Post by datdude on May 16, 2010 21:51:59 GMT -5
Hello peoples I'm trying for one story without chapter breaks this time because I haven't done that before. I would like to know if it flows OK and any other comment you'd like to leave. Feed back from my " pit crew" as it where makes these things turn out better in the end.
Ages
The skies over the city darken and sirens scream as the ground shakes! A flying aircraft carrier falls burning to the earth powerless before the might of GODZILLA KING OF MONSTERS!
Flying over the scene of disaster in the form of Jet Ray is Ben Tennyson the worlds greatest hero! He speaks.
“ His might can not be overcome only appeased. I know just the thing! ”
Cut to Jet Ray inline at Mr Smoothie.
“ One jumbo mango please. ”
Cut again to Godzilla walking into the sea giant cup in hand. Tennyson nods in respect.
“Mr Smoothie the solution to the greatest thirst! ”
Agent Six watches as Whit Knights face replaces the commercial, and his boss speaks half screaming.
“ He's making us look like fools again! I want a solution to this rich boy with a power ring once and for all! ”
Six spoke in an flat even voice, and stated the obvious.
“ We've tried and failed every time. He's keeps so much in the public eye that he's impossible to touch ever since Bellwood. He's even hired Blackwater to watch his parents, and paid them enough to not turn on him. ”
White Knight calmed down remembering just who they sent into Bellwood. Cray, Lynch, Slayon, Fairchild, Chang, and Callahan where all dead. Of that group of their very best only Agent Six was left. Tennyson had used his celebrity status to protect himself and his surviving family ever since. The President liked to bring up just how much they needed to pay that Asian girls family. After a long minute he spoke.
“ Doctor Holiday, what is Rex status? How long until we can get him into the field? ”
Normally the more compassionate of the pair she sounded as close to Six's emotionless voice as he'd ever heard.
“ Rex can't take on that watch Sir. Maybe in few years but not now, it'll crash his entire system and any hope we have of using his as a nanite controller will be gone. ”
Their bosses face contorted with barely controlled rage as he spoke.
“ You have five months to show that Rex is worth the drain on our budget, or we tag him and bag him. Then we go into Abysus to take Van Kleiss by force. We let him go ravenous and feed him Evo's till he bursts for all I care but the world will be cleansed. White Knight out. ”
The screen went dark and Doctor Holiday said what they where both thinking.
“ Going in there will just get people killed, and our only other option is barely 15. ”
Six turned and walked for the door as he spoke.
“ We've trained him, the rest is up to Rex. ”
Rex sat in his tiny bare room concentrating on powers he barely understood and trying to things he wasn't sure how to. Glowing lines ran up his arm to Kirby dots signaling . . . he didn't know. All they could tell him was his nanites where responding to his control but he had no idea how to direct them.
“ Screw this, I need a break. ”
Rex walked the halls of Providence Keep in hospital scrubs, sick to death with not having a wardrobe that wasn't reserved for training.
“ Jeans and T-shirts would be nice, but nooo I'm a lab rat. ”
Rex wondered into the smoking lounge the only place on the ship with the ventilation for the nicotine addicts. It was abandoned as usual since since White Knight banned smoking on the ship, making the place just an unused out of the way break room. He as usual checked the vending machines for change.
“ Cuz lab rats only get fed at certain times and that means no snacky cakes or midnight munchies bags nooo. ”
Not finding any money he punched the machine in frustration then leaned on it. Closing his eyes tight he just wanted a damn soda. To his surprise it popped out a can.
“ Woo I don't get this lucky or lucky at all, I figured maybe I wronged a leprechaun and with the amnesia didn't remember. ”
Grabbing the can of soda, and guzzling it one shot he let out a burp, before turning back to the row of machines.
“ >Burrrp!< OK lets try the snack machine now because chocolate is required for proper nanite control. ”
The lines ran out from his arms to the surface of the junk food dispenser and it spit out a candy bar on command.
“ Healing factor? NOPE! Heat vision, that's for losers! Me I got free snacks at will baby! ”
Ben Tennyson sat looking at a hologram Kevin and Gwen on the Ultimatrix.
“ Kevin we need to talk . . . I'm beginning to suspect that your sleeping with Gwen, and I'm concerned for my cousin. ”
Gwen well into the 8th month of pregnancy chuckled just a bit.
“ Haha ouch. . .Parker stop kicking Mommie. ”
Ben smiled having gotten a laugh.
“ Parker as in Peter or Spiderman? ”
“ Don't get him started Ben he's been on me about names since Grandma popped out of the mirror while I was trying read the pregnancy test. Of course she was shouting “It's a boy!” totally ruining the surprise. ”
Kevin spoke up.
“ Hay the old lady was excited, I don't blame her! Anyway Parker Maxwell Levin make that rhyme with something I dare you. Speaking of the boy he ever going to meet his Uncle Ben that's important for him you know. ”
“ Kevin last week I took out an Evo the size of King Kong that was walking from Cape town to Cairo eating people. If I wasn't there Providence would have waited till it hit the desert and dropped a 30 year old Russian Nuke on it and hoped for the best. ”
Kevin tried to sound like he hadn't gotten sick of hearing the same excuse every month when they called.
“ Dude the Galvan created a race by accident. Worlds have to learn to deal with this stuff or you get people that can't grasp higher tech levels and you do not want to see that. That ends up in . . .well did we ever tell you about that repo job we did on the Vreedle's home world? ”
Gwen broke in.
“ We just got married that wasn't a repo job it was our honeymoon Kevin. I spent my honeymoon chasing a droid through mall that sold human hair as snack food. ”
“ What it paid for the trip, and that guy DID offer you a lot for your pony tail. ”
Ben smiled missing hearing them go back and forth like an old married couple since long before they got married. Sad he wasn't there for the million or so moments like this he was missing. His Iphone vibrated once, and he looked away from the watch for a moment.
“ Listen I need to run I've got a thing I need to do . . .I forget who it's for really but I know it's paying for that charity that's helping people in Brazil rebuild. Once they get things under control down here I will meet you two at the asteroid belt I swear. ”
Gwen gave him that look that said “ I know you're laying. ” but let it pass. Kevin spoke up.
“ Alright Tennyson, Keep you nose clean we are legitimate these days and don't want any troublemakers around. ”
Kevin broke into a laugh as the call went dead. Like he'd ever not have SOMETHING on the side.
Ben walked out of the men's room and sat in his judges chair sending a text. It read “ New York usual place tonight. ”
A voice booms over a speaker.
“ We are ready to begin the Miss Wet T-shit 2010 contest! Mr. Tennyson's services made possible by a generous donation to his disaster relief organization. ”
Ben gave the crowd a wave and then turned into a alien resembling a giant eyeball.
Doctor Holiday checked the scanner again as her subject writhed in pain.
“ Yea, this will take a double dosage I'm sure. ”
The person on the bed tried to be brave.
“ Give it to me straight Doctor. ”
She plopped four tabs into a glass of water and handed it over.
“ This will taste bad, but it will fix you up. Now did you take someones wallet to get all that candy Rex? ”
“ No. . .> gulp< oh man that is gorse. I a a a a was practicing with my powers totally for the benefit of the mission and all. . . ”
“ I'm sure. ”
The boy tired to sound serious.
“ And it hit me that I might be able to interface with something simpler then that Evo house plant you keep in your lab. Going to tell Six on me? ”
“ Nope, that would discourage a positive step in the right direction. Don't bankrupt the vending machine company and you'll be fine. But speaking of that plant, thing you can give it another go? ”
The boy looked a bit nervous, but he was trying to hide it.
“ It doesn't have teeth anymore right? ”
“ I pluck them and feed it only oatmeal I swear. ”
Agent Six entered the room silent as a ghost like always. He spoke and Rex jumped at the sound of his voice from nowhere.
“ Any forward motion? ”
“ Aaaa! ”
Doctor Holiday frowned a bit as she spoke.
“ Subtle Six as ever. Rex was controlling simple machines a little while ago. We where going to try the plant again. ”
Rex spoke uneasy.
“ Umm maybe later I um don't really . . that thing is so nasty for something that small. ”
Six looked at him through those shades of his, and Rex held his breath.
“ Alright then, let give this combat trainer another go. We will use the light gun with the broken trigger see if you can make the command in the fly. ”
Rex relaxed Six wasn't angry.
“ Sure thing Six. ”
Doctor Holiday looked on silently.
Ground Zero reconstruction zone New Your City.
Ben looked down at the empty lot eating a cheese steak. He speaks in between bites.
“ Always a clever place to meet, every intelligence organization on earth used to watch this bit of ground but with reconstruction taking this long they just stopped caring. What have you got for me? ”
A thumb drive drops to the ground and Ben is alone again. He finishes his dinner before retrieving it.
“ Machina Rex. My kingdom for Upgrade and Gray Matter. ”
Ben looked around, he was totally alone. He wondered if anyone was watching, if Azmeth was watching.
“ Head in the game Hero. ”
Ben walked into an ally and made a quick change into XLR8 and was half way to the harbor in an eye blink. Running across the water in moments he reached his Redbank New Jersey safe house.
“ How I let Smith talk me into renting over the damn comic book store . . .at least they keep their mouths shut as long as I autograph stuff. ”
Turning back to Ben in a flash he sat on a bean bag chair in front of a folding table with a budget laptop borrowing wifi from the over priced soup joint up the street. He slotted the thumb drive his eyes got wide. For once Ben didn't need Brain Storm understand the gravity of the technical data he was seeing.
“ This is closer then Van Kleiss ever was. . . ”
He opened a random jpeg and saw an image of Rex smiling at the camera.
“ Your kidding me that's the Omicron nanite generator? ”
The next picture was of Rex screaming while being bitten on the hand by a Evo potted plant. Followed by a word doc full of techno babble he would in fact need to turn into a giant crab alien to understand.
“ Who are you Rex? ”
Rex ran through the target shooting program again hoping for a score above 50%, he got 48%.
“ Oh man I got a gun with not trigger and they want me to get a good score? ”
Six was behind him again and Rex jumped as he spoke.
“ You're not here to shot you're here to interface with simple machines so you can learn to interface with more complicated ones. ”
“ Aaa ! Did you read too much Batman as a child? ”
“ Complicated machines are just lots of simple machines stacked on top of each other. You have to learn so we can pull them out, or at least hit the off switch. ”
Rex for once snapped at Six.
“ The entire planet MYSELF! Who do you think I am Ben 10? ”
“ You need to stop watching Hulu and start taking this seriously. I've men Tennyson, he has the technology to fix this and he doesn't had it over because he loves to play the hero. ”
The boy cringed as Six spoke just the same emotionless tone as ever.
“ If he could FIX THIS MESS he'd never stop being the hero. ”
“ You need to concentrate on the mission and . . . ”
Rex dropped the light gun and screamed.
“ ALL I DO IT CONENTRATE ON THE MISSION AND LIVE IN A BOX! THE HIGHLIGHT OF MY DAY IS BEING POKED AND PRODDED BY THE OFFICE HOTTIE! DO YOU GIVE BLOOD AND BONE MARROW FOR A SMILE ICE MAN? ”
Rex walked for the door Six raised his hand to grab the boys shoulder.
“ Don't even. ”
Ben walked into his “ official ” residence in L.A. Where he all his fund raising, celebrity hobnobbing, and more importantly his proverbial checks where mailed her. Proverbial as in he was heavy into online banking since he never knew what town he was going to end up in, and that made taking large amounts of cash out of the bank in whatever country easy to excuse to the tax man. Thought the amount of money that he funneled to other things and what he just wasted on partying where changing place he had to admit. It was lonely at the top and some times that meant consoling himself with good deeds and well some times that meant blowing money on fake friends that pretended to care.
He waved the watch in front of his wall safe. It opened and he grabbed a wad of bills and swore not to blow doing. . . things Gwen could never find out about like he had way to often since Grandpa Max died.
“ Today the next 24 hours it is hero time, no screw ups. ”
Ben dialed the watch to his least favorite form, and hit the face plate.
“ Aaaaa! Zaxion! ”
The odd four foot tall gray skinned alien's form was unsettling to use because of its odd brain setup. The watch could turn him into it, but it was either imperfect or these creatures existed in constant pain. It had an ultimate setting but he was damned if he wanted more of this creature.
Ben extended the creatures remote viewing power out beyond the walls of his home, across the thousands of miles to the bones of old New Orleans, and teleported in a flash. His head was spinning as he fell to wet concrete, and turned back to a human in a flash. The watches face red as his own.
“ Oh what the hell I've been running maintenance! Ulti-matrix code ten explain last override. ”
“ Warning default Geno-archetype homosapien at risk of degradation do to excessive user bypass of safety protocols without diagnostics. ”
Ben barked at the AI he knew couldn't understand rage.
“ Bull it runs every night! ”
“ Incorrect. Past 3 sleep cycles have been under 6 hours, and one was spent as an Pupo-sapien. ”
“ Damn that girl did like the fur. How long to reset to optimum? ”
“ 27 hours uninterrupted. ”
“ And me without my gun. How long to get my above 50% degradation? ”
“ Warning . . . ”
“ Code ten smart guy! ”
“ 47 minutes minim. ”
“ Full diagnostic, DNA scrub and shit just do it all I'll make due till then. Code Ten. ”
Ben looked around at a dead city knowing the kind of people and none people that hung out here, and knowing the amount of money he had in his pants. Ben started walking, by dawn he'd made it to his original intended destination with no real trouble. Even here people knew who he was, but word he bet that Ben Tennyson was looking like crap walking thought no mans land to HERE would be out in certain circles. Some would believe it some wouldn't, others would check anyway.
“ I am going to need a new place to get my wet work done. ”
He walked past the pair of animated golem's that guarded the door and hoping that meant he was still welcome. The main doors weren't even locked, as he went straight for the one place he knew he'd find the person he was after. The library, Charmcaster was there every time, and Ben was starting to wonder if she only left when he got her to.
He entered the room, and like the rest of the place it was humid as hell since the house hadn't had electricity let alone AC in years. Charmcaster was right where she had been last time, in that same tank top and ratty shorts. It was a look that showed of the mix of Celtic and Nordic ruins she'd tattooed onto her skin herself. The first sign that she was getting dangerous Ben liked to think. She turned to greet him and the light caught the polished jade jewel that had taken the place of her left eye, something Ben didn't like to think about.
“ Well well the hero returns. You look like crap Ben. ”
Women like her don't turn into body modding enthusiasts over night.
“ Sure I put a lot of effort into the Robert Downey jr as Tony Stark thing. My publicist tells me I am just the man right now. ”
She just looked at him waiting for the punchline, when it didn't come she honestly sounded concerned.
“ Careful Ben don't for get or I might. You're the one that reminded me never to believe my own hype. ”
Ben remembered that night in Hong Kong when it came up that spells where just instructions on how to manipulate mana. Spell books where just records of what others had learned how to do, and schools of magic just a curriculum like any other. If that was what started her on the road to turning into this, Ben wondered if it was more thing to keep him from sleeping. He spoke.
“ I need a place to crash for a full day, then I need you to help me bust into the Keep and get a look at something important. ”
Charmcaster turned her head just a bit as if she was trying to look past Ben and into something else entirely.
“ The one place on earth that's built to keep you out. Why would I be that stupid? ”
“ 'Cause I'm irresistible? ”
“ . . . ”
She didn't talk so he did.
“ OK 20 grand cash. ”
That got her attention.
“ Theirs a dig in Britain looking for funding. They don't know it but they are five feet from Merlin's tomb. I want my father to be known as a man and not a legend. ”
“ I get to make this tax deductible? I'll make a phone call when this is over. ”
Doctor holiday put down the pliers and put the plant back on the shelf.
“ No more biting for you. ”
The Doctor looked at the time and realized today had turned into tomorrow hours ago, and she was due for an early shift. While making up her mind if it was smarter to stay awake straight thorugh or try to grab a nap and a shower before the new work day started the Doctor noticed one tiny out of the way terminal displaying something it shouldn't.
Walking to get a better look at it she noticed Rex heart rate was spiking, and his adrenalin was off topping the numbers from his last combat simulation.
“ Doctor Holiday to watch. Whats Rex's location? ”
“ No movement on his quarters mam. ”
“ Sorry but I need a visual. ”
She counted the heartbeats till the guard reached Rex's door.
“ Mam I'm sorry but it looks like he's crawled out the air vent. None of the motion sensors tripped the alarm. ”
“ Not if he turned them off first. Give me a check in the grid for anything that's off line that shouldn't be. ”
Doctor Holiday jogged to the elevator.
Rex climbed down the garbage shoot very slowly.
“ Han Solo how did you do this? I need a side kick I really do. ”
Reaching the main garbage depo he put his hands on the fitly wall, and it began to glow. The floor opens out from under him and he fell rapidly into the ice cold New York harbor in the black of night.
“ Providence general order number 43 when ever possible park over water just in case. ”
He started to swim for all he was worth.
Six opened his eyes as a sliver of light light his sleeping space, and someone stepped to his bed. They pulled back the covers and say a pair of pillows underneath and he turned on the light with his free hand. Doctor Holiday jumped as she noticed he was siting behind her in a chair with a .45 in his hand.
“ God! Six do you sleep like that every night? ”
“ You get used to it. Whats wrong Samantha. ”
She took a minute to catch her breath and spoke.
“ You're room and my room are off the com system, and Rex is gone. We only know because I was working late and noticed his biometrics spiked. No ones seen him for at least 45 minutes. ”
“ Who knows? ”
“ I called the watch Captain to check on him that's all. ”
“ Don't log it in the system, I'll talk to the watch Captain, if we get lucky White Knight won't know for a few hours. We have that long to prevent a kill order. ”
Ben sat up in bed as his phone went off on the dresser. Charmcaster rolled over and spoke.
“ Reception here? ”
“ Satellite phone runs on an Israeli bird in geosynchronous orbit. Shit we are either very very lucky or very very unlucky. Our target just ran away from that floating castle we where going to storm. Ultimartix status? ”
“Ready. ”
“ Time to get ready. ”
He looked to his left and she was magically already dressed.
“ I hate you some times. ”
Rex loved this block. The tiny store he wondered into about dawn as it opened had an atm and the clerk had his back turned ad Rex had “ withdrawn ” three hundred bucks and he'd spent the morning shopping around. He'd gotten breakfast a pair of jeans, some over priced sneakers socks and an I heart New York shirt so far. He was tempted to grab a nice leather jack but that would mean finding another ATM with no one watching. So far their where lots of people in most stores or at least the ones he thought where interesting, and he didn't want to get spotted.
Two girls at least 3 years older then he was walked into the clothing store he was wondering around in, and he hit the ATM with a line behind him not thinking.
“ Got to look good for the ladies. ”
No one noticed he thought at least, but as he touched the machine a barley visible wave of violet light swept the area and his stomach turned. The ATM went crazy and started spitting out money like bad comedy. Rex grabbed a wad and limped away as the people in line began picking up the money.
“ Umm bathroom now. . . ”
“ Grrr. ”
Rex looked to the source of the growling and saw of all things a dog shaped sculpture walking in his direction.
“ OK maybe ordering a McMuffin with extra bacon is like slang for something special and I'm not in the know. ”
The dog monster jumpt at him and Rex ducked to his left and tried to hid behind a discount rack. The thing just walked around it and he realized it was between him and the door.
“ OK OK I've been trained to deal with this good EVO doggie want a cookie . . .me to got any? ”
It snarled at him and charged, and without thinking what it might be made of he kicked the thing with all his might. Without knowing it metal encased his foot and the dog was smashed bits of rock flew through the shops main window smashing it.
“ Umm aaa ... ”
Rex dropped the money and tried to run but his one foot was wearing huge metal boot that made walking a long slow effort.
“ Umm don't mind me it happened in the war. ”
Dragging his oversized boot outside, he was met with two more of the creatures waiting for him.
“ I want you to know you are totally ruining my first day off ever. EVER! ”
The things snarled at him and charged Rex found himself 40 feet in the air and he grinned.
“ This boot is meant for kicking! ”
Landing square on one of the dog things crushed it into dust, and stuck Rex in the ground up to his knee. The last creature moved in for the kill.
“ Umm can I tag out? ”
A shard of green crystal cut threw the beast like a hot knife through butter, and Rex's eyes grew to the size of silver dollars.
“ Sure thing, but I only tag team with my side kicks. ”
It was Ben Tennyson.
Agent Six watch a circle of press shower Tennyson standing in front of a limo with tinted windows with attention making him for all in tense and proposes bullet proof.
“ OK people I need to get going but I have time for one question. You there form CNN Linda right? Not that I know you personally or anything. . . sorry I didn't call by the way. ”
“ Ben > ahem< Mr. Tennyson who was that boy? ”
“ Umm Not Bucky Barns, not Dick Grayson, but he is in fact Wally West. With that good day every one. Linda call me, love you. ”
Six couldn't help but see the bags under his eyes, and how they looked covered up by makeup for the cameras. He couldn't help but remember Bellwood. He couldn't help but remember Doctor Holiday doing the autopsy on the Galvanic symbiont. The nanite event had attacked it like a virus and it didn't have the higher brain functions to adapt, it tired to protect the girl anyway. He would never forget the look on Tennyson's face when Cray killed that girl. What came next kept him up nights.
Rex was loving the limo it had soda!
“ Woo hoo my sugar rush was needing a boost! So Pretty lady hang out with super stars often? ”
Charmcaster sat in the seat across from Rex with her purple coat that was older then Rex. Her eyes hidden behind a pair of Ben's Ray-Bans. She looked at his with senses she couldn't have dreamed of when she met Ben as a snot nosed kid a decade ago. His body was alive with technology that ran counter to the Bezelian arts she employed.
“ The child of the Wizard of Menlo park. Everything mankind chose over us. ”
“ What now? Do you know my father or something? ”
“ No kid, and I couldn't care less. Your own past is your business if you can't find it you don't deserve to know it. ”
Rex frowned a bit and looked at her a minute trying to figure out who his idol had left him alone with.
“ So are you the hero's spunky side kick? Bad ass ex-villain girl friend ? Maybe . . . ”
A violet glow came from behind her glasses.
“ Pay attention little boy, because I'm not going to tell you twice no matter what Ben says. Watch me I only inhale before I speak, I have forgotten pain, and if through some miracle you get close enough to me to feel my pulse it isn't there. Sometimes when your hero needs bad things to happen. He calls me for that, because I honestly couldn't give a damn about the SHEEPeople if I tried. You either have the will to power or you are meat for those that do. ”
Rex blinked trying to process what she said, but was distracted when Ben got into the car. It started moving as he spoke.
“ Are you scaring him? Is she scaring you? She shouldn't be scaring you. Charmcaster why are your scaring him? ”
“ Bored. ”
“ That's nice dear, your bored so you scare my sidekick before he's even signed on as my sidekick. That's brand loyalty for ya. Hi Rex Ben Tennyson pleased to meet ya ! I know we met a few minutes and all but Hi Ben Tennyson! ”
“ Rex. So I escape and you happen to be in the neighborhood. Whats the deal? ”
Ben smiled and stopped being so playful.
“ Smart kid, you noticed we where in the neighborhood. I acquired the services of this lovely yet menacing creature to my right to help me storm the gates of Olympus and steal some thunderbolts. That's you Rex. Rex Machina the king of machines. Consider me your personal Qui-gon. ”
The boy was ecstatic.
“ Sweet! ”
White Knight was dead calm and that made Six worried.
“ OK Rex gained active control of at least some of his abilities, and with in 28 hours was AWOL. The initial recovery attempt was aborted by Tennyson's presence correct? ”
Six responded normally.
“ Tennyson, and company Sir. Intel has since come in. The limo driver that dropped them off at his home described his companion as . . . are you up to date on code name “ Evilyn ” Sir? ”
“ The last Mana user on earth? I am aware of the losses we took when we tried to turn her. She was tied the loses at the Rushmore reclamation effort, and the total loss of project LostBoys. ”
Doctor Holiday spoke up.
“ I'm not aware of that one. ”
Six for once hesitated before speaking.
“ Human alien hybrids from past visitors when we where a backwater before we where blockaded after the nanite event. It was thought that we find an alien with abilities or skills we could use that stayed behind. All we found where children to young to know what they where or completely understand what they could do. We tried to organize a forcible relocation and training program. ”
She didn't sound happy, but the Doctor at least kept her anger under control.
“ We kidnapped children? ”
White Knight stated the obvious.
“ This world is dying. Evo's are increasing, and with the exception of Rex all we can do is contain and kill. Those are stop gap measures Doctor. ”
She closed her eyes for a second before speaking.
“ I've been warning you this might happen. You treated Rex like a test subject not a kid and now that we don't have a door he can't unlock he had no reason to stay. Along comes Ben 10 with his shiny celebrity smile and all the toys a kid could want. We don't have the power to walk in there and take Rex back, couldn't hold him even if we could. If Tennyson is poison we need to make Rex see it before it's to late. ”
What Knight sounded annoyed.
“ What are you getting at Doctor? ”
“ We roll over and admit the truth that Providence can't TAKE Rex back, and all we want to is make sure his unique medical needs are met. We approach him while Rex is there and he'll have to say yes. If they try anything after I'm in Rex will hopefully notice and want to come in from the cold. ”
Six spoke first.
“ You want to put your head on the chopping block? No way you've got to much information on him and us. ”
White Knight spoke up.
“ Why don't we use a sniper with a good scope again? ”
Six didn't take his eyes off Holiday and responded as if through reflex.
“ In the battle of New Orleans Tennyson got a concussion and was out for 36 hours. The Ultimatrix was in self-destruct mode until he work up. It also sent out an energy wave whenever we got close and ignored the Doctors, like it could tell. ”
White Knight spoke to her for once.
“ Glad to know your willing to get your hands dirty Doctor. We'll do periodic checkups on the boy. If you're out of contact for longer then 48 hours at any one time we will assume your compromised. Agent Six will give you a primer on the field. Keep your eyes out for anything we can use, and don't take anything with you that's state of the art. ”
“ I'll go pack, and run everything past security. ”
She left the room, and Knight's face on the screen turned to Six.
“ How much ice water does that woman have in her veins? ”
“ She's not like we are but you know how far she'll go for the right reasons. ”
Rex work up in a soft bed, and he didn't want to move. He had his arms and legs spread out and couldn't feel the edges of it. For the first time he was just content to lay there, then someone knocked on his forehead like it was the front door.
“ Aaaa what are you doing! ”
“ Come on time for training, and if I need to call you again I'll send Charmcaster in here. You do not want to know how she wakes people up. ”
Rex sat up.
“ She eats brains doesn't she? 'Cuz I saw this one Romero movie once, and totally fits the bill. ”
“ . . . First off It was Return where they talked and eat brains and in the “of the dead” movies they just eat flesh, and well evolve a bit but they don't talk. Second Charmcaster is out growing her corporal form not lingering in it after she shouldn't be. The difference is . . . 7 tech levels over your head so UP BOY!”
Rex popped out of bed, and groaned as Ben lead him to of all places the kitchen.
“ Before training we eat. Before he eat we have to cook. Men have long enjoyed mixing fire and random objects. See where this is going? ”
“ You're going to cook ? ”
“ No sidekick, WE are going to cook. ”
Rex rubbed his eyes and spoke.
“ and if I burn stuff? ”
“ Then I have enough coco puffs for me. ”
“ Dude so far training bites. ”
Ben frowned a bit before giving orders.
“ And for the first part of the meal, we need the menu. Find out what Charmcaster is eating. ”
The idea of the creepy lady eating filling his head with horror movie clips, as he walked off. Reaching the hallway he realized he had no idea what room was hers, and as he turned back stoping before entering the kitchen.
“ Qui-gon. ”
Turning back walked to the master bedroom, and noticed it was empty. He checked the closets the attached bathroom and under the bed just in case. All he found where some pictures on the dresser mirror of a red haired girl some guy, and Ben and an Asian girl.
“ OK hotties not here, so . . .”
Rex looked around until he heard a fain whooshing sound from a near by closet. He stopped at the door, and turned the knob very slowly. Opening the door he found Charmcaster curled up on the floor a mass of purple energy leaking out of her eyes and mouth.
“ Breakfast need any maybe raw meat? ”
The energy not woman whipped out at him
“ The only need I'll ever have for you is a nostalgic holiday virgin to sacrifice. ”
“ Lady the closest thing I've had to a back yard has trees with eyeballs, try harder to be scary. ”
He closed the door, and knew that line was going to cost him later. Returning to the kitchen food was already on the table.
“ Umm she's good on eating weird girl diet thing human blood or something. How do you know I want to eat that? ”
“ Come on I'm the hero you're eating what I'm eating. ”
“ True enough. ”
Rex sat and started eating as Ben's ever present phone went off. He put the phone down on the tabe for Rex to see.
“ You know her? ”
Rex swallowed some egg and answered.
“ D-Doctor Holiday. What is she doing here? I was thinking Six and a goon squad would be after me. ”
“ Likewise. ”
Ben walked from the room deeper into the apartment and not in the direction of the front door. While Rex ate Ben opened Charmcaster's closet.
“ Put your body on I need you. ”
“ I can feel his eyes he's watching this world looking for me. I can't do that. . .”
“ Darth Vader later, right now I need an interview at the door. Find out who's watching, and why she's here, so empathy to full blast. ”
The energy pulled her body up like strings do a puppet.
“ He's coming to try again what he failed with my mother. . .Do you know why she picked his brother over him? The barbarians dare she wrote in her diary. ”
Ben grabbed her by the shoulders.
“ Oh no please get your head out of the next dimension or whatever! I am doing long term maintenance because you are here to do heavy lifting! ”
Ben pulled her in close and whispered a word.
“ Koreani. ”
She snapped back to reality.
“ Dammit Ben that kid made me screw up! I was almost . . . rabble at the door . . . .like a servant! ”
Charmcaster shot him a look that he knew he'd pay for later, and vanished.
Outside Doctor Holiday wondered if she should ring the bell again, or find that big guy with the ak-47 that said he was a “ bell hop ”. In a flash of purple light she wasn't alone.
“ Leave . . . the homunculus isn't yours anymore. ”
“ Listen we don't want trouble, we just want to help. Rex's power could be dangerous to . . ”
She cut the Doctor off.
“ I don't give. Ben wants you gone, and I'm getting you to go away. Since he was such a damn crybaby the last time someone got turned to stone for annoying me you get asked first. If that doesn't work well too bad. ”
The Doctor spoke and to her credit didn't get angry.
“ A certain percentage of Rex's nanites don't follow his commands. That means if he uses his powers wrong he could die. Let me explain that to someone that understands nanotech or Rex's life could be at risk. ”
“ Just so you know, if your lying he's going have me take care of you. Let that keep you warm at night. ”
Charmcaster opened the door and lead her inside. They found Ben doing the dishes. He spoke without turning around.
“ He's in the shower so the grown ups have a chance to talk. Charmcaster mind garbing a seat between here and there in case he tries to drop some ease.”
“ . . . ”
“ You know ease dropping but I said it cleaver. ”
“ Right. ”
The white haired woman left the room, and Doctor Holiday spoke first.
“ Rex's powers aren't totally stable, he lacks whats called a nanotech controller. He could end up with a nanite mass in a major organ if he doesn't use his powers just right. There will only ever be one of him Mr Tennyson, and we don't have knowledge to make a nanite controller. We are learning how to do that FROM him. ”
Ben turned off the water and started drying his hands.
“ A Nanite controller that's actually what they call it on Galvan Prime. There are others depending on the world and all. How do you know that term? ”
“ You know we've picked this planet clean of alien technology looking for a way to save ourselves. We haven't found anything like Rex not by a long shot. We can't take him away from you, all we want to do is help. ”
Ben turned around grabbed his phone off the table and looked like he was playing Frogger while he talked.
“ You know they put a bullet and my girlfriend trying to get the watch off me wrist right? Julie was 16, and that tennis career she was hoping for took a back seat to learning to walk again. She at least got the chance to try because you man Six kept her alive till the EMT's got there.”
“ I'm sorry your friend got hurt, but it's the end of mankind we are dealing with. It's horrible what they put Rex through and how they treat him, but Providence is the only organization on earth with a chance of solving the Evo problem. It's been made clear no one will save us from ourselves, and failure means a long slow ride back to the dark ages. You have a ticket off Earth on your wrist Mister Tennyson, the rest of us Rex included doesn't. ”
Ben was silent for a long minute, as unseen by the Doctor he was looking a picture of the spider hybrid her sister had become.
“ So yea Doctor I've checked your references and welcome to team Tennyson. ”
Ages
The skies over the city darken and sirens scream as the ground shakes! A flying aircraft carrier falls burning to the earth powerless before the might of GODZILLA KING OF MONSTERS!
Flying over the scene of disaster in the form of Jet Ray is Ben Tennyson the worlds greatest hero! He speaks.
“ His might can not be overcome only appeased. I know just the thing! ”
Cut to Jet Ray inline at Mr Smoothie.
“ One jumbo mango please. ”
Cut again to Godzilla walking into the sea giant cup in hand. Tennyson nods in respect.
“Mr Smoothie the solution to the greatest thirst! ”
Agent Six watches as Whit Knights face replaces the commercial, and his boss speaks half screaming.
“ He's making us look like fools again! I want a solution to this rich boy with a power ring once and for all! ”
Six spoke in an flat even voice, and stated the obvious.
“ We've tried and failed every time. He's keeps so much in the public eye that he's impossible to touch ever since Bellwood. He's even hired Blackwater to watch his parents, and paid them enough to not turn on him. ”
White Knight calmed down remembering just who they sent into Bellwood. Cray, Lynch, Slayon, Fairchild, Chang, and Callahan where all dead. Of that group of their very best only Agent Six was left. Tennyson had used his celebrity status to protect himself and his surviving family ever since. The President liked to bring up just how much they needed to pay that Asian girls family. After a long minute he spoke.
“ Doctor Holiday, what is Rex status? How long until we can get him into the field? ”
Normally the more compassionate of the pair she sounded as close to Six's emotionless voice as he'd ever heard.
“ Rex can't take on that watch Sir. Maybe in few years but not now, it'll crash his entire system and any hope we have of using his as a nanite controller will be gone. ”
Their bosses face contorted with barely controlled rage as he spoke.
“ You have five months to show that Rex is worth the drain on our budget, or we tag him and bag him. Then we go into Abysus to take Van Kleiss by force. We let him go ravenous and feed him Evo's till he bursts for all I care but the world will be cleansed. White Knight out. ”
The screen went dark and Doctor Holiday said what they where both thinking.
“ Going in there will just get people killed, and our only other option is barely 15. ”
Six turned and walked for the door as he spoke.
“ We've trained him, the rest is up to Rex. ”
Rex sat in his tiny bare room concentrating on powers he barely understood and trying to things he wasn't sure how to. Glowing lines ran up his arm to Kirby dots signaling . . . he didn't know. All they could tell him was his nanites where responding to his control but he had no idea how to direct them.
“ Screw this, I need a break. ”
Rex walked the halls of Providence Keep in hospital scrubs, sick to death with not having a wardrobe that wasn't reserved for training.
“ Jeans and T-shirts would be nice, but nooo I'm a lab rat. ”
Rex wondered into the smoking lounge the only place on the ship with the ventilation for the nicotine addicts. It was abandoned as usual since since White Knight banned smoking on the ship, making the place just an unused out of the way break room. He as usual checked the vending machines for change.
“ Cuz lab rats only get fed at certain times and that means no snacky cakes or midnight munchies bags nooo. ”
Not finding any money he punched the machine in frustration then leaned on it. Closing his eyes tight he just wanted a damn soda. To his surprise it popped out a can.
“ Woo I don't get this lucky or lucky at all, I figured maybe I wronged a leprechaun and with the amnesia didn't remember. ”
Grabbing the can of soda, and guzzling it one shot he let out a burp, before turning back to the row of machines.
“ >Burrrp!< OK lets try the snack machine now because chocolate is required for proper nanite control. ”
The lines ran out from his arms to the surface of the junk food dispenser and it spit out a candy bar on command.
“ Healing factor? NOPE! Heat vision, that's for losers! Me I got free snacks at will baby! ”
Ben Tennyson sat looking at a hologram Kevin and Gwen on the Ultimatrix.
“ Kevin we need to talk . . . I'm beginning to suspect that your sleeping with Gwen, and I'm concerned for my cousin. ”
Gwen well into the 8th month of pregnancy chuckled just a bit.
“ Haha ouch. . .Parker stop kicking Mommie. ”
Ben smiled having gotten a laugh.
“ Parker as in Peter or Spiderman? ”
“ Don't get him started Ben he's been on me about names since Grandma popped out of the mirror while I was trying read the pregnancy test. Of course she was shouting “It's a boy!” totally ruining the surprise. ”
Kevin spoke up.
“ Hay the old lady was excited, I don't blame her! Anyway Parker Maxwell Levin make that rhyme with something I dare you. Speaking of the boy he ever going to meet his Uncle Ben that's important for him you know. ”
“ Kevin last week I took out an Evo the size of King Kong that was walking from Cape town to Cairo eating people. If I wasn't there Providence would have waited till it hit the desert and dropped a 30 year old Russian Nuke on it and hoped for the best. ”
Kevin tried to sound like he hadn't gotten sick of hearing the same excuse every month when they called.
“ Dude the Galvan created a race by accident. Worlds have to learn to deal with this stuff or you get people that can't grasp higher tech levels and you do not want to see that. That ends up in . . .well did we ever tell you about that repo job we did on the Vreedle's home world? ”
Gwen broke in.
“ We just got married that wasn't a repo job it was our honeymoon Kevin. I spent my honeymoon chasing a droid through mall that sold human hair as snack food. ”
“ What it paid for the trip, and that guy DID offer you a lot for your pony tail. ”
Ben smiled missing hearing them go back and forth like an old married couple since long before they got married. Sad he wasn't there for the million or so moments like this he was missing. His Iphone vibrated once, and he looked away from the watch for a moment.
“ Listen I need to run I've got a thing I need to do . . .I forget who it's for really but I know it's paying for that charity that's helping people in Brazil rebuild. Once they get things under control down here I will meet you two at the asteroid belt I swear. ”
Gwen gave him that look that said “ I know you're laying. ” but let it pass. Kevin spoke up.
“ Alright Tennyson, Keep you nose clean we are legitimate these days and don't want any troublemakers around. ”
Kevin broke into a laugh as the call went dead. Like he'd ever not have SOMETHING on the side.
Ben walked out of the men's room and sat in his judges chair sending a text. It read “ New York usual place tonight. ”
A voice booms over a speaker.
“ We are ready to begin the Miss Wet T-shit 2010 contest! Mr. Tennyson's services made possible by a generous donation to his disaster relief organization. ”
Ben gave the crowd a wave and then turned into a alien resembling a giant eyeball.
Doctor Holiday checked the scanner again as her subject writhed in pain.
“ Yea, this will take a double dosage I'm sure. ”
The person on the bed tried to be brave.
“ Give it to me straight Doctor. ”
She plopped four tabs into a glass of water and handed it over.
“ This will taste bad, but it will fix you up. Now did you take someones wallet to get all that candy Rex? ”
“ No. . .> gulp< oh man that is gorse. I a a a a was practicing with my powers totally for the benefit of the mission and all. . . ”
“ I'm sure. ”
The boy tired to sound serious.
“ And it hit me that I might be able to interface with something simpler then that Evo house plant you keep in your lab. Going to tell Six on me? ”
“ Nope, that would discourage a positive step in the right direction. Don't bankrupt the vending machine company and you'll be fine. But speaking of that plant, thing you can give it another go? ”
The boy looked a bit nervous, but he was trying to hide it.
“ It doesn't have teeth anymore right? ”
“ I pluck them and feed it only oatmeal I swear. ”
Agent Six entered the room silent as a ghost like always. He spoke and Rex jumped at the sound of his voice from nowhere.
“ Any forward motion? ”
“ Aaaa! ”
Doctor Holiday frowned a bit as she spoke.
“ Subtle Six as ever. Rex was controlling simple machines a little while ago. We where going to try the plant again. ”
Rex spoke uneasy.
“ Umm maybe later I um don't really . . that thing is so nasty for something that small. ”
Six looked at him through those shades of his, and Rex held his breath.
“ Alright then, let give this combat trainer another go. We will use the light gun with the broken trigger see if you can make the command in the fly. ”
Rex relaxed Six wasn't angry.
“ Sure thing Six. ”
Doctor Holiday looked on silently.
Ground Zero reconstruction zone New Your City.
Ben looked down at the empty lot eating a cheese steak. He speaks in between bites.
“ Always a clever place to meet, every intelligence organization on earth used to watch this bit of ground but with reconstruction taking this long they just stopped caring. What have you got for me? ”
A thumb drive drops to the ground and Ben is alone again. He finishes his dinner before retrieving it.
“ Machina Rex. My kingdom for Upgrade and Gray Matter. ”
Ben looked around, he was totally alone. He wondered if anyone was watching, if Azmeth was watching.
“ Head in the game Hero. ”
Ben walked into an ally and made a quick change into XLR8 and was half way to the harbor in an eye blink. Running across the water in moments he reached his Redbank New Jersey safe house.
“ How I let Smith talk me into renting over the damn comic book store . . .at least they keep their mouths shut as long as I autograph stuff. ”
Turning back to Ben in a flash he sat on a bean bag chair in front of a folding table with a budget laptop borrowing wifi from the over priced soup joint up the street. He slotted the thumb drive his eyes got wide. For once Ben didn't need Brain Storm understand the gravity of the technical data he was seeing.
“ This is closer then Van Kleiss ever was. . . ”
He opened a random jpeg and saw an image of Rex smiling at the camera.
“ Your kidding me that's the Omicron nanite generator? ”
The next picture was of Rex screaming while being bitten on the hand by a Evo potted plant. Followed by a word doc full of techno babble he would in fact need to turn into a giant crab alien to understand.
“ Who are you Rex? ”
Rex ran through the target shooting program again hoping for a score above 50%, he got 48%.
“ Oh man I got a gun with not trigger and they want me to get a good score? ”
Six was behind him again and Rex jumped as he spoke.
“ You're not here to shot you're here to interface with simple machines so you can learn to interface with more complicated ones. ”
“ Aaa ! Did you read too much Batman as a child? ”
“ Complicated machines are just lots of simple machines stacked on top of each other. You have to learn so we can pull them out, or at least hit the off switch. ”
Rex for once snapped at Six.
“ The entire planet MYSELF! Who do you think I am Ben 10? ”
“ You need to stop watching Hulu and start taking this seriously. I've men Tennyson, he has the technology to fix this and he doesn't had it over because he loves to play the hero. ”
The boy cringed as Six spoke just the same emotionless tone as ever.
“ If he could FIX THIS MESS he'd never stop being the hero. ”
“ You need to concentrate on the mission and . . . ”
Rex dropped the light gun and screamed.
“ ALL I DO IT CONENTRATE ON THE MISSION AND LIVE IN A BOX! THE HIGHLIGHT OF MY DAY IS BEING POKED AND PRODDED BY THE OFFICE HOTTIE! DO YOU GIVE BLOOD AND BONE MARROW FOR A SMILE ICE MAN? ”
Rex walked for the door Six raised his hand to grab the boys shoulder.
“ Don't even. ”
Ben walked into his “ official ” residence in L.A. Where he all his fund raising, celebrity hobnobbing, and more importantly his proverbial checks where mailed her. Proverbial as in he was heavy into online banking since he never knew what town he was going to end up in, and that made taking large amounts of cash out of the bank in whatever country easy to excuse to the tax man. Thought the amount of money that he funneled to other things and what he just wasted on partying where changing place he had to admit. It was lonely at the top and some times that meant consoling himself with good deeds and well some times that meant blowing money on fake friends that pretended to care.
He waved the watch in front of his wall safe. It opened and he grabbed a wad of bills and swore not to blow doing. . . things Gwen could never find out about like he had way to often since Grandpa Max died.
“ Today the next 24 hours it is hero time, no screw ups. ”
Ben dialed the watch to his least favorite form, and hit the face plate.
“ Aaaaa! Zaxion! ”
The odd four foot tall gray skinned alien's form was unsettling to use because of its odd brain setup. The watch could turn him into it, but it was either imperfect or these creatures existed in constant pain. It had an ultimate setting but he was damned if he wanted more of this creature.
Ben extended the creatures remote viewing power out beyond the walls of his home, across the thousands of miles to the bones of old New Orleans, and teleported in a flash. His head was spinning as he fell to wet concrete, and turned back to a human in a flash. The watches face red as his own.
“ Oh what the hell I've been running maintenance! Ulti-matrix code ten explain last override. ”
“ Warning default Geno-archetype homosapien at risk of degradation do to excessive user bypass of safety protocols without diagnostics. ”
Ben barked at the AI he knew couldn't understand rage.
“ Bull it runs every night! ”
“ Incorrect. Past 3 sleep cycles have been under 6 hours, and one was spent as an Pupo-sapien. ”
“ Damn that girl did like the fur. How long to reset to optimum? ”
“ 27 hours uninterrupted. ”
“ And me without my gun. How long to get my above 50% degradation? ”
“ Warning . . . ”
“ Code ten smart guy! ”
“ 47 minutes minim. ”
“ Full diagnostic, DNA scrub and shit just do it all I'll make due till then. Code Ten. ”
Ben looked around at a dead city knowing the kind of people and none people that hung out here, and knowing the amount of money he had in his pants. Ben started walking, by dawn he'd made it to his original intended destination with no real trouble. Even here people knew who he was, but word he bet that Ben Tennyson was looking like crap walking thought no mans land to HERE would be out in certain circles. Some would believe it some wouldn't, others would check anyway.
“ I am going to need a new place to get my wet work done. ”
He walked past the pair of animated golem's that guarded the door and hoping that meant he was still welcome. The main doors weren't even locked, as he went straight for the one place he knew he'd find the person he was after. The library, Charmcaster was there every time, and Ben was starting to wonder if she only left when he got her to.
He entered the room, and like the rest of the place it was humid as hell since the house hadn't had electricity let alone AC in years. Charmcaster was right where she had been last time, in that same tank top and ratty shorts. It was a look that showed of the mix of Celtic and Nordic ruins she'd tattooed onto her skin herself. The first sign that she was getting dangerous Ben liked to think. She turned to greet him and the light caught the polished jade jewel that had taken the place of her left eye, something Ben didn't like to think about.
“ Well well the hero returns. You look like crap Ben. ”
Women like her don't turn into body modding enthusiasts over night.
“ Sure I put a lot of effort into the Robert Downey jr as Tony Stark thing. My publicist tells me I am just the man right now. ”
She just looked at him waiting for the punchline, when it didn't come she honestly sounded concerned.
“ Careful Ben don't for get or I might. You're the one that reminded me never to believe my own hype. ”
Ben remembered that night in Hong Kong when it came up that spells where just instructions on how to manipulate mana. Spell books where just records of what others had learned how to do, and schools of magic just a curriculum like any other. If that was what started her on the road to turning into this, Ben wondered if it was more thing to keep him from sleeping. He spoke.
“ I need a place to crash for a full day, then I need you to help me bust into the Keep and get a look at something important. ”
Charmcaster turned her head just a bit as if she was trying to look past Ben and into something else entirely.
“ The one place on earth that's built to keep you out. Why would I be that stupid? ”
“ 'Cause I'm irresistible? ”
“ . . . ”
She didn't talk so he did.
“ OK 20 grand cash. ”
That got her attention.
“ Theirs a dig in Britain looking for funding. They don't know it but they are five feet from Merlin's tomb. I want my father to be known as a man and not a legend. ”
“ I get to make this tax deductible? I'll make a phone call when this is over. ”
Doctor holiday put down the pliers and put the plant back on the shelf.
“ No more biting for you. ”
The Doctor looked at the time and realized today had turned into tomorrow hours ago, and she was due for an early shift. While making up her mind if it was smarter to stay awake straight thorugh or try to grab a nap and a shower before the new work day started the Doctor noticed one tiny out of the way terminal displaying something it shouldn't.
Walking to get a better look at it she noticed Rex heart rate was spiking, and his adrenalin was off topping the numbers from his last combat simulation.
“ Doctor Holiday to watch. Whats Rex's location? ”
“ No movement on his quarters mam. ”
“ Sorry but I need a visual. ”
She counted the heartbeats till the guard reached Rex's door.
“ Mam I'm sorry but it looks like he's crawled out the air vent. None of the motion sensors tripped the alarm. ”
“ Not if he turned them off first. Give me a check in the grid for anything that's off line that shouldn't be. ”
Doctor Holiday jogged to the elevator.
Rex climbed down the garbage shoot very slowly.
“ Han Solo how did you do this? I need a side kick I really do. ”
Reaching the main garbage depo he put his hands on the fitly wall, and it began to glow. The floor opens out from under him and he fell rapidly into the ice cold New York harbor in the black of night.
“ Providence general order number 43 when ever possible park over water just in case. ”
He started to swim for all he was worth.
Six opened his eyes as a sliver of light light his sleeping space, and someone stepped to his bed. They pulled back the covers and say a pair of pillows underneath and he turned on the light with his free hand. Doctor Holiday jumped as she noticed he was siting behind her in a chair with a .45 in his hand.
“ God! Six do you sleep like that every night? ”
“ You get used to it. Whats wrong Samantha. ”
She took a minute to catch her breath and spoke.
“ You're room and my room are off the com system, and Rex is gone. We only know because I was working late and noticed his biometrics spiked. No ones seen him for at least 45 minutes. ”
“ Who knows? ”
“ I called the watch Captain to check on him that's all. ”
“ Don't log it in the system, I'll talk to the watch Captain, if we get lucky White Knight won't know for a few hours. We have that long to prevent a kill order. ”
Ben sat up in bed as his phone went off on the dresser. Charmcaster rolled over and spoke.
“ Reception here? ”
“ Satellite phone runs on an Israeli bird in geosynchronous orbit. Shit we are either very very lucky or very very unlucky. Our target just ran away from that floating castle we where going to storm. Ultimartix status? ”
“Ready. ”
“ Time to get ready. ”
He looked to his left and she was magically already dressed.
“ I hate you some times. ”
Rex loved this block. The tiny store he wondered into about dawn as it opened had an atm and the clerk had his back turned ad Rex had “ withdrawn ” three hundred bucks and he'd spent the morning shopping around. He'd gotten breakfast a pair of jeans, some over priced sneakers socks and an I heart New York shirt so far. He was tempted to grab a nice leather jack but that would mean finding another ATM with no one watching. So far their where lots of people in most stores or at least the ones he thought where interesting, and he didn't want to get spotted.
Two girls at least 3 years older then he was walked into the clothing store he was wondering around in, and he hit the ATM with a line behind him not thinking.
“ Got to look good for the ladies. ”
No one noticed he thought at least, but as he touched the machine a barley visible wave of violet light swept the area and his stomach turned. The ATM went crazy and started spitting out money like bad comedy. Rex grabbed a wad and limped away as the people in line began picking up the money.
“ Umm bathroom now. . . ”
“ Grrr. ”
Rex looked to the source of the growling and saw of all things a dog shaped sculpture walking in his direction.
“ OK maybe ordering a McMuffin with extra bacon is like slang for something special and I'm not in the know. ”
The dog monster jumpt at him and Rex ducked to his left and tried to hid behind a discount rack. The thing just walked around it and he realized it was between him and the door.
“ OK OK I've been trained to deal with this good EVO doggie want a cookie . . .me to got any? ”
It snarled at him and charged, and without thinking what it might be made of he kicked the thing with all his might. Without knowing it metal encased his foot and the dog was smashed bits of rock flew through the shops main window smashing it.
“ Umm aaa ... ”
Rex dropped the money and tried to run but his one foot was wearing huge metal boot that made walking a long slow effort.
“ Umm don't mind me it happened in the war. ”
Dragging his oversized boot outside, he was met with two more of the creatures waiting for him.
“ I want you to know you are totally ruining my first day off ever. EVER! ”
The things snarled at him and charged Rex found himself 40 feet in the air and he grinned.
“ This boot is meant for kicking! ”
Landing square on one of the dog things crushed it into dust, and stuck Rex in the ground up to his knee. The last creature moved in for the kill.
“ Umm can I tag out? ”
A shard of green crystal cut threw the beast like a hot knife through butter, and Rex's eyes grew to the size of silver dollars.
“ Sure thing, but I only tag team with my side kicks. ”
It was Ben Tennyson.
Agent Six watch a circle of press shower Tennyson standing in front of a limo with tinted windows with attention making him for all in tense and proposes bullet proof.
“ OK people I need to get going but I have time for one question. You there form CNN Linda right? Not that I know you personally or anything. . . sorry I didn't call by the way. ”
“ Ben > ahem< Mr. Tennyson who was that boy? ”
“ Umm Not Bucky Barns, not Dick Grayson, but he is in fact Wally West. With that good day every one. Linda call me, love you. ”
Six couldn't help but see the bags under his eyes, and how they looked covered up by makeup for the cameras. He couldn't help but remember Bellwood. He couldn't help but remember Doctor Holiday doing the autopsy on the Galvanic symbiont. The nanite event had attacked it like a virus and it didn't have the higher brain functions to adapt, it tired to protect the girl anyway. He would never forget the look on Tennyson's face when Cray killed that girl. What came next kept him up nights.
Rex was loving the limo it had soda!
“ Woo hoo my sugar rush was needing a boost! So Pretty lady hang out with super stars often? ”
Charmcaster sat in the seat across from Rex with her purple coat that was older then Rex. Her eyes hidden behind a pair of Ben's Ray-Bans. She looked at his with senses she couldn't have dreamed of when she met Ben as a snot nosed kid a decade ago. His body was alive with technology that ran counter to the Bezelian arts she employed.
“ The child of the Wizard of Menlo park. Everything mankind chose over us. ”
“ What now? Do you know my father or something? ”
“ No kid, and I couldn't care less. Your own past is your business if you can't find it you don't deserve to know it. ”
Rex frowned a bit and looked at her a minute trying to figure out who his idol had left him alone with.
“ So are you the hero's spunky side kick? Bad ass ex-villain girl friend ? Maybe . . . ”
A violet glow came from behind her glasses.
“ Pay attention little boy, because I'm not going to tell you twice no matter what Ben says. Watch me I only inhale before I speak, I have forgotten pain, and if through some miracle you get close enough to me to feel my pulse it isn't there. Sometimes when your hero needs bad things to happen. He calls me for that, because I honestly couldn't give a damn about the SHEEPeople if I tried. You either have the will to power or you are meat for those that do. ”
Rex blinked trying to process what she said, but was distracted when Ben got into the car. It started moving as he spoke.
“ Are you scaring him? Is she scaring you? She shouldn't be scaring you. Charmcaster why are your scaring him? ”
“ Bored. ”
“ That's nice dear, your bored so you scare my sidekick before he's even signed on as my sidekick. That's brand loyalty for ya. Hi Rex Ben Tennyson pleased to meet ya ! I know we met a few minutes and all but Hi Ben Tennyson! ”
“ Rex. So I escape and you happen to be in the neighborhood. Whats the deal? ”
Ben smiled and stopped being so playful.
“ Smart kid, you noticed we where in the neighborhood. I acquired the services of this lovely yet menacing creature to my right to help me storm the gates of Olympus and steal some thunderbolts. That's you Rex. Rex Machina the king of machines. Consider me your personal Qui-gon. ”
The boy was ecstatic.
“ Sweet! ”
White Knight was dead calm and that made Six worried.
“ OK Rex gained active control of at least some of his abilities, and with in 28 hours was AWOL. The initial recovery attempt was aborted by Tennyson's presence correct? ”
Six responded normally.
“ Tennyson, and company Sir. Intel has since come in. The limo driver that dropped them off at his home described his companion as . . . are you up to date on code name “ Evilyn ” Sir? ”
“ The last Mana user on earth? I am aware of the losses we took when we tried to turn her. She was tied the loses at the Rushmore reclamation effort, and the total loss of project LostBoys. ”
Doctor Holiday spoke up.
“ I'm not aware of that one. ”
Six for once hesitated before speaking.
“ Human alien hybrids from past visitors when we where a backwater before we where blockaded after the nanite event. It was thought that we find an alien with abilities or skills we could use that stayed behind. All we found where children to young to know what they where or completely understand what they could do. We tried to organize a forcible relocation and training program. ”
She didn't sound happy, but the Doctor at least kept her anger under control.
“ We kidnapped children? ”
White Knight stated the obvious.
“ This world is dying. Evo's are increasing, and with the exception of Rex all we can do is contain and kill. Those are stop gap measures Doctor. ”
She closed her eyes for a second before speaking.
“ I've been warning you this might happen. You treated Rex like a test subject not a kid and now that we don't have a door he can't unlock he had no reason to stay. Along comes Ben 10 with his shiny celebrity smile and all the toys a kid could want. We don't have the power to walk in there and take Rex back, couldn't hold him even if we could. If Tennyson is poison we need to make Rex see it before it's to late. ”
What Knight sounded annoyed.
“ What are you getting at Doctor? ”
“ We roll over and admit the truth that Providence can't TAKE Rex back, and all we want to is make sure his unique medical needs are met. We approach him while Rex is there and he'll have to say yes. If they try anything after I'm in Rex will hopefully notice and want to come in from the cold. ”
Six spoke first.
“ You want to put your head on the chopping block? No way you've got to much information on him and us. ”
White Knight spoke up.
“ Why don't we use a sniper with a good scope again? ”
Six didn't take his eyes off Holiday and responded as if through reflex.
“ In the battle of New Orleans Tennyson got a concussion and was out for 36 hours. The Ultimatrix was in self-destruct mode until he work up. It also sent out an energy wave whenever we got close and ignored the Doctors, like it could tell. ”
White Knight spoke to her for once.
“ Glad to know your willing to get your hands dirty Doctor. We'll do periodic checkups on the boy. If you're out of contact for longer then 48 hours at any one time we will assume your compromised. Agent Six will give you a primer on the field. Keep your eyes out for anything we can use, and don't take anything with you that's state of the art. ”
“ I'll go pack, and run everything past security. ”
She left the room, and Knight's face on the screen turned to Six.
“ How much ice water does that woman have in her veins? ”
“ She's not like we are but you know how far she'll go for the right reasons. ”
Rex work up in a soft bed, and he didn't want to move. He had his arms and legs spread out and couldn't feel the edges of it. For the first time he was just content to lay there, then someone knocked on his forehead like it was the front door.
“ Aaaa what are you doing! ”
“ Come on time for training, and if I need to call you again I'll send Charmcaster in here. You do not want to know how she wakes people up. ”
Rex sat up.
“ She eats brains doesn't she? 'Cuz I saw this one Romero movie once, and totally fits the bill. ”
“ . . . First off It was Return where they talked and eat brains and in the “of the dead” movies they just eat flesh, and well evolve a bit but they don't talk. Second Charmcaster is out growing her corporal form not lingering in it after she shouldn't be. The difference is . . . 7 tech levels over your head so UP BOY!”
Rex popped out of bed, and groaned as Ben lead him to of all places the kitchen.
“ Before training we eat. Before he eat we have to cook. Men have long enjoyed mixing fire and random objects. See where this is going? ”
“ You're going to cook ? ”
“ No sidekick, WE are going to cook. ”
Rex rubbed his eyes and spoke.
“ and if I burn stuff? ”
“ Then I have enough coco puffs for me. ”
“ Dude so far training bites. ”
Ben frowned a bit before giving orders.
“ And for the first part of the meal, we need the menu. Find out what Charmcaster is eating. ”
The idea of the creepy lady eating filling his head with horror movie clips, as he walked off. Reaching the hallway he realized he had no idea what room was hers, and as he turned back stoping before entering the kitchen.
“ Qui-gon. ”
Turning back walked to the master bedroom, and noticed it was empty. He checked the closets the attached bathroom and under the bed just in case. All he found where some pictures on the dresser mirror of a red haired girl some guy, and Ben and an Asian girl.
“ OK hotties not here, so . . .”
Rex looked around until he heard a fain whooshing sound from a near by closet. He stopped at the door, and turned the knob very slowly. Opening the door he found Charmcaster curled up on the floor a mass of purple energy leaking out of her eyes and mouth.
“ Breakfast need any maybe raw meat? ”
The energy not woman whipped out at him
“ The only need I'll ever have for you is a nostalgic holiday virgin to sacrifice. ”
“ Lady the closest thing I've had to a back yard has trees with eyeballs, try harder to be scary. ”
He closed the door, and knew that line was going to cost him later. Returning to the kitchen food was already on the table.
“ Umm she's good on eating weird girl diet thing human blood or something. How do you know I want to eat that? ”
“ Come on I'm the hero you're eating what I'm eating. ”
“ True enough. ”
Rex sat and started eating as Ben's ever present phone went off. He put the phone down on the tabe for Rex to see.
“ You know her? ”
Rex swallowed some egg and answered.
“ D-Doctor Holiday. What is she doing here? I was thinking Six and a goon squad would be after me. ”
“ Likewise. ”
Ben walked from the room deeper into the apartment and not in the direction of the front door. While Rex ate Ben opened Charmcaster's closet.
“ Put your body on I need you. ”
“ I can feel his eyes he's watching this world looking for me. I can't do that. . .”
“ Darth Vader later, right now I need an interview at the door. Find out who's watching, and why she's here, so empathy to full blast. ”
The energy pulled her body up like strings do a puppet.
“ He's coming to try again what he failed with my mother. . .Do you know why she picked his brother over him? The barbarians dare she wrote in her diary. ”
Ben grabbed her by the shoulders.
“ Oh no please get your head out of the next dimension or whatever! I am doing long term maintenance because you are here to do heavy lifting! ”
Ben pulled her in close and whispered a word.
“ Koreani. ”
She snapped back to reality.
“ Dammit Ben that kid made me screw up! I was almost . . . rabble at the door . . . .like a servant! ”
Charmcaster shot him a look that he knew he'd pay for later, and vanished.
Outside Doctor Holiday wondered if she should ring the bell again, or find that big guy with the ak-47 that said he was a “ bell hop ”. In a flash of purple light she wasn't alone.
“ Leave . . . the homunculus isn't yours anymore. ”
“ Listen we don't want trouble, we just want to help. Rex's power could be dangerous to . . ”
She cut the Doctor off.
“ I don't give. Ben wants you gone, and I'm getting you to go away. Since he was such a damn crybaby the last time someone got turned to stone for annoying me you get asked first. If that doesn't work well too bad. ”
The Doctor spoke and to her credit didn't get angry.
“ A certain percentage of Rex's nanites don't follow his commands. That means if he uses his powers wrong he could die. Let me explain that to someone that understands nanotech or Rex's life could be at risk. ”
“ Just so you know, if your lying he's going have me take care of you. Let that keep you warm at night. ”
Charmcaster opened the door and lead her inside. They found Ben doing the dishes. He spoke without turning around.
“ He's in the shower so the grown ups have a chance to talk. Charmcaster mind garbing a seat between here and there in case he tries to drop some ease.”
“ . . . ”
“ You know ease dropping but I said it cleaver. ”
“ Right. ”
The white haired woman left the room, and Doctor Holiday spoke first.
“ Rex's powers aren't totally stable, he lacks whats called a nanotech controller. He could end up with a nanite mass in a major organ if he doesn't use his powers just right. There will only ever be one of him Mr Tennyson, and we don't have knowledge to make a nanite controller. We are learning how to do that FROM him. ”
Ben turned off the water and started drying his hands.
“ A Nanite controller that's actually what they call it on Galvan Prime. There are others depending on the world and all. How do you know that term? ”
“ You know we've picked this planet clean of alien technology looking for a way to save ourselves. We haven't found anything like Rex not by a long shot. We can't take him away from you, all we want to do is help. ”
Ben turned around grabbed his phone off the table and looked like he was playing Frogger while he talked.
“ You know they put a bullet and my girlfriend trying to get the watch off me wrist right? Julie was 16, and that tennis career she was hoping for took a back seat to learning to walk again. She at least got the chance to try because you man Six kept her alive till the EMT's got there.”
“ I'm sorry your friend got hurt, but it's the end of mankind we are dealing with. It's horrible what they put Rex through and how they treat him, but Providence is the only organization on earth with a chance of solving the Evo problem. It's been made clear no one will save us from ourselves, and failure means a long slow ride back to the dark ages. You have a ticket off Earth on your wrist Mister Tennyson, the rest of us Rex included doesn't. ”
Ben was silent for a long minute, as unseen by the Doctor he was looking a picture of the spider hybrid her sister had become.
“ So yea Doctor I've checked your references and welcome to team Tennyson. ”
