, I hadn't had a summer break in years and this whole time I could hardly find rest. So, allowing myself to indulge in a little bit of distraction, I went around trying to sift through the bands I knew and see which ones would win my favor.
John Denver, Chuck Berry, Dion, Johnny Cash, Rolling Stones, David Bowie, Black Sabbath, George Harrison, Elton John, Nirvana, Green Day, The Goo Goo Dolls, Weezer, The All-American Rejects, Linkin Park, Blue October, The Killers, oh I didn't know Coldplay had music this early.
Without any restraint I began collecting a large stack to bring over to a side table to sort out, attempting to begin prioritizing which ones I would end up choosing.
Right as I picked up the Evanescence disc to put it in the 'maybe' pile, the face twisted before me, the pale face depicted on the album cover twisting to a darker personage. Zs'Skayr.
'Have you forgotten about our deal?'
The question made me want to throw the disc against the wall, but my practiced restraint held firm. "No, but in case you didn't realize things didn't exactly go as I hoped recently to help both of us."
'I am growing impatient, my freedom-'
"If you want out you're going to have to help me here. You obviously have a better idea about our current state so why can't you point me in the right direction?"
The several cases laid out before me began to quiver, shaking as I could feel a shadow looming over me, the hot weather dropping several degrees in seconds around me, until it stopped.
'If you want my assistance, bring me back to your work and I will aid you. Maybe I expected too much from a human from the future.'
Then his countenance vanished, leaving the album in place in my hand that I put down firmly in the 'no' pile. No way I would ever be able to look or listen to that album for a while now.
Just as I thought things were settled, trying to just enjoy myself, something burst through the front doors.
A massive tongue ensnared itself around my torso, yanking me out in a quick tug that nearly gave me whiplash. As my mind recoiled, I was soon able to focus my vision at the man glaring at me with sickly skin, graying hair, and yellowing teeth.
"At last, I've found you." Dr. Animo stated while sitting atop of an enlarged and mutated frog. "After what you did to me I worked relentlessly to piece together the mystery that was your many personas. When I heard the false story they put out about that resort, all I had to do was look out for that rusted camper and-"
If I was in a calm, collected mind I would probably deny it. Claim to be some kid while throwing out some crocodile tears fearing for my own life. I was too frustrated to care.
Eyeing the device wrapped around his chest, seeing it connecting to a pair of oversized gauntlets on his arm, and sizing myself against the creature currently ensnaring me, I came to a conclusion.
I was too gentle with Animo last time.
Switching into Diamondhead, I shifted my arm into an axe and hacked off the tongue from the creature. It screamed, rearing back to make its creator unbalanced on its back.
I punched upwards into its mouth with a bladed wrist, Piercing through its skull to send a punch right into Animo's gut to knock him away from the beast. It went limp, allowing me to touch down on my feet and march over to the mad scientist. He was too smart, able to track me down with ease despite the little evidence I left behind and reassemble his work with salvaged parts.
He was relentless, and I didn't want to see him anywhere but in a prison or a grave.
I stormed over to him, Animo quickly picking himself up and pointing one of his gauntlets at me. I ducked down before batting his arm to the side, grabbing him by the elbows to point his arms down before giving a quick squeeze.
The old man screamed as I felt something shatter in each of my hands, before I altered my grip to latch onto his gauntlets and rip them off of his sockets. Tossing them aside, Animo began to fall back but not before I caught him by his harness.
"You listen and you listen well Animo." I raised him up to my eye level, shaking him until his shaking eyes landed on me. "I'm going to make this simple for you, either go back and live in a cell or I'm going to have to remind you about the principles of natural selection. If you become a threat again, I'm taking you out of the food chain permanently."
Ripping off the harness to let the man fall down, his useless arms failing to cushion his fall as he hit the pavement to continue to scream bloody murder. I turned away, making sure to grab his equipment before walking off towards the nearest alleyway while passing Max, Gwen, and Kevin who were watching from the broken doorway.
Cruel, I know, but I didn't want to risk Animo getting out again. It would take a while for his arms to heal, preventing him from escaping anytime soon, and giving him plenty of time to reflect on my words. "See you at the Rust Bucket."
The day was ending on a note of gators, a festival that we attended that allowed us to see the new hatchlings to enter the world of the living. It was, an experience. I couldn't say I was deeply moved, and it seemed like everyone, including Max, were giving me all the isolation they thought I would want.
It was the opposite, but at least it kept Kevin from interfering with the current project.
Now with Animo's deep genetic identifiers, I was able to integrate them into the remaining drone technology and adapt its sensors to look out for what Zs'Skayr had assisted in pointing out. I was gaining new insight into his race, how their forms worked, what they were sensitive to, it was a lot that I actually could see there was a chance that once freed Zs'Skayr wouldn't actually try and pull one over on me.
If he did, well I was now aware of ten different methods to take him down.
As Upgrade, I was currently using my fluid body to connect multiple wires and adaptors at once to seamlessly blend the different mechanics together. I thought this would be a much larger contraption, something my entire body would have to reside in.
Instead, it was more focused on the omnitrix itself. It made sense, given it stored the alien DNA but that didn't help with my other issues. Where was Ben, and what was I?
Placing the device on the table, I was careful to let Gwen have her personal space as she was typing away at her laptop. Glancing back, I caught Kevin was eyeing my new possession before flinching and bringing his attention back down to his gadget.
"Make sure no one touches this please." I requested of Gwen as I moved out of the cushion, heading over towards the bathroom to have another quick 'talk' with the ghostly alien.
Changing to human with a thought, I stared at my own reflection until it became possessed with the simple signs of purple eyes and black veins growing out from the eye sockets.
"Our work is almost complete." Zs'Skayr rasped out. "Soon, I will be free again."
"And what about Ben?" I asked, making sure to keep my voice low in case someone was listening in on us. "Will this help him get his body back?"
The specter paused, quirking his head as he seemed confused by my statement. "This wasn't part of our deal."
"I know, but even if you could spare a few things about what you know about our mental state it would mean a lot. I'm not going back on my word but, I just want to set things right again for both of you."
His eyes narrowed, the form of my reflection leaning towards the edge of the mirror, an inch from crossing the glass border. "Even if there is a way for Ben to regain himself, you would lose yourself."
Ever since Andrea had gone, I had plenty of time to think. Yes, I wanted to go home but I couldn't see a way. I didn't even know where to look, but there's someone who has been missing out on life this whole time.
Whatever happened, it's been over a month, whether they wanted to or not those I knew had already started taking steps to move on. Ben's family was still unaware, they had yet to grieve for the loss of their child.
I could give him back before they realized the worst, I could do something right and make my action worth something here.
It was all I could do.
"I've accepted that." I answered, willing to put aside my own endless ambition that had no goal in sight. Meeting Animo had solidified that, his own passion had taken over his mind to where he was a threat, a menace to everyone around him. I refused to let myself come anywhere close to what he is.
I never got an answer from the omnitrix's hostage, the light in the bathroom flickering for a moment before returning to normal, including the mirror.
Flushing the toilet despite not having used it, I went out to see nothing had changed since I left.
Putting away all the spare parts that I had been working with, I was left with the nearly completed product sitting in my hand. It was a brace that would fit over the omnitrix, still allowing me to access the controls and the dial but adding two vents to fit on the sides.
"Gwen." Max's voice came from the front of the vehicle. "We'll be near that school you mentioned wanting to go to tomorrow. Do you still want to check it out?"
"Um." She dared to peek over her screen, eyes flicking over myself and Kevin in the back. "If, that's ok with you guys?"
"Sure." I easily agreed. Gwen was smart, and her intelligence wouldn't thrive in a standard school environment. Though taking a peek back at Kevin, I was questioning whether or not it would be alright for him to have access to a school which he would probably hate. But, he had been behaving himself rather well lately, and maybe seeing what he's missing out on will nudge him back towards wanting a more simple life. "Kevin?"
He snapped up as if an explosion was about to go off. "Yes?"
"Are you going to be ok if we go to the school Gwen wants to check out?"
Nodding his head quickly, he just ducked himself back into the bottom bunk of the RV. "I'll be fine, I promise."
The boy wasn't dismissive, he was very quick to agree with no argument. Something felt off, besides recent events both Gwen and Kevin were acting differently than what I would have assumed. I don't know if I was the person to talk to them about it, maybe Max had some insight.
There was a lot of work that needed to be done to fix things.
Early the next morning, before the sun even began to rise, I was awake. Quietly moving outside the Rust Bucket, I kept the recently completed contraption close to my chest as I walked out into the choir of crickets singing up towards the moonlight.
This was the best we could do with what we had, I had already done most of the work for the technology before but now with the information provided and the single goal to untether Zs'Skayr from the omnitrix it was much simpler. When I was Gray Matter that is, as a human most of the technology was still beyond what I understood. I barely had a grasp on the concepts, but here I was about to mess with arguably the most powerful device in the universe.
Making sure I had plenty of distance between myself and the RV, I looked around one more time to confirm I had no witnesses other than the bugs. Clamping the brace over the omnitrix, I saw the dial begin slowly flashing, the hour glass symbol changing into a diamond before displaying the alien that craved freedom.
"Are you sure this will work?" I asked aloud. "We don't have to rush it."
"I have waited long enough." A whisper voiced through the building fog around me. "Do it."
"Alright." I hesitated, because if this messed up who knows what consequences there would be. I just had to trust my intelligent forms who worked on this, and the information I was provided by an insider's view. "Good luck."
"And to you too." A gleeful crackle echoed around me as I pushed down on the dial, before a burst of light screamed out from the omnitrix. I felt it clench around my wrist, my entire being suddenly reacting to the foreign interference. It all felt wrong, the omnitrix letting out a rapid series of beeps as the dial kept flickering with energy sparking out from it.
That's when the brace broke off with a loud pop, the omnitrix's violent episode ceasing as the contraption placed on it fell down with steam hissing from the vents.
I fell to my knees, regaining the breath I didn't know I was holding as my body began to forget the sensation it just went through. I was glad to be alive and not some alien mutation, but now I had another concern.
Looking around, I didn't see anyone else here besides myself.
Until a shadow materialized from the darkness, reforming itself into the ghostly being. His body rippled, limbs stretching out from the skin to rip its outer shell apart until I saw the true form of Zs'Skayr.
"At last." He spread his arms out wide as he stared up into the starry sky. "I, am released."
"Everything ok?" I pushed myself back up, glancing down at the omnitrix that was currently red. I assumed it just ate through its own battery right then. "That didn't exactly go as we planned."
That single ethereal eye flickered down at me, making me quiver inside as I was face to face with what many would consider a demon or a monster. "There might have been, unaccounted for factors, but the results are nearly reached."
"Nearly?"
The alien hovered down, grabbing the sizzling device we created that the omnitrix rejected in the end. "I have yet to regain my full strength, something I will still require your assistance for."
"You're out." I stated as a matter of fact. "That got really risky for a second, and I'm not sure if we're going to be as lucky next time poking around with technology neither of us fully understand."
He surged towards my face, pausing just a breaths away to let a low hiss escape the back of his putrid throat. "Are you going to keep me from restoring my body?"
"No." I managed to get out. "But if it's rushed you might end up in a worse state than before. If you can find a way to regain your strength some other way then that would be safer."
He lingered for a second before retreating far enough to let me breathe my own air. "Your concerns are acknowledged, and if you truly prioritize Ben over yourself I will see if there is a way."
Disappearing from my view, he took what remained of the omnitrix brace with him. I wasn't sure if he would stay nearby or how he would find me, all I knew is that this was not going to be the last time I saw him.
I have taken a great risk already, so I'll see if he honors my trust or not. I would do my best to be ready either way.
Walking through the stone pathway of the prestigious academy, I glanced around at the many middle school to high school aged students dressed in quality uniforms. This was a fairly large campus, almost like a repurposed college for younger ages. Our guide was one of the students who seemed to be one of the campus's go-for students to run whatever errands they couldn't be bothered with.
She was about twelve, walking us through the many areas that made me reflect back on my own college days. Gwen seemed happier at least, but not on the obsessive level that I recall her being in the show. Part of her was still reserved, holding back her cheer.
Hopefully the longer we walked through the more she would open up.
"Bancroft Academy has also just received the prestigious solid gold Main Kauf Trophy for top-rated prep school on the east coast." Our guide happily bragged. Yet that could mean anything, from what prep-schools were allowed to be counted to being top-rated for cafeteria quality.
There were so many useless awards and schools loved to collect them.
"So you can see why we're very picky about who we admit. There are so many who delude themselves into thinking they are Bancroft material." She added with a biting tone. Clearly this student was not open to our presence here, but was still compliant with her duties to guide us through on a tour. I doubt she had any real say on who got accepted and only had a personal opinion on who she believed should be allowed in.
Gwen didn't jump in at that moment like I expected, instead she just nodded in acceptance. Maybe she needed a little push to participate more in her own activity.
"So what are the primary requirements for sorting who is Bancroft material?" I asked, our guide pausing to look over my attire. Yeah, I wouldn't pick it either but it's not like I'm wearing rags.
"If you must know." She began, whipping her hair back around as she continued to walk. "Only those with higher standing in society and unmatched talent can have a chance to be a part of the prestige if they aren't already, which most of us are."
Ah, I was starting to get a better picture of what kind of campus this was. It was held high by name only and by who was involved with it. I glanced over to Gwen to see what her thoughts were, only to see her unfocused gaze tracing the landscape around us. What's wrong Gwen? Don't you care about this school?
Gwen wasn't saying anything yet, and it didn't look like she would anytime soon, so after giving her a chance that she didn't take I continued. "What about the ones who aren't? And what do Bancroft Academy policies consider 'higher standing in society'?"
She didn't even try to hide her scowl as she shot a nasty look back towards me. "Why don't we continue our tour into the next building?"
It's like she wasn't even trying to hide her displeasure for being around us. I'm going to bet she didn't get in due to her own talent or skill, only being born in the right family who knew the right people.
Guess Ben really did have a reason to hate this place in the show.
Following towards the next building, Max began to quicken his pace a little before nudging me with two fingers to linger in the back while Gwen and Kevin were in front of us.
"You've been pretty agitated lately." The older man commented below anyone else's hearing. "And I'm not just talking about now but, even before what just happened."
To be honest, I couldn't say I noticed all too well. I felt that I had good reasons lately to be frustrated but I thought I was keeping that under control. Nodding to show I was listening, Max continued.
"Now I'm not saying you can't be mad, I know I still am at what Donovan did but if this has anything to do with Kevin or Gwen then maybe I can help you work through it so that they don't feel like they're losing a friend."
Kevin and Gwen?
"What does this have to do with them?" I asked with genuine curiosity, because out of all the things I was angry about they never crossed my mind.
Hmm, ok, maybe that was a lie. Kevin could be pretty annoying at times but never was he the actual focus of my negative emotions.
Max seemed a little surprised himself, if maybe doubtful. "So, you're not mad at them?"
"Is there a reason I should be?"
He dropped the subject, stewing in thought for a moment as we entered into one of the smaller science rooms that seemed to have some basic chemistry stations. Before I could try and think of why Max believed I would hold a grudge against the kids Gwen seemed to pick herself up a little.
"An electron microscope!" She went over in awe at the device, which to me felt pretty out of place given this was the only higher end equipment here.
Probably donated or a teacher's personal tool that they used school funding to acquire.
"What's so good about it?" Kevin blurted out. "It looks busted."
I held off on saying anything right then but I did think about a few words to share with Kevin not to ruin Gwen's much needed self focus, but the way our tour guide flinched at the mention made me question the device's integrity.
Ah, so it was just a display piece to show off. It wasn't plugged into any computers, or any power outlet, just sitting there collecting dust.
"Let's go to another area." The student stammered as she coaxed us to leave the room faster than we arrived.
Peeking around the hallway, I saw it was mostly storage rooms. Was this really their only science lab? This school clearly didn't care for an actual higher opportunity of education versus status.
Sorry Gwen, but no way am I gonna be quiet about their lack of options for learning when we get back to the RV.
That's when I heard something, way too loud to just be a door being slammed by an upset teen. Ah right, if I recognize the place there was an episode conflict.
Moving directly into a sprint towards the source, my sneakers skidded across the polished floors as I reached the gymnasium doors to see not three, but two of the circus performers.
Where was the one with acid breath? And did the female have her arm in a sling?
Up above I saw one of the security officers wrapped in the banners for the school, uninjured as far as I could see.
"Alright, we had our fun." The woman with living crimson hair patted the larger thumb headed man. "Let's go cash in what we got."
The closer I examined, Thumbskull? (If I'm remembering the name right) had a visible trail of drool coming from his mouth as he grinned with a child-like pleasure. "Money."
That wasn't the only thing, he had a medical helmet strapped around the top of his head.
Horror suddenly flashed over me, because the last time I saw them I had beaten them in a fit of rage that I converted from the fear inside of me. Did I do that? Did I not just keep one of them out of the picture but also mentally cripple the other?
Would I do it again?
My indecision was stalling me, the woman hoisting a large potato sack of golden awards with one of her hair strands as she was walking away with her accomplice. Even after all I put them through, crime was the only thing on their minds.
I braced my hands against the door, picking Fourarms in my mind, and walked in ready to intimidate them into submission.
"Hm?" The woman turned around at the noise I made, looking down at me. "Scram kid, before things get ugly."
Kid?
What?!
I immediately flashed my eyes down onto the omnitrix, seeing the green dial but there was something wrong. I mentally selected someone else, any of the aliens I could think of to see if the omnitrix would respond.
Nothing, not even a click.
The master control had been deactivated, and I realized when that would have happened.
The heavy footsteps of the larger, much heavier one stumbled towards me. He looked me over, seeing if I might be a threat or not.
I stared at him, seeing nothing behind his eyes as he had no ill will towards me.
"Hi, I'm Ben." I stupidly greeted, trying not to give him any reason to pummel me into the ground when he could easily hit me before I reached for the watch.
I felt the air squeeze out of me all of a sudden when he grabbed me, hoisting me up with one hand and holding me up to eye level. Then, he smiled wide as a deep laugh escaped his lips. "New friend!"
"What?!" Frightwig, yeah I think I remember her name now, came up and used her one good arm to try and push his down. "No no, not friend."
Thumbskull let out an audible pout as he shoved me right towards her. "Yes! Yes friend!"
"No." She more softly spoke, a tone I never heard from the villain making me pause. "No, we can't make friends. Maybe another day but today we're taking what we need."
His response, push me right into her face to further cement his idea. "Take friend!"
"Ben!" Max's voice suddenly yelled out, as he, Gwen, and Kevin stormed into the gym.
Frightwig's hold on her goods tightened, her panicked eyes flickering between myself and the others. "Screw it all, come on Thumbskull, we're bouncing!"
"Bouncing!" He leapt up, literally jumping after Frightwig with myself still in hand as I registered something falling from off of my belt.
"I'll be fine!" I shouted just as my kidnappers raced out of the gym. "I'll find you guys!"
So there it was, the first ever time I got kidnapped was by a couple of injured circus freaks. And if someone asked, no the bounty hunters were aliens and they abducted me so that doesn't count.
From the moment I was thrown into the back of the van, to where the same potato sack they used to swipe the awards thrown over my head, and all the way to the worn down motel room, I never really felt like I was in any danger.
Maybe the danger of being handled too rough, but the giant was a lot more gentle than before.
"Look look!" He pointed enthusiastically to the old television screen, where Jerry had yet again turned Tom's trap onto himself. Once the cat let out a cry of comical pain it sent Thumbskull into a fit of laughter.
I never really liked Tom and Jerry myself, but for someone who couldn't think very well it was probably perfect.
Glancing over to where Frightwig was, the woman was currently prying off all the labels and accent pieces of the trophies with her hair. A pile of golds and silvers next to her, and everything else going into the trash next to her. I could only guess she was scrapping all of the precious metals to pawn off while making it so it couldn't be traced back to her.
Simple, and probably all they could do given their circumstances.
She paused, glaring up at me when I suddenly realized I was staring. I turned back to the television, letting my body be shaken as Thumbskull showed me another scene he found amusing.
"Kidnapping, great." Frightwig muttered to herself. "As if this wasn't hard enough doing everything myself. Now I got two kids to take care of."
A kid, she didn't even know who I was or what I did. At least, I think I did. I didn't really know for sure. With a child's face though, it was easy to play dumb.
"Why is he, wearing that hat?" Maybe I was playing too dumb, because her hairs seemed to snake in the air as if begging for a reason to strike.
"Awful nosy aren't ya?" She got up, piling all the gold into the sack they had over my head earlier.
Thumbskull decided to grab at my nose, the lumbering hand had no restraint as he began tugging to the point I thought my face would rip off!
"Got your nose!" He taunted with glee while I began desperately fumbling around with the omnitrix, until several strands of hair snapped out to whip against the back of Thumbskull's hand. "Ouch!"
"You're hurting the kid!" She chastised with a bite, and that's when I became more fearful.
"No hurting friend!" The man grabbed me, the little function there was to his brain now falling onto emotional responses alone. He shook me, trying to show how gentle he was without knowing he was crushing my ribs.
Frightwig became much more desperate, dropping the gold and using all her hair to wrap around his arms. "Put him down!"
"No!"
"I said down!"
"NO!"
I felt my body begin to creak, my lungs squeezed of all the air inside and I couldn't get enough room to take any more in. My hand flapped uselessly around the omnitrix, feeling for the dial and the button as the edges of my vision began going dark.
Finally I was dropped, those strands of hair quickly entangling around me before yanking me away from the threat to my life.
I gasped for air, able to breathe again as the woman's single arm clenched around me. Her hairs surged out, hugging around Thumbskull until his arms and legs were pinned to his side. He thrashed around on the ground, trying to free himself in a mindless frenzy. "No no no no!"
"Take a nap already!" She yelled in desperation, and now that I was right next to her I could see it. She was exhausted.
All I could do was watch as Thumbskull continued to rage and cry out, Frightwig holding him tightly in place as she slid onto the ground to sit.
"I don't know what to do anymore." She whispered, bringing her good arm back to herself. "It wasn't supposed to be like this."
I remained in place, patiently as the tantrum eventually subsided over an hour later. Thumbskull had exhausted himself, napping on the floor but trapping Frightwig's hair while the woman was still stuck in her own mind.
If I wanted to escape, now was the time to do it. She couldn't use her powers, Thumbskull was out, and she wouldn't react in time to stop me.
But, that meant leaving them like this, something I might have done to them. So I sat down next to Frightwig, trying to figure out what I could do for them.
Taking a peek at her arm in the sling, I saw there was a noticeable red spot growing under the bandage.
"Eyes up kid." Frightwig got the wrong impression, but she just weakly smacked the back of her hand against my face.
"I think one of your stitches came undone." I pointed out because no matter how attractive she might be I was not that kind of person.
She looked down, groaning in annoyance at seeing the red stain. "Great, as if things could get any worse."
"May I see it?" I offered, the woman not sure what to make of my request. "I have first aid training."
With a huff and a roll of her eyes she unclipped the sling to let me see it. "Try anything and I won't help you next time."
Tenderly taking off the layers of cotton wrappings, Frightwig letting out no more than a hiss, I saw the popped stitch on the mostly healed surgery marks. "Doesn't look too bad."
"Should've seen it when my arm was broken." She replied, looking over the wound herself. "Stupid machine, should've never trusted that pile of scrap Zombozo was so obsessed with."
So she believed the official story too. A contraption made by a mad clown turned on its creator and those around it. "I can get a first aid kit from the front desk and patch it up."
"What, so you can run away?" She let out an amused laugh, the chuckling becoming more hollow as it went on. Then she looked back up at me, those dark rings under her eyes that the make up couldn't hide. "You run and I'll snap your little legs before you can run far."
I doubted she would, but I wasn't lying about my intentions either. Leaving the motel room, getting a rough idea on where I was outside, I didn't waste time in going to the front desk where I may have spun a story about a friend who scraped themselves and my parents needed some supplies.
I returned not five minutes later, Frightwig about to smack her own head before seeing me tiptoeing around the sleeping giant that still had her hair pinned. "You really came back?"
I knelt down next to her, zipping open the case and finding a fee sterilizing wipes and the appropriate sized gauze and pins. I did things like this several times before, through scouts, just as an adult, and being in a few job positions that had me responsible for the well being of children at schools, groups on rafting trips, and hotel guests and employees.
Once I was done, she reclipped her sling to let her still healing arm gain some more rest.
I took another look towards Thumbskull, seeing him laying on the floor with nothing to prop his helmeted head onto. Standing up, grabbing a couple large yet plushy pillows, I did my best to sneak them under his head without waking him.
"You can't help him anymore." Frightwig didn't say it as a threat or a demand, but as a simple statement. "Doctors had to remove half of his thick skull to scrape a tumor the size of a baseball out of his head. Acid Breath and I always joked that he only had half a brain but, well guess he really did."
As uncomfortable as the topic was, part of me was relieved to find iut that this wasn't just my doing. Sending him to the hospital early probably saved his life, but I can't say I'd want to live like that.
"Restraining him was a good idea." I mentioned as I went back to sit near her. "When people aren't able to use their higher brain function, and get really upset, they fall back to fight or flight instincts even if there's no threat."
"Oh yeah? And how do you know that?"
"I worked in sped."
I wasn't getting a response, and given her confused stare I realized that the slang probably wasn't too well known yet. "Special education."
"You, really you, worked in special education?"
"My mom was a director over the department in a few schools, so between college and getting a proper job I helped her out."
"Your mom huh?" Frightwig went to looking back at her accomplice, while I realized that I had just revealed more about my life to a stranger than the ones I trusted the most in this universe.
"He's my brother." She suddenly said, and all of a sudden things clicked together that I didn't think of before. Three individuals, all with unusual powers and the same tone of skin, working together despite their arguments, of course they were family.
"Do you have any other siblings?" I posed, reminiscing on my own family.
"Who knows what trailer trash our folks ended up in, but our oldest brother is in a coma. The few teeth he had were knocked right out of him. So it's just me and the big guy just trying to survive in this screwed up world."
Was robbing schools really survival? Trying to recall what they were like in the show, they didn't seem to hesitate when it came to crime. Actually, they seemed to thrive in it, take pleasure out of it. Though, another thought occurred, that if they really didn't think they could live any other way then maybe they simply taught themselves to like it.
If they had a harsh hand in life, maybe this was their way of getting revenge on the world that rejected them. Working as 'circus freaks' certainly wouldn't be mentally healthy for anyone.
Yet, there had to be more, a life they never saw they could have, and right now it looked like the two of them needed it.
"Are you sure you can keep going like this?" I looked up and the nearly defeated young woman. "Job after job, stealing just enough to make it to the next one?"
"Zip it." She ordered, until she hung her head in defeat. "You think we haven't tried looking? Look at us, we're freaks. No one would have given us a chance. Besides, it's not like we stole anything that people needed."
That justification is what concerned me, because they really didn't care enough about anyone outside of themselves to see how damaging to others' lives they could be.
"I could help." I offered, glancing back to the recently stolen goods. Ok, maybe they wouldn't be harming that pompous school too much by stealing what would just sit in a shelf. But that would get them enough to go somewhere else, but where could they go that would offer them a second chance?
Then it hit me, my time in the Denver area living between all those cities, they could blend in with the influx of people moving there soon from inside and outside the country. Or even some of the small farm towns that welcomed new folks with open arms so long as they were willing to pull their weight in Wyoming or Idaho.
And if they wanted to play to their experience, there were plenty of companies that traveled the states to set up local carnivals and fairs.
"I know it won't be easy but, I have a couple ideas if-"
"Look, kid." She held up a hand to silence me. "You're nice, I don't got any beef with you, but unless you lived on the streets you-"
"I have." It was a cruel twist of my truth, because while I was technically homeless for a time we still had plenty of money to live off of until we could move into our next home.
But, at least she was listening now. "So I know it's not a fun life, but I also know that there's still good people in this world who can help."
She was hesitant, considering the idea and by the distasteful look that flashed over her I could tell she had tried before and it didn't work out. Then, she looked to her brother, then back down to her arm, sighing before she gave a smirk towards me. "You know, I wouldn't have believed ya if you ran off earlier. Fine, let's hear your big plan. If you promise not to tattle I'll make sure you can get back to your own family."
My family, for some reason my first thought was of Max and Gwen instead of the ones I knew pretty much all of my life.
Sunset was starting to approach by the time I was picked up by Max and the others who found me after a call from one of the few phone booths that still existed. I could tell right away they were more relieved that I had come back in a much better state than the last time I was taken.
Entering the Rust Bucket, Max was quick to hand me my music player that I had modified to work as an emergency communicator. "Sorry Ben, but it seems to have broken when you dropped it. I know how much you really liked Gwen's gift."
"It was made of some cheap plastic anyways." I handled the device, peeking inside to see that besides some wires popping loose most of the components seemed intact. "I can fix it up and make it more durable with some of the leftover drone parts."
Max just nodded, getting back into the driver seat to take us on the road heading west.
"So-" Kevin spoke up, sitting at the kitchen area while eating a snack. "-what did you do with the freaks? They still alive?"
"Kevin!" Gwen hissed over at the boy. "That's not funny."
"I'm not joking." Kevin really didn't seem to approach the topic lightly, abruptly yes but his posture wasn't relaxed.
"They're going to be ok." I said, making my way to the fridge for something better than moldy motel tap water. "I didn't even have to fight them."
"Really?" Gwen put down the pamphlet from the academy, where I could see many notes jotted alongside the paper. "So, what did you do?"
"I, gave them a chance." I answered, finding a bottle of gator juice leftover from the previous day's festivities. "I think they never really got one before, so we'll see how it plays out."
I waved for Kevin to scoot over, which he complied with so I could sit next to him and across from Gwen. The boy was still on guard but at least he was talking again.
"So what if they go back to taking stuff?" Kevin threw out as I finished sipping from the themed cup.
"We'll see." I answered because I really hope that they don't hurt anymore people after I let them go. "If I need to, I'll put a stop to them."
My answer had satisfied Kevin for now as he pulled out his alien radio, plugging in his earbuds to tune out the rest of the ride.
That just left me with Gwen, who I did not forget about after her strange demeanor today. "So, did you try tracking me with a spell by chance? I know you're still getting the hang of magic so I don't blame you if you-"
"You don't blame me?" She paused her research, setting aside her empty application to put all her focus on the topic. "Really?"
Blame her for what? Why did she sound like a child who was about to be scolded? "Gwen, what do you think I'm blaming you for?"
"Andromeda's death!" She suddenly shouted, shocking me because never had I made any connection from Gwen to, that tragedy. "I had that spell practiced and memorized, that disarming one, but when it came time to use it I didn't until it was too late! She could be alive if I just-"
"Gwen!" I stopped her before she could spiral down. "That never crossed my mind. Besides, I'm the one he pointed the gun at, I could've changed into so many different aliens to respond but I didn't. I wasn't fast enough to realize what was happening."
"Kids." Max joined in from the front seat. "What Donovan did, is on him alone. Not even I realized what he was going to do. Sometimes, things happen that we regret, and maybe we could have done better, but we should never blame ourselves for someone making bad choices."
Gwen nodded in understanding, but I was willing to bet that it would take a while for those words to actually take hold.
"Gwen." I began to add, thinking back to my own failures. "Do you blame me for all those deaths at Camp Opinicon?"
"No." She answered in defeat because she was too clever not to see what I was getting at. "There's no way you could have known beforehand what was going on."
And that's as far as I could go on the subject, because the truth was that I did have some foreknowledge. I may not have a complete memory of the show but I had mapped out as much as I could remember off the top of my head. I knew the episode was coming, but I waited until it was already happening to intervene. I had literal knowledge of the future, and I failed to make use of it.
There was no one to blame but me, Gwen and Max, even Kevin had nothing to blame themselves for so long as I knew what was coming.
So, I would shoulder it all, if only to keep them from feeling any of that crushing weight. My actions were reshaping this whole reality, repeat villains were showing up and I was able to see what my barely restrained anger did.
I had to be better, and that was going to be a whole lot more challenging without the master control.
A little bit of a slower chapter, and yeah it's still on the heavier side but obviously things can't go right back to being a simple summer vacation after what happened.
Also, the next chapter is going to be the final one for this season. Maybe I'll end up splitting it into two parts but its unlikely.
Many things are changing, we're seeing how previous actions have impacted repeat villains, some more than others, Ghost Freak is now free from the omnitrix (for better or worse) and now the master control has been reset.
And before you ask, no, I won't be bringing it back. It was fun while it lasted but SI-Ben needs to learn how to make better use of the aliens to prepare him for the future.
REMINDER! I won't be using any content created outside of the original Ben 10 show. No content from Alien Force, Ultimate Alien, Omniverse, or reboot will be used. That includes aliens, abilities, plot points, lore, and just about anything not seen in the OG show.
1234andynguyen: Her species more so is attuned to senses that most other species can't hear due to their nature with reality. Everything and everyone sings to them, not just their species.
Shisui: Is that a plot suggestion or do you think that happened or is going to happen?
RealmHeart: If I had any I would share it, but I'm a writer not an artist.
jtmarch12591: Naming an alien after the omnitrix doesn't seem appropriate. Also, Ben seems to name his aliens by what they can do or something that stands out about them.
Chronosign: I ask that in the future not just posting the dialogue from other stories unless you are altering them to better connect with the story like what you were doing before.
Naveh Sorferts: Kind of hard to do romance for an adult stuck in a child's body. It makes things weird on both ends of the spectrum.
lopezalfonzoj: I don't like the trope of bringing people back from the dead. Overused and it makes their death less meaningful.
LongNightDragon: I'm not one to bring people back from the dead.
Some1call4MR-E: I think I started Trigun a while ago but it didn't catch my interest.
Temory: The issue I'm having is that I'm trying to name it the same way Ben would but, I have no idea how he would name a superman rip off alien with no distinguishing features or specific powerset.
Lucius Walker: Glad you liked the OG content, I'm thinking about adding more since lots of people seemed to like it.