Chapter 22: Speed and Strength Part 1
Ingenium jumped over a couple boxes and took cover!
"Well, that could have gone better…"
"You don't say!" Kevin, with his stone armor, then quickly joined him. Taking a risk, he took a quick look from the side, before a laser bolt chipped the box.
"Twelve knights, all armed–"
The sounds of metal stomping and gun arming filled the room.
And more on their way…" He said. "Sure, why not."
Ingenium nodded, taking stock of it. "Okay, then this time, let's approach with a plan of attack, alright?"
Kevin looked curious. "I'm listening."
The pro-hero threw a deadpan stare from inside the helmet.
Kevin however, just waited for his instructions.
The pro-hero took a deep breath. "Okay, I think–"
"Say no more." Kevin broke open the crate that he hid behind and absorbed the shiny, block-like and blueish-gray metal inside. "Time to knock some heads!"
"No, wa—"
Kevin kicked the box he was against, knocking down some knights like pins.!
"For crying out loud…" Ingenium shook his head, as more knights were circling around.
"Engine boost!"
Without giving them a chance to aim, he leaped out from his cover!
"What in blue blaz–!"
Immediately one of the knights got greeted by a high-speed flying knee.
The other knights tried to take aim, but he was too fast.
One got a turbo powered left cross, and the other got a kick to the back of his head!
"I suggest you stay down…"
However, the reinforcements were arriving in droves–!
Suddenly all of them were shot down with a red blast.
Ingenium turned to see Kevin.
"What did I say?" the ex-con said, holding a smoking green rifle. "Less pro-cop, more space-cop!"
"Right!" Ingenium nodded as the second wave arrived.
He put his arms up instinctively, as the lasers focused on him but he got a move on and started zooming around.
The engines roared, and it added even more noise to the already chaotic battle.
More and more knights bolted towards them like they were discounted items on black friday!
"Get off!" Kevin knocked away a bunch of them as he and the pro-hero saw one taking out a gold & grey bazooka!
"I got him!" Both of them said.
Kevin dropped the two knights he had in his arms, pulled out a chunk of the floor, and tossed it towards the knight!
Unfortunately it collided with the racing Ingenium instead. "AH!"
He had the idea of rushing close so that he may knock the weapon out of his hands, but now he was knocked onto the ground instead.
The pro-hero saw the bazooka aimed at him.
Ingenium raised his arms, in a last ditch attempt. The red light closed in but then—!
Kevin jumped in.
"Damn it!" He growled as he took the full blast.
Ingenium could feel its heat from where he laid.
Once the light show was done, Kevin rushed at the knight, put his hand in the nozzle and let the gun explode on his shoulder as the half-wit tried pulling the trigger again.
Once that one went down as well, he looked around. "That it?"
Ingenium raised his head, and… scouted the area.
"Seems so. Thanks for that."
Bodies were all over, but none of them were the standing kind.
He got up, rubbing his chest. Thankfully the armor had cushioned the hit. "All of them… are out like a knight."
Kevin turned around, visibly disappointed.
"Sorry." He put a hand behind his head. "Just, kind of, slipped out."
"Uh-huh..." The ex-con uttered again as he got to looking around.
He cracked open one of the boxes. "I was just about to say sorry for hitting you too but—"
Ingenium cracked a smile. "The pun changed your mind?"
Kevin looked back at him. "You know… It made quite a convincing argument."
There was a lax attitude in the air… but the criminal then straightened up.
"But, for real…" he said. "Sorry."
"Don't sweat it." The pro-hero shrugged, taking off his helmet. "I took on worse before."
He took a gander at the battlefield. It was a warehouse, with boarded, broken windows and flaked off wall paint.
"First real time working in a team, I'm guessing?"
"Something like that." Kevin said, before the two started their examination of the complex. As Ingenium investigated the info in the mainframe, he took on the job of investigating their equipment, and caches.
There was a lot more fancy tech where the tetramand engine block and the rifle came from. Disruptor pods, jetpacks, holo-viewers, universal translators and of course piles upon piles of varying weaponry.
"Just level 3 tech." Kevin remarked. "Should have guessed as much."
"So…" Ingenium nodded as he continued to type on the keys. He took back the last input, and tried something else. "Nothing useful?"
Kevin shook his head. "Nothing that would take longer than a quick phone call to get." He then kicked one of the empty helmets across the room… only for it to land next to the green rifle from before.
Kevin picked it back up…
Ingenium didn't miss that.
"Well…" he bit his tongue, as the computer then returned an error. "I think we're gonna be here for a while, you… want to check if anything catches your eye?"
"Okay... but did you need to take the engine?" Ingenium asked from the passenger seat.
Half an hour or so later, the two were back in Kevin's car, driving to the very next location that the radar had shown them. One which they suspected to be a DNAlien hideout, due to the relatively remote location.
"I don't see the problem…" Kevin shrugged.
Ingenium, straightened up in his seat. "Of course you don't."
As the engine hadn't fit in the trunk, the two had to lay it on the back seat, specifically behind Ingenium, in order for it to not disturb the driver.
"When it gets on the extranet, it's gonna sell like hot cakes." Kevin then added. "Even though it's a Khoros 1 model."
Ingenium… still had his concerns. But he let the matter go.
The ex-con was getting much more talkative, since that time in the garage. The last thing he wanted was to make a strong stance and ruin that.
"So…" he said, instead. "What else did you grab? The bazooka I'm guessing?"
"Nah." Kevin clicked his tongue. "The nozzle on that thing was beyond busted."
Ingenium kept a close eye on Kevin, and noticed him looking away from the road for a second.
"Nevermind my collection though. What did you find in their systems?"
"Oh, right." Ingenium had almost forgotten.
He took out a flash drive and hooked it up to the vehicle display. "Take a look at this."
A map of Japan with markings came up, divided by its prefectures…
"Red?" Kevin stole a glance at the screen.
There were flashing x's, and green, sonar-like search zones.
"I think they're looking for something." The pro-hero said, as he tapped the buttons on the side of the screen.
"Great…" Kevin mumbled under his breath. "Add it to the list, why don't you?"
Ingenium closed the map, despite his fingers hesitating on the panel.
"You're right…"
Solemnly he pulled away his hand. "We should try to be measured and–"
"Bust more bases." Kevin said.
Ingenium could see the determination behind those black pupils. "Let's get it done."
The car even sped up a little, and the pro-hero couldn't help but feel prideful, but…
"Actually, I was going to say watch our time to rest." he added. "After all, it will be just us two dealing with it."
"So what?" Kevin shrugged as the green light showed. "We've been alone for the past 7 bases."
"5." Ingenium corrected. "And you know not every night is going to be this simple."
Kevin… didn't comment.
He raised his hand. "We're hardly going to have Mr. Tennyson's or his team's support. as they are still children…"
From behind the helmet, Ingenium paused. He recounted who he was talking to.
"Just like y–"
"And Labrid is in America." Kevin cut in. "It's just *us*."
He put emphasis on it, as his tone became more assured… and bitter.
"Besides, you know that's what Tennyson would want."
He let the car turn again. "Keeping a tight leash around my neck…"
The ex-con looked at his wrists. "At least, I'm not wearing bracelets anymore."
He had said that with spite, and Ingenium did feel it, however he felt like it should be addressed.
"I figure there is a good reason… isn't there?"
Kevin might have been feeling upset, but the reality of the situation was that he came from the Null Void.
"Look, I'm not going to pretend to know your situation, Kevin." Ingenium said. "However, if you do want it to change, IF you want people to see the best in you, then you need to show them."
Ingenium no longer sank in his seat. He spoke to him like one of his sidekicks, who would ask him for advice.
"And nothing will give you a better chance, than an alien invasion that both of you are trying to fight against."
The car turned the corner. Kevin, didn't make any expressions.
He continued to drive, as the street lights went over the top of the car one after the other.
"You're really star-eyed, hero." He kept one hand on the wheel, his black eyes stuck on the road ahead of him. "You can just assume people will even look."
"I mean I will." Ingenium said, rather bluntly all things considered.
"And I like to think others will follow too."
Kevin side-eyed the pro-hero, as he reached into the pocket of his costume. There, a light gray disc came out, shaped similar to a circular hourglass with a red dot in the center.
Different from Labrid's, but still… A Plumber's badge…
"You mean them?" Kevin asked. "No offense, but I doubt your classma–"
"No." Ingenium rather nervously cut in. "Or maybe… I'm not sure, exactly. Whether they would listen."
Kevin grumbled in his seat.
"Then who?"
Two (and a half) Weeks Later
"FOCUS, YOUNG TENNYSON!" All Might yelled out.
Both the hero and student had their feet on the beach. The sun was shining, the waves were crashing and combat was in the air!
"LEMME TELL YA SOMETHIN ALL MIGHT, NUMBER 1 HERO OF JAPAN WHO I ACCEPTED THE OFFER TO TRAIN WITH, YOU MAY BE BIG… BUT RATH IS EVEN BIGGER!"
Rath's hulking body ran right ahead on four legs and he leaped, carrying his momentum to his fist.
All Might's smiling face took the punch.
Rath smirked, only to get a quick uppercut to his chin, followed by a right cross!
The two giants kept going at it with quick succession hits.
A hit to the temple! One to the nose!
All Might took a step back after that last hit and prepped his hand, unbeknownst to his pupil.
A roaring fist landed at the tigers chest.
Rath went flying, doing a backflip on his way down. He landed on his feet, claws slicing through the sand.
"YOU MUST ALWAYS BE ON GUARD YOUNG TENNYSON." All Might didn't even rub his cheek. He just kept on with that smile—
"I AM!"
The suggestion didn't land. Rath growled angrily, and jumped backwards onto the railings. "FROM THE TOP ROW!"
Rath jumped down, but All Might didn't dodge. He grabbed his fists, and tossed the tiger to the wall with a spin.
The tiger however, was relentless.
Brushing past the smoke, he was immediately back for more!
All Might blocked another punch, and countered with an elbow!
But Rath, getting up on his hands, went for a kick. It managed to clip one of All Might's signature bangs!
He stumbled back.
"THAT'S GONNA END IT PIPSQUEAK!"
Rath launched himself forward once more. Running, running, and—!
He slammed the dial point blank making All Might shield his eyes.
"Here is a present from me!" Ball Weevil chirped from the sky, raining down his explosive slime!
All Might threw a punch upwards, the air pressure making all the slime miss.
But Ball Weevil didn't. He landed right on All Might's arm.
"Hey there! You got a little something on your face."
A slime ball launched itself right onto the teacher's head..
"AH!"
"Although, frankly…" Ball Weevil jumped off. "It's an improvement!"
All Might ripped it off. But when he opened his eyes again, he found everything to be… yellow?
He stretched out his hand, only to discover it's a bubble.
"Ha ha ha…" Brainstorm laughed under his breath. "My dear master, your nigh gladiatorial bellicosity has won me this contest as I now have you encased in my… STORM CLOUD!"
All Might looked at the crackling bubble, as Brainstorm raised his arms…
Wait, Tennyson had used this attack before. It was the same bubble that was used against Young Asui in the battle trial.
"I suggest you firmly lay down any aggression and declare myself as the victor of this contest!" Brainstorm's voice echoed from the outside again.
However, All Might's grin only grew wider. Brainstorm's mind got to work.
"What is so amusing if I may implore?"
"I'M GLAD TO SEE YOU GAINING CONFIDENCE IN YOUR MOVES—"
"Do not think that the same tricks will work on my superior intellect twice, All Might." Brainstorm said, figuring out his ploy. "I've been training myself, and there are no external aspects to—"
"LET'S SEE IT THEN, SHALL WE?!" All Might riled his right fist. "I REMEMBER YOU NEEDING PLENTY OF CONCENTRATION TO KEEP THE BOUNCING YOUNG ASUI IN THE BUBBLE!"
Brainstorm immediately felt shivers all over his body.
"DETROIT—!"
"A change is in order!" Brainstorm dropped the barrier, and switched back to Rath—!
"-SMASH!"
"WHAT THE—"
The tiger crossed his arms, but even the wind pressure was enough to let him slide and crash into the staircase!
All Might put his hands on his hip. "ARE WE DONE?"
The dial on Rath's chest started blinking, only to then flash yet again. Ben, as he continued to lay on the staircase, glanced at his human arm.
He snickered. Yep this was a loss.
"I'm out." he huffed exhaustively.
"ARE YOU HURT, YOUNG TENNYSON?"
"Hm?..." Ben continued to look up from where he laid. "Nah, just enjoying the sun."
He could hear All Might's light laughter as the light breeze washed over him, and the clouds provided the lightest bit of shade.
"All Might's apprenticeship…" Ben thought to himself, as his body relaxed. "Best offer I ever took up."
His skills were improving. He could feel his rapid-switches being quicker, some understanding of his aliens being more thorough.
"Of course, I'm not the only one…" His head lifted up, giving him the chance to look at Midoriya, who was turned to the sea, firing off his thundering flicks.
It was quite surprising when All Might told him that he would be training alongside his other apprentice…which just happened to be Midoriya. But, in hindsight, it made sense.
Who else was there to show him how to properly use that strength, other than a guy who could bench press a mountain?
Maybe he could try to help him out again as well. He then got up, and looked at the greenette, watching as his fingers started to get redder.
"He needs all the help he can get…"
The young hero paused.
"...*Especially* if I'm bringing him along for alien missions."
Ben sighed. He still hadn't done much on that front.
He lied back down. But no matter!
It *wasn't* like some alien related mission would fall out of the sky now.
"Well, that's attractive…"
All of a sudden, someone had spoken above him.
But, the voice, it… It was female, sarcastic and–!
He quickly rose up.
All Might looked over too.
She was pale skinned, rather slim with a shapely figure. Her green eyes complimented her red hair that was worn in a high ponytail. She was also wearing a red shirt, paired with a black vest, gray jeans and black flats.
"Miss me?"
"GWEN?!"
Ben 10: Hero Force
Chapter 22
Speed and Strength Part 1
"*What are you doing here?!*" Ben had switched to English, and she replied in kind.
"*Just checking on my favorite cousin.*" she said. "*And looky who else came with me.*"
Ben looked up, and saw his dad!
He went up the stairs and hugged him. Granted it hadn't been *that* long, but… it felt right.
The dad in question, of course, hugged him back. "How're you doing, Ben?"
"Great, ha ha…" Ben then pulled himself back, still laughing and still surprised. "It's not the holidays yet… what are you doing here?"
"In a moment." He said, before gesturing down. "First, aren't you going to introduce us?"
Ben looked down the stairs and saw his new… master? (the jury was still up on whether he should call him master, or teacher), and his friend.
"Oh of course!" He gestured to them to come up. "All Might, please, meet my cousin, Gwen Tennyson. Gwen, meet the number 1—"
The teacher had his hand ready.
"All Might… I know." She lent out her hand too and shook it. Her tone matched her handshake.. "It is an honor…"
"LIKEWISE!" All Might made sure to put some of that signature gusto, to keep the fan at ease.
Gwen's excitement only amplified.
"NOW…" He then extended his hand yet again. "I HEARD YOU WERE YOUNG TENNYSON'S FATHER…"
…but what he got this time was much more apprehensive.
"Dad." Tennyson said, also a bit hesitant. "My heroics teacher at U.A. High… All Might, my father."
The enthusiasm didn't seem to be there… so thankfully his teacher tried adding some of his own. "IT'S NICE TO MEET YOU. YOUR KID MAKES QUITE THE IMPRESSION IN CLASS."
The father's gaze however remained hesitant. "*I know he does.*" he replied in english.
Young Midoriya then joined them.
"And how can I forget…" Tennyson quickly said, but All Might didn't catch what followed.
He coughed into his hand.
"Shit…" There was blood. The time was up.
"MY APOLOGIES." He cut into Young Tennyson's introduction of Midoriya. "HOWEVER, I'VE BEEN CALLED BACK TO THE SCHOOL."
Without even waiting for a response, he then leaped away!
"SEE YOU IN CLASS TOMORROW!"
"Wait, All Might!" Ben tried yelling after him, but it didn't work. "Dang it, and I really wanted to ask about today's progress."
"Today's progress?" Gwen asked.
"Yeah." Ben said. "He's been helping me train. Get my forms in order and stuff."
"I see." Gwen responded.
Ben turned to his father. "It's been effective…"
"...one way or the other." He said that part internally.
And his father *did* respond, with a nod.
His heart was still not in him being a hero, was it?
"In any case…" Ben then gestured to his friend. "This is Midoriya. My first friend here in Japan."
The nervous classmate approached them and lent out his hand. "Midoriya Izuku… N-Nice to meet you."
Gwen shook it. "Tennyson Gwen."
She then looked up at her cousin. "...but since this is probably going to get confusing, Just call me Gwen."
"R-Right." he said, and… he was kind of surprised she was speaking such fluent Japanese.
Tennyson also seemed to share his dumbfounded expression, which had her scoff.
"I tutored you, remember?" Gwen said, looking at her cousin. "Just because I'm busy with school work now, doesn't mean I'll forget it all on a whim."
Wait… Tennyson's cousin was the one who tutored him?
"Huh…" Midoriya thought. It wasn't a question that ever came to mind, but the fact that his cousin could teach herself, and then Tennyson on top of that…
"She must have an intelligence quirk."
"Fair enough." Tennyson said. "You were always more enthusiastic about the studying part."
Gwen then introduced Tennyson's father to him, and Midoriya shook his hand.
"He's my classmate from school." Tennyson said. "And quite the friend."
"So." Gwen took the chance to approach. "You're the one keeping my cousin out of trouble?"
"Uhh, I…" Midoriya buffered. What did she mean by "trouble" exactly?
"Ha!" Tennyson laughed. "Keep me out of trouble…"
And Midoriya suddenly found the arm wrapped around him tighten.
"Try it the other way around." he said. "All this time, I had to keep HIM out of trouble. Isn't that right?"
"Uhhhhhhh…" Midoriya refused to nod like he usually would.
And Gwen didn't miss her chance. She crossed her arms, and sent a knowing look in Tennyson's direction.
"A-Anyway…" his friend brushed it aside. "What have you been up to? How's your high school life?"
"Great." Gwen leaned back, and closed her eyes. "Just great. Totally not *frustrating* because of some pompous art-history teacher, who gave me a C, when *that* totally should have been an A–"
Her eyes turned pink before taking a deep breath.
"Wait a second." Ben said. "Someone gave Miss Gwen Tennyson a C? That takes guts."
"I know…" She said, before shaking her head, and letting it disperse. "But forget her. I'm on a break now. Wouldn't want to miss my 'favorite' cousin's big day."
"Big day?" Ben asked before connecting the dots. "Ohhhh, the festival?"
"The very same." Ben's dad joined in after hearing the translation from Gwen. "We knew it would be aired all over tomorrow, but Gwen insisted, so we picked out a seat for her in the audience, while me and your mom would take this chance to catch up."
Tennyson nodded. But as Midoriya looked at the three of them, he saw Gwen's relaxed gaze harden.
"Oh, Uncle Carl, would you mind if I dropped off here?" She put an analytical glimmer into her eyes. "Now that I'm here, I kind of want to start seeing Japan. Is it–?"
"No no, it's fine." Ben's dad replied. "Since you're here with Ben, I see no issue, but are you sure you aren't exhausted?"
"No, I'm sure." Gwen swiftly replied. "I already slept a bunch on the plane and car."
"Well…" he let out a loud yawn. "That, at least, makes one of us."
He then waved at the trio. "Don't be late!"
"We won't!" She said, as he got back in the car and drove away.
Now, here at the Dagobah beach, the three teens were left to their own devices.
"I sensed that you were around here." Gwen quickly turned back to him. "I needed to see you as soon as possible, Ben."
Midoriya's intrigue was immediately drawn. "What did she mean, by 'sensing' him?"
The greenette really wished that he had a notebook on him. What was the range on it? Did it only work on familiar connections? Was that what the pink glow was? Or was it another quirk that also helped her track? It didn't seem to have any mutating affects like Jiro's earphone jacks—
"Hey Midoriya." Gwen's callout scared him! "Do you mind if I had a quick word with my cousin, in private?"
He… He nodded. "Sure—"
Immediately Gwen held Ben's forearm and pulled him aside, getting away from the stairs.
"Okay okay! That's far enough!" Ben almost yelled as he struggled. Her grip slid down to his wrist. "I just came back from training, oww!"
She indulged him when they were rather far. Ben rubbed and stretched his arm.
"I'm gonna use this arm in the festival, you know." Gosh, he was sore all over.
"So, you guys are gonna be here for…"
"Just till the festival is over, so 2-3 days, yeah." Gwen cut the familiar talk right there as she reached into her pocket and took out a holo-viewer. "I need you to take a look at this."
Alarm bells started going off in Ben's mind.
"When did you find t—"
"Two weeks ago." She then dropped it into his palm.
Ben didn't hesitate. His grandpa came into frame and gave a message… to both young Tennyson teens. A message which Gwen had already listened to…
"Until then, say hi to your cousin Ben for me and… try to keep him in one place."
Once it ended, Gwen put it away.
"I… am gonna take a guess and say that's why you're here?" Ben raised his head.
"That'd be a good guess." She replied. "Here is another one. Do you know what else happened two weeks ago?"
Ben's eyes squinted before they suddenly shot open.
She didn't even give him a chance to talk.
"Yes, our last conversation." She made sure to put emphasis on that, when Ben had also found a holo-viewer from "Grandpa" and decided to run head first into danger as he always did.
"You, personally, now heard Grandpa entrust you to me." She reached for her pocket. "So, before you can do anything else reckless, here. I made a– Why are you sweating?"
Gwen had lifted her head up just for a second, only to see her cousin looking away, probably just on the cusp of whistling inconspicuously on top of it.
She narrowed her eyes. "Ben, what did you do?"
He was looking away. "Nothing."
"Ben." She put her hands on her hip. "What. did. you. do?"
"Nothiiiiiiing…"
Gwen then crossed her arms, eyebrow raised and *calmly* tapping her arm.
"Promise you won't get mad!" He held up his arms.
A word didn't escape her lips.
"I… am gonna take your silence as okay." He assembled his hands and put on a nervous grin… before he pointed to Midoriya.
The greenette, in that moment, found himself on the receiving end of two different gazes.
"So, you met up with another Plumber." Gwen's sigh echoed, a hand rubbing her eyebrows.
"Yep…" Tennyson's response was rather silent.
"Saw Kevin, who apparently is out of the Null Void…"
"Yep..."
"And you sli…"
"All yes, Gwen." Ben said with his hands on his hips, looking at the sky, mostly to *not* face his cousin right now. "I turned over a new leaf. No more lying… that much."
The three of them were sitting on a bench for thirty minutes, barely any further away from Dagobah beach. Midoriya had also been allowed to watch the holoviewer, and get a glimpse of Tennyson's famous grandpa… all the while his friend informed his cousin about the recent events.
"Three of your classmates now know." Gwen, from her seat, spoke up. She sounded really exhausted if anything.
"Good thing I came when I did." She rubbed her forehead.
"Hm?.." Ben asked.
"Nothing." She replied, rather bitterly. "Who are they?"
"Me, Kirishima and Yaoyorozu, miss..." Midoriya cut in.
The greenette knew this was a chance. He could take at least a little bit of the blame and weight off his friend's shoulders!
Gwen looked at him, demanding more explanation.
"Well, it was mostly me and Yaoyorozu, our class's vice president, investigating. But we… accidentally roped Kirishima into it as well." he said, clarifying it. "See, we had suspicions about—"
"Vice class president?" Gwen, raised an eyebrow in response, and looked at her cousin.
"She wouldn't snitch on us." Midoriya assured her. "Trust me Miss. T–!"
"Gwen." she sternly corrected him. "Miss Tennyson is my mom."
"Well, G-Gwen, I think Yaoyorozu… is a really admirable friend of ours from our class." He wanted to defend her.
She might have overstepped, but…he had convinced her when she was letting go. It was all because of his meddling.
"I brought my suspicion to her attention and she immediately listened, willing to keep things quiet, so that we could sort it all out on Tennyson's terms… even if we got carried away in the moment. He raised his voice. "Please, trust me when I say she wouldn't tell anyone!"
Gwen's expression didn't budge. She just stood up and looked at her cousin.
Tennyson… sighed in response.
"Midoriya is the last person to lie, trust me on that." He told Gwen. "Although…"
His hands entered the pockets of the tracksuit, as he held an expression particularly empty…
"Whether me and her are… 'friends', is an entirely different subject."
Midoriya could see him rather torn. Slouching over, not keeping his eyes on any one thing.
"Tennyson…" Midoriya said, but Ben just held up his hand, not wanting to hear anymore.
"We haven't spoken since." He told Gwen. "Even though I'm supposed to be a teacher/leader… Preparing them so that when aliens strike, they know who to punch and how to punch."
Gwen looked curious, but didn't push it. "And you said that Magister Labrid was the one who set you up?"
"Not set up… gave me an option." Tennyson clarified, and took a deep breath. "And, discounting you showing up on my doorstep, it's been quiet."
He crossed his arms. "Japan has been alien activity-free for the past few days."
"More like two weeks…" Midoriya chose to raise his hand. "And Magister Labrid told us to expect this. After all, according to him, you took out most of the major compounds here."
"Yeah Midoriya… " Ben said. "Most major compounds…"
Maybe it was because he was so used to muttering himself, but Midoriya caught Tennyson as he spoke under his breath.
"That's what I thought when I first came to this school, and then… Oh, hi Rojo. What brings you to Japan? Oh, and I see you're specifically at my school's simulation joint? Oh, and you brought Kevin too?"
Midoriya bowed his head. Guess that made sen—
"Wait! You knew one of the villain–"
*Beep!* *Beep!*
*Beep!* *Beep!*
A beeping noise as well as a light green blinking greeted their senses.
Gwen's eyes slid in Ben's direction. "No activity, huh?"
Ben sighed. That green beeping could only come from one place.
"Someone better remind me to set that charter back to zero."
He took a look around the street, before the duo followed him into a back alley.
They checked for any people, before Ben pressed on the rims and…
… the device just continued to blink.
"What happened?" Midoriya saw fit to ask.
And in response Ben just shrugged and continued to press buttons. "I don't know. It's not like I ever picked up calls with this thing before."
"I thought you mastered it." Gwen said, to which Ben gave a really deadpan stare.
"Okay, here's a quick question: Did you know this thing has more than a million aliens?"
His cousin's jaw dropped. "Wh- What? I thought it was ten thousand."
"And there you go." Ben said, snarkily waved his hand and went back to working on the said device.
Midoriya… didn't understand. "Wait Tennyson, didn't you tell her of the visit from the creator of your watch either?"
Ben sweatdropped. His hand on the device paused for a second.
"I mean, that was one of the first things you told us, after you revealed your origin."
He started tinkering faster.
"Didn't you even give a call to your c—"
Midoriya could feel that pink, bright and warm aura manifest again!…
"And when did you learn about that?!" She asked demandingly.
Midoriya started to sweat. It was like Kacchan after he found out he had a quirk!
"Tennys—"
"Working on it!" Tennyson panickedly replied, before a hologram sparked into place!
"About time." The visual that the watch projected though… wasn't of Magister Labrid or another plumber. It was—
"Yo." Kevin talked again, like checking to see if the mic was on. "You guys there?" He asked, looking up at Ben.
"Kevin..." Gwen gasped.
"Enough of us are. No—" Ben got himself cut off, as Gwen approached.
The black haired, muscular, criminal seemingly paused.
"Gwen?"
Midoriya immediately felt the palpable tension cross the face of Tennyson's cousin.
"It's me." Gwen replied.
"What happened?" He asked. "Did Tennyson get scared and call in reinforcements?"
"No." She shook her head. "I did."
"Oh…" Kevin put on a good face. "That makes sense, with Tennyson's pride and all."
Ben had a cross shaped vein on his forehead, but Gwen didn't remark on that. She remained focused. "Why did you call us Kevin?"
Kevin… was less arrogant now.
"Found something interesting." He crossed his arms. "Thought I would report it in, before ransacking it."
"How thoughtful."
Cynicism was oozing from Tennyson."You–"
Gwen could see things going south.
"We will be right there." she replied instead. "Tell us the location."
Kevin had certainly sensed the aggression as well. But he didn't challenge it. He told them the address, and the transmission ended there.
Ben rolled his sleeve back down. "So… trap?"
"Maybe, but hold on a second Ben—" Gwen reached out, but Tennyson rolled his eyes.
"Oh come on, you're not buying him being *here to help*, right?"
"You know I'm not." Gwen declared. "We both know he was put into the Null Void for a reason. But we need to be smart, don't you think so?"
"I'm thinking…" Ben cut in. "We go in casually, basically daring him to pull anything against us. And if he does, we'll know what to do."
He was really blunt about it. "He might have gotten off the alien juice from my watch, and got a brand new haircut, but know that the only reason he's working with us is because of the Omnitrix."
"Watch." Tennyson established. "If the tide ever turns against us, he's immediately going to jump ship."
Midoriya was really curious now.
"I'm sure of it."
"Regardless..." Gwen took the word back again, looking ahead with determination, while also seeming much more moderate. "We can't just push him away."
"Let's just use what he knows, keep our guard up, and…" Gwen paused a little bit, as there was… a sense of hopeful curiosity. "...observe."
"After all, it's not like you have another source of intel for this 'Japan group'." She said.
"Damn, what happened to you?" Ben, stonecold, raised his hand.
Gwen deadpanned. "13 hour time difference says hi."
The transforming hero still bitterly looked away.
"Can you promise that to me, Ben?" Gwen still made eye contact with his cousin.
He shook his head, with his arms crossed… before folding. "Fine."
He got a move on, out of the back alley.
"I'll call the others t-then!" Midoriya, finally, spoke up.
Tennyson turned around to meet Midoriya's gaze, and saw the greenette with his smartphone in hand.
"Hm?" Ben raised his eyebrows, before realizing it. "Oh, yeah Midoriya… I was thinking it would be just us three for this one. Me, Gwen and you."
That… must not have sounded right.
Midoriya protested. "But, back at the cave, you said…"
"I know what I said, Midoriya. " Ben raised his hands out of aggression."But I'd… rather take this slow. Okay?"
He lowered them. "Not that I don't trust you three."
The transforming hero looked away. Why did this have to be hard?
"You know." He said, putting his hands on his hip. "I'd… rather not bother her."
"I know, but we gave our answers to you together." Midoriya reluctantly, but straightforwardly said. "I… just don't want to be on the side of any special treatment, just because I happened to be here when you got this call."
He didn't want to argue. Ben looked at Gwen to back him up, but she didn't have the determination he was looking for.
"It's your call." She stated rather bluntly, and Ben took a deep breath.
"This is unfair…" Midoriya thought to himself, as he sat on the bus.
No matter what he did, it *did* end up being the three of them.
"I promised them next time." Ben muttered under his breath, as he had to stay up on the bus, and his eyes looked out the window. "Yep, this is the stop."
He then let go of the pole and took out his IC card.
The green lights went off in the small device.
Midoriya did the same, and Gwen got off from the front, making sure to drop both the ticket and the fare.
The structure they arrived at was a rectangular, masonry building, with boarded and cracked windows. There was a hole at the top where a clock should be and a long weeded concrete path led up to the entrance.. It almost looked like–
"A school?.." Gwen saw fit to ask.
"A middle school." Ben steadied his tone, and put his hand on the watch. "American-style? What's it doing here?"
He turned to Midoriya as he asked, but the greenette had no idea either. He'd never been this far out of the city before.
"It seems to be long since abandoned though." Midoriya pointed out, pointing to the broken windows.
Ben stepped forward first. "Let's hope it's been kept that way."
Midoriya felt uneasy. This was… his first full investigation that he was walking into.
Ben was at the front, Gwen was in the middle, and… Midoriya remained at the very back.
She put a little more pep to her steps catching up to Ben, despite the heels she decided to wear.
"Yeah?" Her cousin anxiously asked instantly.
"Someone's looking for a chat." Ben was rarely this 'high-alert.'
"Nothing from my end." Gwen replied. "You?"
"Nothing either." Ben replied. "Yep, nothing at all…"
"Doesn't sound like 'nothing'."
Ben crossed his arms.
"You said you didn't want to bother her." Gwen said. "You've been thinking."
"Well." Ben crossed his arms. "Sorry if this whole thing is kind of a reminder."
His tone came out aggressive.
"I'm not trying to push you."
"Well, you kinda are." Ben spoke rather brashly. "I–"
"That your team, Tennyson?"
This wasn't Ben's voice. Or Midoriya or Gwen's voice.
It was Kevin.
"Yeah, it's me!" Ben yelled right back. "Where are you, monster bash?"
"The gym."
Ben bolted forward taking the lead. Midoriya chose to follow, and overtook Gwen as well.
The sight that greeted him was… interesting? It was the school's gym, all American styled again, but…
"All empty?"
The bleachers… they were removed, the basketball hoops were gone, and the floorboards were broken…
"Wow." Ben remarked. "What happened Kevin? Haunted houses weren't on the market?"
Kevin got up from where he was crouched. "Not the time Tennyson. I need your help with something."
"About what?"
"More of a who…" Kevin replied, crossing his arms. "And that's what I need you to find out."
He pointed at them, and then all over the base.
"Me and…" He mulled over his words."...My *parole officer* have been on these alien hunts. Checking out bases, fighting knights, the whole nine yards."
Ben cynically crossed his arms, and so Gwen interjected.
"What did you find?"
"Nothing much." Kevin said, as he kicked a pebble towards the wall. "Gotta say, Labrid was right on the money when he said the DNAliens were clearing out..."
Midoriya excitedly asked. "Wait, they're actually leaving?"
He nodded.
"Labrid had a point about going to America then." Ben gestured with his hand. "We got a brief look at their plans, and it needed lots of building on their part. They must be moving it to America."
He was getting more riled up, and… that very same intention filled Midoriya too.
He took a step forward, opening his mouth–
"When I go back after the festival, I'll check it out." Gwen cut in. "If I need help…"
"You'll call." Ben sighed, and backed down. Midoriya followed suit. "Fine."
Gwen could see the two teens, ready to throw themselves onto the firing line this soon. "You shouldn't clear out of Japan either, Ben…"
"No, you shouldn't." Kevin confidently joined in. "Because we have another problem here."
Gwen raised an eyebrow, but Ben replied. "The knights?"
"Heaps of them." Kevin said. "We've been mostly battling them instead, and long story short, they have their own agenda too."
This news quickly took Ben's attention. "Well, don't keep us in suspense, what is it?"
Kevin shrugged.
"Don't know. The pro-hero was supposed to be figuring that one out, but he's been getting more and more caught up with his 'real job' lately."
"The pro-hero–?" Midoriya's eyes glowed, but Kevin cut back in without intending to.
"We've been tracking their equipment." He stated. "Their ether-point energy cells, on a planet with this low of a tech level, stick out like a sore thumb."
Ben, staying at earshot of the group, took the chance to look around further in the building. The way they came into the gym especially…
In the corridors they passed, the lockers, despite being bent and decayed, were still occupying the way. The same went for the classrooms with the desks and chairs.
"Okay, so why did you contact us?" He could hear Gwen asking.
"We've started discovering some empty bases." Kevin responded. "Specifically DNAlien, but no aliens, no tech, no nothing. Thought they were just noise on the radar, but no. They have all been places… completely stripped."
"So?" Ben shrugged, not really seeing a problem. "Looks to me like the knights are taking advantage of them signing out–"
"Look around Tennyson." He raised his hands. "This wasn't a warzone, this was—"
"A raid." Gwen finished his sentence, as she took a look around the same place as Ben. "There are clear signs of a struggle here, but not too large a scale."
"Exactly." Kevin crossed his arms. "A new third party we're guessing… A bunch of crooks, but enough to put up a fight against DNAliens and win."
Midoriya quickly ran back to him. "Do we have any leads?"
Could it be… Wait, what if it was the League—
"Nope, salad hair. Regular old quirks wouldn't cut it." Kevin brushed the thought aside. "This is one of the cleaner places I found this morning. Trust me when I say these guys have to be packing some serious heat to do the raids they do."
"Salad hair?" Midoriya thought. And he caught his muttering?
Wait, he had started muttering?!
Ben put on a sly smile in the meantime. "Have you checked the gym lockers?"
"Still Tennyson. Not exactly a good time to joke." Kevin replied.
"Right, it was getting old anyways." Ben pressed on the rims of his watch. "I'll see if Blitzwolfer can get a whiff of them—"
"No need." Gwen's eyes lit up, pink. "I can handle this."
Her eyes rose up and a magenta glow appeared around her hand, and pulsated like it was charged with electricity. She pressed them together.
"Is that her quirk?" Midoriya finally asked, to which Ben had a coy expression.
"Not exactly."
He tilted his head. "What is it th-"
The transforming hero jazzed his hands. "Magic."
Midoriya raised an eyebrow. "Magic?"
Ben nodded. "Magic."
"As in… the pro-hero Majestic's quir—?"
Tennyson shook his head. "Real magic. No quirks."
Both of Midoriya's eyes widened… as much as they could!
"Wait… then she's quirkless too, and–?!"
"Yep." Ben nodded. "Our family didn't have the best relationship when it came to powers and quirks…"
He raised his wrist and showed off the watch to him. "But somehow we made it work."
Midoriya smiled.
It was… so interesting to know now that there were others like him. A… *twist* of fate that gave them the ability to help so many others.
He couldn't help but think… what would have happened if he didn't meet All Might that day?
If he didn't get to meet his hero, would…
He tilted his head. "Could I have learned magic?.."
Or could he have become a Plumber just like how he is now… without One for All?
Or even…
His eyes landed on Ben's left wrist.
There were so many facets. Midoriya couldn't help but ponder the q–
"But.." Ben cut back between his thoughts. "She can't pull rabbits out of her hat."
"I can still create twisters and barriers you know." Gwen remarked.
Ben had his arms crossed. "Oh, I know. Just setting some expectations."
Midoriya got closer. Slowly. Taking it in.
"This is amazing." He muttered.
Gwen knew her pupils weren't really visible with this glow, but she still entertained herself. She looked at Midoriya–
A notebook and pencil was in his hand.
What? When did–
"Could you tell me how it works? Is it based on concentration?" he asked.
Midoriya took account of the aura itself as well. It was much more saturated, and definite unlike Yaoyorozu's more fairy dust-like glow.
"Do you have a set amount of energy? Time-limit? Oh, or how did you come to learn magic? Was it natural? Is there some ancient text? What are the extent of your–"
Ben's eyes fell on his notebook and saw an outline for his cousin's figure already?!
"Dude, how fast do you work?!" he said, spooking the greenette.
"S-Sorry! But you didn't tell us anything about magic!"
Another idea struck his mind. "Wait Tennyson, can… *you* use magic?"
He shook his head. "Nope, never tried it. Kind of already have enough on my hands, you know?"
He then looked. "Or, well… *a lot on my wrist* but same difference."
Midoriya nodded affirmingly. He continued to take his notes, smoothing out his sketch.
"Anyways, is that a tracking spell?" Ben then turned back to his cousin.
"Good guess." The sorceress replied, and took a deep breath. She sat down, cross legged and suddenly started floating.
"I'm picking something up."
She pointed. "Down the corridor, under those lockers."
Kevin did as he was told, and absorbed the rusted metal. He lifted the lockers up and tossed them away.
It was a tablet.
"Highbreed tech." He passed it to Ben, and the alien hero nodded.
"Well, we did say DNAlien base." Kevin stated.
"This could give us a clue about where in America they are moving to."
"Doubt it." Kevin shot down the idea. "The encryption on these things are tight, much more so than Plumber's systems."
"Is that so?" Ben responded with a sly smile. "If only we had a super genius who could crack the code…"
Midoriya, after that line, immediately got the tablet passed down to him, before a green flash suddenly assaulted his field of vision.
"Much gratitude, my green haired fellow." An orange pincer picked it back up.
Brainstorm started tapping into the device. "It shall take only but a moment to unseal the secrets this rudimentary contraption holds."
"The intellect that the Highbreed exude might be notable, however in a direct feud, my oversized cranium would hold the natural precedence."
"Does he have to keep talking like that?" Kevin nudged Midoriya.
The greenette shrugged.
"He's just running victory laps with that big brain." Gwen added with a grin of her own. "Let him have his moment."
"I would like for you to know, Gwen Tennyson, that I have elected to not register your most recent comment. You would find my patience to be in short supply if—"
"Yes, we get it, Megamind." Kevin says. "Tell us what you go–"
Midoriya caught the flicker in Kevin's eye.
The ex-con turned around.
Midoriya did too. His eyes searched…
"Something is off."
"Gwen." The holder of One for All spoke. "How does your sensing work exactly?"
The floating redhead indulged him. "Well, it works off concentration—!"
He saw a shine in the dark corridor where they came from.
"Get down!"
Blue laser fire rained from in front of them!
Gwen dropped the floating and stretched her hand, making a shield!
Brainstorm, Kevin and Midoriya grouped up.
"How many?" Kevin asked as he absorbed some stone.
"One…Maybe two?" Gwen said and looked at the criminal. "Wait, Kevin, did your powers change?"
Kevin nodded. "Something like–"
"There!"
Midoriya pointed beyond the pink-hued shield. There was movement in the shadows.
A big, hulking one…
He side stepped Gwen's shield and riled back a fist.
"Control the output!" Red veins went up his brace. "Just like a dam! Stop at 5%-!"
Something suddenly grabbed him by his scruff and threw him back, behind the shield.
"Sorry salad hair!" Kevin shouts back as shining metal armor brandishes his body and laser fire bounces back like a disco ball.. "Just sit on the bleachers for now—!"
"I can't sit this out!" Midoriya protested and leaped back up from where Kevin dropped him.
He ran towards the figure with red veins going all over his arm.
"SMAS—!"
The hulking figure, before he could get the chance, sucker punched him across the room.
"Midoriya!" Gwen shouted, as the greenette's back hit the wall. Kevin also felt riled up.
"Okay, that's it!"
He slammed his fists together and rushed in. At that moment, the hulking figure and he came to blows… only for the figure to realize Kevin was far more resilient.
"I'm picking up something else!" Gwen noted, and something blue immediately rushed past them! Whatever it was, it was fast.
"Allow me…" Brainstorm got in front of her. Lightning struck, but only to land on the ground beside it.
The blur was avoiding them, albeit narrowly.
"Impressive." Brainstorm remarked. "Her cognitive processes correlate to her physical capabilities… In hindsight, I should have also come to that conclusion, considering I also assumed the species myself."
"Wait, it's a she?" Gwen remarked. "And, assume the species yourse… an XLR8?"
"Obviously." Brainstorm remarked and gestured to himself, as one of his claws continued to fire. "Do you not see the size and pattern of mov–!"
The blur then smacked him in the face, before starting to run circles, landing many consecutive blows!
"Ah…" He held up his arms. "Try harder, why don't you?"
The exoskeleton opened yet again!
"Storm Cloud!"
Electricity crackled above his head as a yellow dome started appearing around them, but once again, the blur avoided!
"Curses!"
"Guess it's up to me to keep a lid on things…" Putting her hands together, Gwen shot out three beams, forming barriers over all entrances, locking everyone inside the building. "That should ho–!"
But that only drew her more fire. Right as lasers rained down on her, Kevin came in between.
He grabbed a floorboard and used it as a shield. His armor was roughed up. "Keep those barriers up."
The figure still fired on from the shadows, with each pull on the trigger lighting up his face just for a brief second. "I'm just about done with this guy."
"Or potentially he's just about done with you." Brainstorm remarked under his breath, as he was also knocked back to the trio.
"Think you could have done a better job, Tennyson?"
Brainstorm glared back. "I reckon I would be much more efficient, yes."
"Can you two focus?!" Gwen cut in between the two.
She cast a dome over all of them.
"You think you can do better Ben?" Gwen remarked, as her strict tone echoed. "Then do it."
She looked back. "You too Kevin."
Both the alien and the ex-con's attention was on her.
"Gwen…" he called out, but she wasn't having it.
"We're on the same side now, and that means we should–!"
"Gwen!" Kevin raised his voice, as from behind their dome, a crunch roared.
The brute had punched all four pillars in the room, and with one seismic clap… the roof was now coming down on them!
"NO!" Gwen shouted, accidentally dropping the barrier. Her hands were still glowing as her eyes darted around. "Where is Midoriya! I need to–!"
The roof didn't wait for her though. Before she could find the greenette, the roof collapsed along with the walls, kicking up a large cloud of dust… and dirt.
On the outside, their two attackers stood…
The brute cracked a smile about it, as the XLR8 was a lot more composed… she held the tablet from earlier in her hand, and the red brute… held Midoriya.
"Another one bites the dust."
A yellow burst of energy rocked the lands.
Ben, transforming back to human in a flash of light, instinctively climbed on top of the rubble as his eyes autonomously looked around.
"Midoriya!" He yelled. "Where did–?!"
"Don't waste your breath Tennyson."
That was Kevin, who tossed the rubble that would have hit both him and Gwen. "They got away…"
Gwen, creating some pink platforms under his feet, got up to Ben's level.
"They must have taken Midoriya when I created that dome."
Ben was gritting his teeth.
"We'll find him Ben, I'll track him–"
"How could I let my guard down?!" He looked in front of him, and just looked around the area. "I mean, one of them was an XLR8! I used to turn into that species, I should've…"
He stopped on his words.
"Ben?" Gwen asked.
"They gave us the slip…" he said. "On the first mission where I bring my friends on board."
"Technically second." Kevin stated.
"Whatever." Ben shrugged. "The point is that you were the one to lure us out here…"
Gwen approached. "Well, you wanted him to report anything that he found."
"And *he* did that through the Omnitrix." Ben followed it up. "Tell me Kevin, how did you manage that?"
The transforming hero held the chains of the conversation. "How could *you* get access to the Omnitrix's frequency?"
Kevin didn't immediately answer the Tennysons.
"You aren't gonna like it."
"Humor me." Ben retorted.
Kevin crossed his arms, and looked away, before he just threw it out.
"I swiped the badge off my officer… what of it?"
He looked back from the corner of his eye, and saw Tennyson in his fighting stance. Just in case, he got ready to absorb the ground.
"You stole a badge, and then lured us out here… and immediately one of my friends got captured." Ben said. "Like, that wasn't enough, they then make a clean getaway."
Kevin also got angry. "What are you implying, Tennyson?"
"I think you know what I'm implying very well."
Kevin didn't bother. He looked around, and saw his car in the distance.
"Don't walk away from me." Ben got in front of him.
Kevin scoffed. "Is this the part where you turn into an alien and try to kick my butt?"
"I'm considering it." Ben narrowed his eyes.
A pink burst of energy interrupted the two of them.
"Do I have to separate you two?" Gwen said, calmly and looking at both Tennyson and the criminal.
Kevin hadn't really moved from his spot, but Tennyson stepped away.
"We're supposed to be keeping the planet safe from an alien invasion." Ben said. "We can't do that, if we fall into his traps like this."
"You can continue blaming me…" Kevin stated. "But that's not gonna change what happened."
That made the Tennyson duo stop for a second.
The weight in which the ex-con said it, like he had a dumbbell in his hand and just… set it down onto the ground, without making a sound, rather than throwing it.
"It sounds like they got one over on us." Kevin said, pushing away a bit of concrete to get to his level. "Even though it was a four on two, they got away…"
"We… didn't work effectively as a team." Gwen came to, and added. "Like you said, we had the numbers, but played out the battle very defensively, and minimally."
Kevin opened his mouth, but it looked like Gwen was about to speak, so he closed it. However, Gwen had seen the gesture.
"No, go ahead." She said.
He shook his head. "Nah. You were saying something."
"Alright…" Gwen said.
He laughed under his breath. "Something tells me we were gonna say the same thing anyway."
Gwen nodded, and… tried to be as gentle with this last part.
She turned to Ben.
"Not to mention, you kept your performance very minimal."
Kevin joined in, mentally rubbing his hands. Yeah, this was what he was waiting for.
"Yeah Tennyson, where was the man who fought the Highbreed or me!" He raised his arms.
Ben… lost some spirit with that. He crossed his arms, frustratedly looking away.
Kevin smirked as he backed down. There it was. The silent acceptance, that pride breaking for just a seco–
Kevin stopped himself there.
He… grunted, exhaling slowly between his teeth. Control…
He put his arms to his sides while the transforming hero sat on the rubble.
"We lost Midoriya." Gwen stated. "And, I think it goes without saying that we need to focus on finding him…"
She looked at both of the men on opposite sides.
"Together."
"Now, we need to get to looking." She said. "If we can find something that belongs to them–"
"No Gwen…" Tennyson cut back in. "I still… I can't trust him."
"Ben!" Gwen said, clenching her fists. Was he serious?!
"Besides Midoriya's my responsibility." The transforming hero said, and got up. He put his hands on his hip.
"If you want to help, do your own research." Ben stated. "I don't want to team up with someone who I'd want to watch my back from."
Kevin couldn't help but gather his brows.
"You know what..." He raised his finger, looking at the transforming hero. "I don't have to explain myself to you."
He started walking past them… but stopped by Gwen.
His mouth opened, finger raised again, ready to say something… but no words came out.
Kevin just stomped away.
The only noise that was made after that… was the roar of a muscle car's engine.
And from on top of the cliff next to the road, a black and blue, visored figure watched… before dashing off after the car.
Standing at the ruins of the school, were the two Tennyson siblings.
Ben had his arms crossed, while Gwen used her magic… excavating.
"So, we're not going to talk about it?"
Ben looked away.
"Yeah…" He said. "Here's the plan I–"
"I meant about Kevin."
Ben crossed his arms and looked in the opposite direction. "What about him?"
"You carried it too far." Gwen bluntly stated, as she levitated another boulder.
"Carried it too far?" Ben asked. "Don't you remember what he was like when he was little?"
"Do you?" Gwen retorted. "Put this Kevin next to that one, and–"
"And what?" Ben said. "Now you think he is a hero all of a sudden?"
"I didn't say that." Gwen said. "But you have to admit that you're in the wrong here. He did what you instructed him to do."
She pointed towards the watch. "He called us as soon as he found something out of place, fought with us when we got ambushed, *tried* keeping Midoriya out of trouble, and I made you promise to go easy on him before we got here. And you still accused him.
"Yes." Ben crossed his arms. "But now, I have people to be responsible for."
Her cousin took a deep breath, putting his hands in the pockets. His tone wasn't as harsh as before.
"I know that he knows about the underworld, and alien technology better than anyone." His voice became more determined. "But… I'm afraid that if we let him get too close, it might just blow up in our face."
He then held onto the Omnitrix, holding onto the very same strap that prevented the 10 year old Kevin from pulling it off from him.
"That's why I need to be more careful." a more determined tone overtook what remained. "I need to be an actual leader."
Gwen had stopped with the pink structures. She hadn't realized Ben was thinking so much about this.
"Wow, that's *some* jump." she said.
"Thanks." Ben replied, sighing… feeling drained from all this.
"But…"
Gwen could still make a point to talk.
"...are you sure you aren't being too hesitant?"
Ben… didn't reply.
The moon was making its way to the sky. Kevin's car's headlights were turned on, as he drove through the darkening city.
His hand gripped the leather wheel, as his expression, ever since leaving, remained exactly the same.
The sights of his place finally showed up on his windshield. From the glove compartment, he took a remote that Ingenium gave to him and with the press of a button, the door started scrolling up. Kevin threw the remote to the passenger seat, stepped on the ga—
The car suddenly launched forward and stalled, which had him flinch.
He panickedly took his foot off the pedal.
"Too much…" Kevin seethed, and turned on the ignition again, before finally driving inside. He rubbed the bridge of his nose–
"You were out late." Ingenium's rather cheerful voice came through. "Found what you were looking for?"
Kevin, like he was kicking the door down, opened his car's door… which made Ingenium startled. "Rough nigh–?"
Kevin dug his hand into his pocket, and took out his badge. "There." He threw it over.
He loudly opened the trunk of his car and took out his red toolbox.
"Now…" he got to his desk, and pointed towards the door. "Beat it."
But Ingenium didn't 'beat it'.
"Look, I wasn't there but I *can* make a guess." he spoke up. "Things didn't go the way you wanted."
Kevin stayed silent. He grabbed a bunch of alien tech, and dropped them on his table.
They scattered all over, and continuing to grumble, the criminal got to work.
"So, we just aren't going to talk about it."
Kevin still stayed silent. Ingenium raised his voice in response.
"You took my Plumber's badge. I think I at least deserve to know what went down."
Kevin continued to keep his eyes on his work… as his mouth begrudgingly opened.
"Am I in trouble, boss?"
"He's still snarky, for the love of…" Ingenium thought. "You should be but I'm willing to let it go if you tell me what happened."
He put his hands onto the table, just opposite of the criminal. "I don't want to make it an interrogation, but I've been very patient with you already and—"
"Then make it one."
Ingenium… backed off. Kevin's snarky and expressionless face, became sparked with anger.
"Just make it one and you should be fine." He let go of the tech in his hand, and… absorbed the metal table up to his shoulder.
Ingenium noted that he seemed hurt… but didn't reflect it.
"I won't." he stated, and sat down on the green couch. Kevin side-eyed him.
"You're just gonna wait there?"
Ingenium didn't answer.
"Ugh, fine." He put the tools aside. "They got the kid, you happy?"
"The kid?" Ingenium was very puzzled.
"One of Tennyson's crew." Kevin said. "About this tall (he held a hand near his neck), green hair, green eyes, and freckles. He was also wearing some casual clothing."
Ingenium knitted his eyebrows.
"But Tennyson is all over it." Kevin tagged on at the end, however that didn't help much.
"He doesn't want you around to help out?"
Kevin,,, clicked his teeth. What he was working on, was kind of for that, but–
"What for? He blames me to begin with." He answered, turning around, leaning his elbows on the table.
Ingenium could see him being twisted up inside. Hence so, he spoke.
"Who captured him? The knights?" he asked, with a bit of a 'let's go and save him ourselves then'-kind of undertone, very well something that he would do.
Kevin shook his head. "I'd wish. There were two new people. Probably the third party we're looking for."
Ingenium put a hand on his chin. "Huh… The third–!"
He stopped short. His ears caught something.
Shock suddenly crossed his face. "Get down!"
He pushed him and something busted straight through the roof!
Ingenium tried to put on his helmet, but the shockwave instantly made his back meet the wall… knocking the air out of him.
"Tensei!"
Ingenium was very much laying flat on his face now… the helmet also dropped next to him.
"Looky at what we got here…"
Kevin absorbed the stone and got up from where he fell… there was no mistaking it.
It was the very same brute he threw hands with back in the school… only this time with a bit more light on him.
He could now see his red skin, all four of his arms with spikes on them, and the sleeveless black-green outfit he was wearing, along with four blasters in their holsters.
His face too… with the black marks and the four orange eyes. It honestly kind of felt like a blast from the past, considering he had also seen Tennyson just a few hours ago.
But…
Compared to Tennyson's Fourarms… he was scrawny.
"You're already armored up? Good!" The pseudo-Fourarms cracked his knuckles. "Bring it again, alien freak… ROUND 2!"