As I've already told everyone the situation with my Mom I'll refrain from rehashing it, I will say that it was fortunate that by the time I found that out I'd mostly finished this chapter, I only had the last section and proofreading to do so it didn't take that much time to get this out.
Mom's moved down to my room, I've been saying for weeks now that we should trade rooms because she's too old to be constantly going up and down a flight of stairs but did she listen to me? Nope.
Otherwise I've still got a lot of free time at the moment, she hasn't suddenly become a invalid thankfully though she has been complaining about some tiredness and mild pain.
Welp. Sorry Rojo, you're going to be my stress ball and get dog walked this chapter for the crime of being the antagonist when I'm extremely stressed.
I hope you all enjoy as usual and thank you again for your support.
This chapter's kink'sSpoiler: Kink's
???/???/Kayden POV
When she started to wake up everything was a fuzzy blur, her body felt stiff and sore like she'd been stretched out, dull stinging soreness pressed into her consciousness from multiple spots across her body.
Groaning, she shook her head and slowly blinked from the bright light. "Fuuck~ What hit me? A truck?"
"I did actually"
She did not loudly squeal when that voice spoke up, only to then groan as said noise spiked her headache, she was not surprised and anyone who says otherwise is a lying fuck head!
She scooted back and sat up dignified and lady-like, like a queen! Only she found she couldn't really do that. She was sitting on the floor and weird mechanical cuffs were on her wrists which were bound together above her head, leaving her leaning against a bed frame.
Taking a look around she finds that she's in some RV, the only person around though is Ben who was sitting at a little table and working on something.
It took her a moment before she remembered what had happened but as her mind sluggishly latched onto what he said everything started coming back, her mind supplied her with how she'd begun taking revenge on those teens, beating them up righteously only for Ben to show up and start trashing and ruining everything, taunting her and beating her up.
She growled and tried to absorb the energy from the cuffs only to blink when it wouldn't come, she frowned and her mind slowly filled with confusion. She couldn't absorb? Was it..stopping her? S-she couldn't get her power?!
Where was her power!
She jolts in fear when she feels hands on her and she realizes she's balled herself up and she's jerking and flailing as much as she can, rambling. She tries head butting whoever it is but she can feel them putting something on her head, she tries jerking back but it slips on.
Scrambling to get it off she swings her head back and forth, as she does she distantly notes a cute voice saying in a weirdly guilty tone, the slightly deeper tone and the way it floats along her ear oddly pleasant. "Sorry about this Kay, it's going to suck"
She was confused until suddenly she jolted and sound tore from her throat on instinct in what was almost a pained scream.
She gagged and her stomach rolled like she was going to throw up, fog that she hadn't noticed in her thoughts started to clear like cobwebs on an old gear mechanism, the dull ache all across her brain pulled away and concentrated its efforts, making her hiss as her vision swam and it felt like a dagger was stabbing in the center of her brain.
Yet it was almost preferred as she suddenly could feel her body in better detail than before, her memories coming quicker to her mind and thoughts snapping in place with a more fluid pace than she'd ever noticed.
A groan filled the room as Ben sat back down, she tried to look at him but flinched at the light.
His voice sounded remorseful and calm, weirdly it helped her own feeling of panic lessen slightly. "Sorry about that Kay. I know the headache is probably a bitch, just try to relax and let it clear. You're safe here, you have my word. I'm going to call Grandpa and Gwen and then I'll explain everything"
She believed him, she wasn't sure why but she immediately believed it when he said she was safe…until a thought filled her mind, then she had to ask in a low groan. "D-did you put me in a fucking arm bar and body slam me?"
Ben ignored her and pulled out a black flip phone and dialed a number, not even looking at her as he spoke to someone on the other end, dick. She just groaned again and rested her head against the wall, the cold metal feeling refreshing with her piercing headache, closing her eyes she decided to let herself sleep a little.
—
Around twenty minutes passed in comfortable silence when the door opened and they were joined by Red and some fat old guy with grey hair, she pulled herself upright as best as she could. Luckily her headache had mostly passed, now it just felt like someone was pinching a nerve which sucked, but it was an improvement nonetheless.
Frowning she looked at the three and asked, fearing the answer but not letting it show. "Well? What now? Going to beat me up? Throw me to the cops?"
"Now we talk and figure out what we want to do" The old man said in what was a surprisingly reassuring voice. "I can promise you we won't hurt you, what happens from here will be your choice. First though, how about you introduce yourself?"
"Hmph!" She turned away dismissively.
"Hahh~" She could hear the dork sigh from where he was sitting which made her feel bad and then he spoke up. "Come on Kay, don't be a sourpuss. I'm Benjamin Kirby Tennyson, my Grandpa is named Max and you already know doofus-
"Hey!" Red complained and subsequently was ignored.
"-so please just talk"
…
"..UUGH~ Fuck! Fine, I'll talk!" Stupid pretty boy. Grumbling, she muttered just loud enough they could hear. "My names Kayden Emily Levin..now can someone please tell me why this shits on me!"
"Right!" Ben perked up immediately while Red groaned and 'Max' just shifted while keeping an eye on her so she wouldn't escape probably, looking like they both were getting comfortable as the nerd began to speak. "Okay so when you were knocked out I hurried and wired up my scanner to focus on biology, sucks that I didn't have time to record what Grey Matter actually did but that's fine, I can figure it out later"
He started making cute little hand motions and gestures as he talked further, miming whatever it was he was doing. "I scanned you to see what was happening and I found the nerve clusters in your hands that are responsible for working your power, the gauntlets forcefully keep them 'off'"
"Hey!" She complained only to get waived off.
"Oh be quiet you big baby, it's completely harmless" She pouted as Ben continued explaining, a little grin on his lips, she noticed he'd chewed some of the skin of his lips off. Did he do that when he was working or was it a nervous habit? "The weird thing is your brain. I can't tell to much yet sadly without more testing but a bit of your brain seems to be completely different from regular humans, it probably controls your powers but also it seems to release a chemical that causes that unique part of your brain to react, when that chemical hits the normal parts of your brain though then it lights up like the fourth of July"
She frowned more seriously. "What? So what does that mean?"
Ben shrugged. "Again I can't give specific data without more tests but from the limited scan it looks like that chemical has an opioid-like effect on your brain, the normal human parts of your brain aren't meant to handle it. I assume when you absorb energy and DNA like with my Omnitrix you get a super dose, thus why you suddenly started tweaking. The headband you're wearing monitors your brain chemistry and basically keeps you within normal human levels, no mind control or anything, just doesn't let your brain suddenly overdose you on happy chemicals. It helps with the withdrawal you'd be feeling too"
…
…
As she thought back on some of her choices and actions it suddenly became apparent that she hadn't ever really felt lucid, at least not like she did now…had she really been high out of her mind up till now? She didn't even think her head had been this clear when she was living with her parents.
Because of that though she latched onto something specific. She glanced back at the three from the corner of her eye. "What do you mean more tests? Like you actually plan on keeping me around?"
"Obviously" Ben said with a bright grin which was matched by Red's overdramatic scowl as she grumpily cut in. "I've been convinced to take a wait and see approach with Ben and his new pet"
"Ruff bitch" She immediately replied on instinct along with her middle finger making Gwen puffed up red faced like a popcorn kernel about to explode.
"Kid's! Behave!" Max quickly intervened though before any fun could happen, sighing he said in a firm 'adult' tone. "We're willing to let you stay with us for the summer. No doubt you are listed as a missing person's so Ben is going to help you control your powers, then at the end of the summer we can choose what to do. Contacting an adoption agency to get you a home, contacting your parents or something else"
"They didn't want a freak like me for a daughter. Fuck 'em, I'll take my chances on the streets before I go home" She immediately replied.
Max nodded. "Maybe so. But we can discuss that more at the end of summer, once you've had time to think over your options and your skill with your powers has progressed. For now the question is if you'd like to live with us?"
She opened her mouth to answer only to pause unsure, hesitantly she glanced at her…friends? It was embarrassing that she didn't know the answer to that.
Gwen was facing away with her arms crossed, trying to look proper and indifferent but there was a small slump in her shoulders and as she peaked back at her, their eyes locked, Gwen slowly nodded encouragingly. Then there was Ben, he smiled widely, his teeth showing in a smug grin and he gave her a thumbs up. "Don't worry, I'll build something to help you control your powers"
She ducked her head, her cheeks feeling hot. After a moment she made her choice, looking up she grinned mischievously. "Fine, I'll live with you guys, but don't blame me if you all wake up without an RV"
Ben laughed and then quickly fired back. "That's fine. Now let's get you in the shower, you stink"
"BEEEN!"
"HAHHAAHAH!"
Outside New York City - I95/2:30pm/Ben POV
When Kayden comes out of the show she's wearing her old clothes, which reminds me we'll need to drop by the store at some point to get her new clothes, and a towel over her shoulders.
Her headband and gauntlets are still on since they're waterproof. I'm sitting at the bench working on the scanner to improve the different sensors and their ability to scan biology, it's still primitive and lacks detail, the images being blurry and prone to overlapping signals even after I'd calibrated everything, but that was probably a programming problem and I should be able to get enough information that I can break down the specific biological mechanisms being used, maybe not how they work but what is actually doing what in detail will still be helpful to know.
"So where's Red?" Kayden asks casually while sitting down across from me and then follows up with. "Also do I gotta keep wearing this junk? I'm on your guy's side now!"
I make a show sniffing dramatically and waiting for a second like I'm thinking, Kayden flips me off and I shrug. "Ehh~ You smell alright at least."
"Yeah, she smelled like cheese and unwashed boxers, I don't even natively have a sense of smell"
"To answer your question, Gwen's in the store looking for snacks, Grandpa is getting gas and washing the windows" I wave casually in the vague direction of outside. "Also yes, you very much do have to keep wearing those. The headband helps keep your brain chemistry level and monitors it for how your biology works in real time, the gauntlets don't just suppress your powers from activating, they also keep them from sending signals back causing feedback and further messing with your brain"
"Soo they work together? Why?" Kayden asked, drawing out the 'o' sound.
"Because I made them at the last minute and they're rushed, also your powers and biology are complex, especially in relation to your brain. With more information and some time I'll have the headband upgraded to focus on just helping you keep sane and the gauntlets can focus on supporting your power while filtering out negative and addictive mental feedback. Also give me your hand"
I motion for her to give me her arm and she hesitantly does so. Taking a firm hold of her gauntlet I took out a small little key and inserted it, the programs inside the gauntlet quickly checking it and when I look at Gwen's computer I'm happy to see the program to control Kayden's gauntlets is running and connected.
I press a few buttons and nod, position the newly upgraded scanner and then hand her a small battery. "Okay, so I've unlocked your power and switched the headband to temporarily only scan and monitor your brain, then in a couple minutes it'll go back to readjusting your brain chemistry"
"Wait" Kayden looked at the battery a little fearfully and slightly pale. "Y-you want me to absorb energy? I-i thought that was bad? I thought it fucked with my head!"
"It's alright" I said in my best calming tone. "There's a very small charge, from what I've seen you shouldn't even notice any effects"
"That's not reassuring!" Kayden hissed.
"Look. I want you to absorb it so I can get a scan of your powers in active use, a standard measurement of how much energy affects your brain's chemistry and that weird chemicals production, using that I can help you" Reaching over I carefully held Kayden's hand with my right hand, learn from your mistakes folks. "I promise you that you'll be fine and the headband will fix any issues, the charge should be small enough that you don't notice anything while still giving a clear reading"
Kayden blushed and bit her lip in worry, groaning she clenched her fist and sparks trailed from her palm, the laptop dinged as it directed a change in the information it was getting.
I grinned and spoke in calm encouragement. "It's alright Kayden, just close your eyes and relax. Keep a steady train of thought and focus on something calming"
"...This is intentional right? You have to be planning this"
"...Hey, I've been wondering?" Kayden asked eventually.
I raised an eyebrow. "Yeah?"
"What does Gwen do?" Kayden asked and at my look of confusion she elaborated. "Like you said before she's your cousin and assistant or whatever but all this looks complicated as shit, what does she actually do to help?"
"..huh" I tilted my head, surprised that she'd ask that but I answered all the same. "Well with alien technology there isn't much she can do but she does help. Mainly she acts as a second pair of eyes and points out when I skipped a step or when my math is off, she gets me something when I'm too busy to do it and acts as a pair of more capable hands when I'm Grey Matter or something and can't actively do something requiring more physically ability"
"Wait…isn't this the episode where..? Oh, this will be fun!~ But it's going to take some strength"
"Oh.." Kayden said in a weird tone.
After a minute in silence the computer dings, having gotten its scan. I turn on the headband again and immediately Kayden groans and shakes her head, blinking and rubbing her temples. "Uhhgh~ That sucks every time"
"Sorry" I say, reaching out and patting her hand comfortingly as I look at the data. "It'll take some time for the computer to take the data we got and make it's inferences but I can still give it a look over and make some guesses"
Kayden shakes her head again and it seems that the headaches mostly faded as she focuses back on me. "Oh? What exactly do you got there then?"
"Well firstly it seems like the complex structure of whatever kinda biology lets you absorb stuff is very segmented, there's dozens, maybe hundreds of different types of little cells and stuff in your hands and down your arms, that lead further into your body. Only a few of them activated when you absorbed the electricity so there's a chance each one has a specific purpose towards absorption, there's also many different cells and smaller…organs? Throughout your body that these connect to but I simply don't have the ability to know more about them without dedicated research and maybe surgery"
I bring up the specific list of marked data and point to where the computer says they'd be positioned, these growths wove through basically every bone, organ and muscle throughout her body, connecting together in a network that almost resembled an alien version of a second nervous system.
"Cool~" Kayden whispered with awe.
"You ever get really sick as a kid? Like with heavy flu and stuff?" I asked.
"Yeah? Kinda? I was constantly sick till I was about five, it stopped around the same time my powers activated. Why?" Kayden asked.
I sighed. "Well because it looks like most of your immune response system is cannibalized by whatever is giving you your powers, from what I can tell you were born basically mostly human but the weird growths only started activating when you were older instead of being on from the start, maybe some weird biology quirk? Either way a lot of your biology is meshed in random weird ways with these growths and I don't have any clue how they work, I honestly don't even know if a hospital could treat you if you got hurt"
Kayden gulped. "Okay, less cool. What do we do?"
SHVVVRRR-BOOOM!
I opened mouth to answer only to flinch and tuck my body as an explosion happened outside, jumping up I quickly run outside with Kayden following behind me, and I find a flaming bank truck had been blown open in front of the gas station with three bikers using what looked like military grade laser weapons, because yeah apparently in this world there was 'primitive' laser weapons on earth.
"Ben! Kayden! Come here!" Grandpa yelled with Gwen at his side and we quickly ran over to him.
I started to look at the watch only to fill with panic when one of the bikers turned to us and spoke in an angry muffled tone. "What are you looken at?"
Turning she pointed and fired the laser gun towards us, Grandpa's eyes widened and I quickly pulled Kayden behind the RV while Grandpa pulled Gwen, the beam slammed into one of the gas stations concrete support pillers and smashed right through.
Grandpa looked us over with clear worry. "Kids! Are you all alright?"
"I'm fine Grandpa" Gwen reassured as I quickly dialed in an alien.
I turned to Gwen and spoke quickly. "Gwen, use your shield and keep them from shooting any of the gas pumps. If one of those explodes we'll all be seeing Jesus early"
She nods and wordlessly turns on her shield as I rush out, behind me Grandpa calls out. "Ben! Hold on!"
Ignoring him I push down the dial and a bright flash of green light covers me.
Spoiler: Diamondhead
My hands break up and shift into shards that I quickly fire between the bikers and the truck, telekinetically willing the shards to sink deeper into the ground and then to grow into a larger wall blocking their path. The group of bikers give shouts of shock only to scream when massive shards of crystal sprout from beneath them and send them flying onto their backs.
One of the bikers tried to lift up their gun only for me to quickly shoot it and cause it to explode, I spoke in my rocky voice. "Please don't resist, I don't want to hurt you"
Hey, weren't these idiot's girl's in canon? I think so? It's always so hard to remember specific plot points, ten years without anyway to fact check or rewatch the series, plus random, new or contradictory information from what I knew was supposed to happen that could just be a result of a retcon I forgot about, Kayden being the perfect example, often left me mixing up or forgetting stuff till it was already happening. I think I see a hint of titty under all the leather and padding so I'm just going to assume their women.
Two of the bikers just slumped in defeat but the third yelled in anger and tore off her helmet. "Hell no! This is my fucking score!"
I slammed down my foot and willed diamonds to grow from the ground to bind them, the two bikers simply let themselves get trapped but the third rolled and quickly picked up and aimed her gun before firing, I quickly shielded with my arm, shifting the crystals to make the beam scatter up into the sky in thousands of tiny shimmering strands of light, the force of the beam caused me to slide back slightly.
"Bitch! Get the fuck away from my cousin you hussy cunt!" I heard Gwen yell angrily behind me before-
Vvv~rooch!
A high pitched, sharp vibrating sound of heated air whistled as a red beam raced from behind me and slammed into the bikers chest with enough force to send her slamming back against the money truck, the front of her biker jacket charred in a perfectly even circle, the girl collapses groaning to the asphalt as her gun skidded along the ground.
"..Damn"
I blinked at the force of that shot and glanced back at Gwen, my tone conversational. "Hey Gwen? What do you have that beam set to?"
"Huh" Gwen jerked in surprise before glancing at her bracelet. "Uhh?~ it's only like three clicks into the yellow setting I think?"
Oh, well shit. That's his mental note to take a look at Gwen's bracelets later since either his math had been wrong or the energy emitter needed recalibrated, the heat and force of that hit were way off from 'light burns and bruising without major injury'.
I just nod and say. "Alright, make sure not to set it any higher and have me give it a look later, it needs recalibrated I think"
I did sorta rush making it and the laser mechanism was a more supped up and complicated version of the drone I'd cannibalized it from, since I'd made it able to dial and change the output it had caused the guns performance to be weirdly higher and or lower in certain parameters at different settings. That's sorta expected though when you take the equivalent to a nine millimeter and redesign it to fire anything between a two millimeter and forty five ACP, tolerances start getting fucky.
Vvvvrrrrr!!
I turned in surprise at the sound of the drones and almost jumped away on instinct before remembering the girls behind me, shit.
I spread my arms and widened my stance, letting the beams hit me full force made me groan from the impact as I shielded the bikers behind me.
"Almost..just a few more seconds~"
I mentally reached out and grabbed the crystals binding the two now screaming bikers and forced them to shatter, freeing them, and then sent the scattered shotgun blast of shards in the air at the drones in a hail. The shards pierced and dug into the plating of the drones causing them to start smoking and moving erratically, I then pushed the two drones in opposite directions with a roar of effort, flinging them away from the gas station.
"Gwen! Focus on keeping the drones from pairing back up!" I command, not paying attention to her confirmation as I see her turn to start firing at one of the drones.
"This will take quite a bit of my strength but it will be worth it to get rid of that girl before she becomes a true problem"
I hear something behind me and turn, my arm shifting into a crystal blade. There's the third biker, she's retrieved her gun and the end is glowing as it's projector builds up energy, my legs tense to jump out of the way as I prepare to shoot shards at her-
"RAAAHH!"
I tense as the feeling like something is going to tear my throat out fills me, on instinct I move. I jerk my body to shrink my profile and quickly put the crystal blade in a guard over my neck right as the biker fires, the beam catching the edge of my blade and breaking into three shots that go wide.
Time slows as I watch out of the corner of my eyes.
A parked car down the street gets hit and explodes, I have no clue if anyone was inside.
A beam hits one of the apartment buildings and brick explodes as it blasts into someone's home.
But I barely note those as I see the third beam heading for Gwen. She screams and quickly puts up her shield, the beam deflects towards the RV. Grandpa, Gwen's and my eyes widen as we see the gas pump next to Kayden get hit and explode, a ball of fire covering the side of the RV.
Multiple things happened at once after that.
"Fuck! Kids get out of there!" Grandpa yelled panicked.
""Kayden!"" Gwen and I yelled at the same time.
"Hah..hah…I was aiming to kill the red head but that works just as well..fuck I'm tired…"
Gritting my teeth I turn and with a roar I swipe my crystal blade, the diamond edge launching out to push back the beam which I quickly jump after. I'm quickly in front of this fucking cunt, I shift my weight in a single fluid move, slashing her gun in half with one arm while giving a literally jaw fracturing haymaker with the other that makes the bitch's head snap to the side. My crystal blade shifts back into a normal first and I haul my full weight and force up into a harsh body shot that lifts her into the air wrapped around my fist, letting her drop, I give a harsh kick sending her ragdolling towards the armored car with the contents of her stomach being puked up in her wake.
Reaching out to the two drones I telekinetically will the shards in them to dig in further and then I forcefully pull, dragging them upwards into the air and smashing them together. I pull, forcing the crystals to tear out of one drone, through the other and out the other side, doing the same with the other drone. The two wrecks immediately fall to the ground as a pile of scrap metal which I then further turn to swiss cheese by hurling the floating shards at it as I turn away.
I press the dial as I run over, transforming back to human, I start dialing in Heatblast as I run to Gwen and Grandpa next to the raging fire. I'm just about to press the dial when Gwen grabs my shoulder and points. "Look!"
Cough! Cough!
Kayden limped out of the fire, waving her hands in front of her face and taking a deep breath as she groaned, her whole body covered in a cracked and chipped stone-like shell that flexed and moved like a second skin.
Quickly I ran over and helped pull her away from the fire, her 'skin' hot to the touch though I ignored it, Gwen who seemingly had been right behind me quickly joined in helping, just in time as Kayden seems to slump and the rocky shell crumbles into dust leaving her looking pink and sweaty but alive.
"...Fuuuhck! By the darkness of the first divine horror Zs'Wescraven-Romero! Fucking plot armor!?!"
"Kids! Quickly, Gwen get her on one of the beds! Ben, transform into Heatblast and take care of that fire!" Grandpa ordered quickly, grabbing Kayden from me.
I nodded and as they led her inside I quickly transformed, absorbed the fireball that was burning next to the RV, I made sure to also weld the gas pipe closed to keep it from leaking. I wince when I see the side of the RV is burnt black, Grandpa is going to be pissed.
I quickly transformed back and jumped inside the RV, Grandpa already in the driver seat and pulling away once I closed the door. I sigh and turn to check on Kayden only to pause as I see her and Gwen sitting, as I turn to them and freeze I can see Gwen pull back from holding her, look confused at me, and then get a look of shocked understanding as she looks at Kayden.
I immediately turn around as Gwen screams. "Kayden! Your shirt!"
"EEEEEEIIIIIHHHHHH!" "...fuck it, I'm going to sleep..waste of energy.."
Along I95/4:57pm/Random Public Park
"WHHAAAA!"
I look up from the bench I'm sitting at as I work on soldering wires. A few feet from me Gwen is teaching Kayden how to fightbeating her ass, Kayden gets up with a groan from where she'd gotten thrown, now wearing one of Gwen's shirts temporarily and missing her headband and gauntlets.
I whistled sharply to get their attention. "Alright, enough torturing her for now Gwen. Come here Kayden, I'm finished with your gear…I think?"
"Very encouraging" Kayden deadpans as the two walk over to me.
Gwen nods as they sit down. "Please tell me your not going to electrocute her-
"Aww! Thanks Red! I knew you cared!"
"-I'd rather she not go crazy while wearing my favorite shirt and end up trashing it"
Kayden comically slumps and pouts as Gwen finishes her sentence. "Meanie"
I roll my eyes. "Hilarious, now give me your arm"
Kayden does as told and I start putting the bracelets on her wrists, calmly speaking as I work. "Okay so I've reworked the design a bit. Firstly it's insulated and padded now to be more comfortable to wear long term, secondly I recalibrated the inhibitor so it'll monitor your powers and record information, it'll also only target the parts of your power that let you absorb energy and DNA. From the scans we did earlier and the follow up exam after learning you could absorb matter it looks like that doesn't cause nearly as much mental side effects besides slightly increased adrenaline"
Kayden blinked. "So wait..you fixed me? That easily!?"
"I haven't fixed shit Kay" I deadpan. "The fact you can safely absorb matter without mental interference is great and it means I don't have to do as much work true, plus after going over all the scans we've made and taking my time I'm able to more precisely target specific parts of your biology but…"
I trail off trying to think of the best way to explain. "Well, put bluntly. I have no fucking clue how you are even alive let alone how your brain or biology works, I'm basically just forcing your body to stop talking to your power and not actually fixing anything. Like I said before I'll need time to figure out how your biology works and then when I have a proper understanding of that I can more directly fix the issue"
"Uuuh~" Kayden looked slightly worried as I started putting the similarly redesigned headband on her. "Question. If you're keeping my brain from talking to some of my organs…could that be bad?"
"Please don't kill your girlfriend doofus" Gwen said making Kayden blush while I ignored her.
"No" I shake my head quickly. "The nerves that cause your powers to activate are separate from the nerves that feed into your organs and I'm only targeting those specific nerves, I may not know exactly what everything does but I can recognize an on/off switch when I see one. You'll be perfectly fine"
I step back giving Kayden a chance to look over the bracelets and headband as she hesitantly nods. "Alright.. that's fair I guess. So I should turn them on I guess?"
"There already on Kayden, they switched on automatic when I put them on you" I say smugly as she blinks in surprise. "Perk of being able to more precisely target nerves, you shouldn't have any more discomfort…though you will have to take them off and plug them in to charge before you go to bed. The battery on them only lasts around sixteen hours or so"
Kayden grinned widely and then jumped up cheering. "Yes! Thank you guys so much for helping me!"
Then Gwen and I were pulled into a crushing hug that made us wheeze as the air was forced from our lungs, coughing I force out. "N-nho proh-problem~"
"Yehh~. Haapy to heg-lp~" Gwen groaned out intelligably.
When Kayden lets go we both loudly gasp, I clutch my ribs as my lungs reinflate, a refreshing breath of air filling my lungs. Gwen groans and settles back in her seat, intentionally scooting out of arm's reach from the other positively glowing girl.
"So..she's cleared to use her powers then doc? Because she might actually be fun to fight if she can keep up that sorta strength" Gwen said in a teasing impish manner.
"Meanie!" Kayden shouted in faux anger.
I nodded as we ignored her. "Yeah she should be all good, I want to test her durability, strength level and how her other physical abilities are affected by absorbing materials and if different materials offer different benefits or drawbacks. So we'll go easy on training today alright?"
Gwen nodded, she'd seen how I trained with my aliens and how I'd usually push it as much as I could unless I had a specific goal in mind like now. "Sure, just don't go too easy doofus. I'd hate to hurt you because you didn't properly keep up"
I roll my eyes and we get up, each of us moving equally far apart with Kayden touching the ground and after a minute of concentration she covers herself in a layer of rock before bouncing to her feet with a grin, Gwen though just turns on her shield and blaster bracelets, I'd spoken to her and let her know to be more careful till I had the time to recalibrate her bracelets, luckily this was just training so there was no reason for it to be past the lowest setting anyway.
Though I'll definitely have to take a look at it tomorrow in the morning while I eat breakfast, then I'll have to work on remaking my Ionizer and after that get to work on generating anti-gravitons(if I discover them can I name them tenitons?), all while trying to copy that smug bastard Azmuth's homework and figure out omni-energy. So much work, such a drag…maybe I could make a gimmicky sci-fi looking glove for my right hand and basically re-fit the Ionizer to be a sorta bootleg Ironman-style repulsor ray?
Anyway once they both confirmed they were ready, I grinned and set the dial to the alien I wanted then before transforming gave a cocky remark. "Get ready to be dog food!"
Spoiler: Wildmutt
"RRRRRRHHrrrr!" My throat produced a wide range of high frequency and multi-pitched sound.
I was completely blind but instinctively my brain took the sound I'd made and those around me, used the feeling of the rough hairs along my body and the feeling of my skull shaking and it was like a shifting cloud took shape around me. Similarly each breath created a whole of different scents and information, I couldn't properly explain how it felt or worked or what I was seeing, it's like trying to explain how your eyes let you see or the color blue.
Most surprising though was that I could feel three different pairs of eyes under my fur, glancing around, blinking, but no actual sight from them. I guess they were an evolutionary hold over or something?
"Holy shit, that's so cool! He looks so soft!" My head tilted towards Kayden as she spoke. "..Whoa, he doesn't have eyes? What, is he some sorta super bloodhound?"
I grin and growl, I 'see' Gwen get into a fighting stance and Kayden takes a step back as I get ready to pounce, Gwen quickly calls out. "Don't forget it's still the doofus in there, he's definitely got some kinda plan so focus on the spar"
"R-right sorry!" Kayden sounded embarrassed and I smelled the subtle scent of blood telling me she was flushed as she got into a fighting stance.
Rude, I honestly didn't have that big a plan or anything, I just wanted to practice with an alien perception to see how it would go and figured Wildmutt would work best.
Quickly I ran forward, my paws tearing up the dirt and adding its scent to the air. I run between Gwen and Kayden surprising them, Gwen fires at me and misses forcing Kayden to dodge, spinning I lunged and got in close.
"Kayden! Duck!" Gwen yells, pausing her shot just as I swipe at Kayden.
"Shit!" Kayden met my swipe with her arm, letting my claws spark off her rocky armor.
Amused I used my back legs and push off Kayden, off balance she gets thrown on her ass as I jumped backwards, landed and then pounced.
Gwen screamed in shock and quickly put her shield between her and my jaws as I nearly landed on her, having covered the distance quicker than she realized, her blaster was rendered useless as I pressed on her shield and swiped at her, being careful not to be too forceful while still forcing her to use both arms to keep me away.
Gwen's advantage is range, intentionally so since I didn't want her close enough to any fighting to get hurt, while Kayden was more melee focused. Thus getting them to think I was going after Kayden and then quickly switching while they were distracted was my plan to get them off balance.
I crouch, jab my head between her legs and push, flinging my head up and sending Gwen ass over teakettle as she's launched behind me. I turned and pounced, now Gwen is at most a hundred pounds while I'm currently closer to two fifty, she rolls around wrestling me for a minute because I don't want to hurt her, but then once she's laying on her stomach I just lay down on top of her.
Immediately Gwen groans as the air is forced from her lungs, the scent of sweat and mild fear coming off of her, slobber drips on her hair as I give a light warning nip to the back of her neck that makes her freeze.
In the three seconds it takes Kayden to get back on her feet she can only stare as I 'look' at her, Gwen completely trapped.
I growl and huff mockingly.
"Uggh, damn it. Now I'm getting taunted by a mutt" Kayden muttered.
Gwen below me though groaned and tried to wiggle only to freeze as I gave her another nip, an annoyed complaint coming muffled from her. "Flea bitten doofus, I get it I'm dead, let me up you heavy jerk!~"
My reply was just some smug high pitched growls, honestly she was lucky I wasn't a total asshole because I could instinctively tell the rough hairs on my body are barbed and I can feel the muscles I'd need to tense to start making her feel incredibly itchy and uncomfortable.
Gwen whines under me, having seemed to get the message that she wasn't getting up till I let her, meanwhile Kayden was stuck indecisive.
Kayden slumps. "Damn it..I didn't know we could take hostages-
"We're not on teams you idiot, hit him!" Gwen wheezed out, interrupting Kayden before she could surrender.
Annoyed since I thought I could get Kayden from her inexperience, I punished Gwen a tiny bit by shifting my weight and pressing down a bit more, making her whine under me again. At the same time Kayden jolts out of her shock and charges with a roar, her fist pulled back to punch me.
I quickly pulled my face away from the haymaker, sitting up right on Gwen's back makes her spine pop and she groans but I'm careful to not actually put my full weight on her, I lunged again and bite down on Kayden's wrist, instantly I feel her stone coating crumble under my fangs and I quickly stop before I break her skin, instead I just flicked my head one way then quickly the other sending Kayden flying.
"AAAAHHHH-Ughuph!" Kayden bounced and rolled before bouncing off of the base of a large tree with a groan.
I flop back down on Gwen smugly, huffing proudly while she whines and wiggles in discomfort at the drool currently soaking her hair. "S-stupid mutt!~"
Sniff
Sniff
I perk up as I smelled a change in Gwen's scent, sweat, embarrassment, anger, and..arousal?
Suddenly I pay a bit more attention and I realize that it's Gwen's hips that are wiggling and her thighs are tensing and shifting as she tries to push back against me, I move so my face is next to Gwen's and I huff in her face, making as human of a smug grin as I can as I huff smugly.
"Uggh, your breath stinks, you slobber factory..what do you want?" Gwen groaned.
I loudly sniffed twice and then tapped my snout against her head, letting out another smug huff. At first Gwen is confused and then her whole body freezes and locks up, the intensity of embarrassment and arousal scents nearly triple as she quietly stuttered while still wheezing. "W-wait, don't tell me you can..smell t-that"
I very pointedly take another loud sniff and then make a rumbling laugh sound that's completely fake and forced due to the alien body but translates my feelings perfectly, the scent of embarrassment only increases and Gwen slumps with a whine that's nearly ultrasonic.
Huffing smugly I get up off her and step back, she quickly gets to her feet and hisses quietly. "N-not a word idiot! I-I still have a few days till my period is over!"
She turned and ran over quickly towards Kayden. Nicely I wasn't going to mention that I knew her period wasn't for another week since that's when she always got really sensitive to teasing, got extra bossy and always wanted me to make her something to eat because she was 'tired'. Also while I hadn't tested it obviously I was sure Wildmutt would be able to smell the difference between normal and period hormone arousal.
Ehh, she'd discovered a fetish for dogs, or getting overpowered and crushed by something heavy, or maybe she just had a thing for alien's, the last one definitely wasn't something strange in this family, I wasn't going to be the one judging anyone.
I padded over slowly to the girls as Gwen helped a groaning Kayden to her feet, Gwen frowning at the girl and huffing to disguise the reason for her being so jittery. "You suck at fighting and you froze! We're definitely going to have to focus on teaching you proper stance, footwork and strategy"
"Right Red, can that wait till my brain stops rattling?" Kayden joked.
I was about to transform back when I caught the scent of metal, flesh and something else. My head snapped up just as something heavy landed, the ground shaking under us, I turned and growled.
A feminine voice spoke. "You're the one with the watch fido? Give it to me now!"
Before I could react something shifted and then it felt like I got hit by a truck as I was sent flying back with a pained howl.
—
"BEN!" Gwen yelled in shock as he got blasted and launched into the forest, the fear like ice water that shocked her out of all her previous thoughts.
Kayden flinched and quickly ducked down to reabsorb the ground and repair her armor, I stepped forward and put my shield in front of me as the attacker started walking forward.
As she got a good look at the attacker she realized it was a woman, only her skin was a bright blood red with metal plating and machines fused to her flesh, she was wearing a torn up biker jacket and jeans exposing more of the cybernetic limbs.
Spoiler: Rojo
Gwen blinked in surprise as it clicked in her brain and she recognized the woman as the biker from earlier in the day.
The women stopped a few feet in front of them and said in an angry bitchy tone. "Get out of my way brats, I'm here for the watch and I won't hurt you if you don't get in my way"
"That's my cousin you fucking bitch, go to hell" Gwen immediately responded and Kayden nodded quickly while getting in a amateurish boxing stance. "Yeah! What Red said!"
"Kids! What's going on-
The RV opened and Grandpa came out obviously confused by the commotion, immediately the laser weapon thing on the bitch's shoulder moved and fired at Grandpa, who quickly jumped out of the way with a shout of surprise, fire blasting out of the inside of the RV from the shot. She immediately raised the blaster bracelets dial to yellow and started shooting.
Vvv~rooch!
Vvv~rooch!
The cyborg quickly shielded herself and the beams slammed against her, were before they had sent her flying now they broke against her reinforced skin and the force just made her skid back. Glaring the robot drone women glared at her and growled. "You, you're the bitch who shot me!"
The cyborg started to walk towards her but Kayden quickly charged in, launching herself at the bitch and hitting her head on, using the distraction Gwen remembered the lesson Ben had just taught her and retreated back to keep her distance.
Kayden's physical strength was on par with the robot lady and being so close made her lasers ineffective, but she was bigger and apparently had more experience in street fighting so Kayden was being quickly overpowered.
Gwen kept herself safe behind her shield and carefully aimed to hit the robot lady in her limbs or face, vulnerable spots to distract her that wouldn't hurt Kayden, but the beams only seemed to annoy the bitch.
"Get away from my grandkids you hoodlum!" Grandpa ran up and swung a thick tree log that had been out as a seat.
Smash!
The robot biker lady gets hit hard, with the log breaking in Grandpa's grip, he then gets in close and punches her hard sending her back three feet before rolling to a stop.
The woman grits her teeth and audibly growls. "You'll get your's old man"
Gwen quickly raises the dial higher to just a few clicks below red, or as Ben called it 'Swiss cheese a person' mode.
Taking aim she fired just after the robot lady did, Kayden moved and took the shot, her stone armor shattered and she got sent to the floor like she'd been drop kicked, at the same time a blood red beam blasted out of her bracelet, the sound like a mix of a high pitched zipper and a high voltage wire, the blast vibrating so fast it had two overlapping images.
VVVrrrrrOOCH-KHBOOM!
Fire detonated at the woman's chest and she was sent ragdolling, Gwen took the opportunity to run over to Kayden to check her over which Grandpa was already doing, Grandpa looked up from where she was holding a gasping Kayden and said in a stern commanding tone. "She's fine, just had the breath knocked out of her. Focus on the fight!"
"Right!" Her feet skidded along the ground and she turned to block with her shield towards the cyborg and just in time, another blast fired out quickly and fanned out to hit a wide area, her shield just barely covered her and Grandpa in time thanks to luck. A scream of shock came from her as the force nearly made her stumble.
Note to self, give Ben a kiss on the cheek for the bracelets, even if he smells and is annoying, and hogs the hot water showers, and always leaves spare parts and laundry laying everywhere, and is annoying, and leaves the toilet seat up.
Nodding to herself she got ready to shoot the woman again as she tried to get herself steady, catching sight of her as the beams stopped and smoke cleared, she was surprised to see that she was completely unharmed aside from some smoke trailing off her.
Before anyone could do anything a roar echoed from the forest and Ben as Wildmutt came running as a blur from the tree line, easily going sixty miles an hour, he barreled full force onto the woman and began biting and clawing, jumping back and pouncing while moving in random directions. Shaking herself out of her shock she quickly took aim and started shooting quick shots whenever she saw an opening, quickly they began knocking her every which was.
Ben would claw and bite her, send chunks of rock and dirt at her to blind her or tackle or trip her up, at the same time Gwen herself made sure to shoot her whenever her focus turned away from herself for more than a moment.
Getting thrown against a tree by Ben and hit in the face by Gwen's blast, the robot drone lady roared in fury, punching Ben in the face and quickly racing upwards into the air and away, Gwen firing after her till she couldn't see her anymore.
There was a red flash and Ben transformed back into normal, he called out in a worried exhausted tone. "Y-you guys alright? I..I think she's gone for now"
"Yes I'm fine, I want to know if you kids are fine" Grandpa immediately cut in, looking between Kayden who was holding her chest and groaning as she caught her breath and Ben who was sweating and as he got to his feet it looked like he was favoring his left side.
Gwen slowly lowered her bracelets and turned them off, hesitantly but tentatively sure they were safe for the moment.
"I..I'll be fine..fuck…just feels like she knocked my lungs out" Kayden rasped. Grandpa carefully helping her to her feet, the whole chest part of her armor had been torn off and as the rest of it crumbled Gwen could just barely see the edge of a bruise at her collarbone.
Ben walked towards them and stretched with a wince. "Y-yeah I'm good just phantom pains, that first shot and landing bruised some of Wildmutt's ribs but it's healed now that I've changed back, it'll fade in a few minutes"
Ben glanced at Kayden then nodded. "I think we should get started on dinner and discuss our options, we also need to figure out how we're going to handle that bruise of yours"
"Huh?" Kayden groaned confusedly.
"You need someone to properly treat that bruising, Gwen doesn't know first-aid, so either I or Grandpa can do it" Ben deadpanned.
Gwen felt her face get hot and it was quickly followed by Kayden's mortified blush.
Same Place/6:27pm/Gwen POV
Gwen angrily bit down on her nachos, apparently Ben had been prepping to make them the last few days or something, all of them were seated at the park benches eating as they talked.
"-Look I'm just saying that the bitch caught me by surprise! We need to go find her so I can get the chance to dent her jaw!" Kayden said enthusiastical with a laugh, taking a bite as Ben held out a chip for her.
Ben nodded. "Yes I'm sure you'd do great, but I'm more worried about what she'll do, she could hurt someone"
Kayden was sitting next to Ben and blushing, Ben had instructed her how to rub cream on her bruises, cold compress them and bandage the small cuts along her chest. Then when they'd sat down to eat the hussy had said it was hard to eat because the cuffs bit into her wrists, Ben rolled his eyes and then promised to fix it when he had time then offered to feed her.
This bitch replied with "NaH, tHiS iS mUcH bEtTeR"!
How dare she! Who the fuck just says something like that to HER dweeb cousin?! She munched angrily. There was no way someone just switched from a fucking psycho into a lovey dovy bimbo, fuck her stupid flirting!
Grandpa next to her spoke up. "Kids, it's not our responsibility to stop her, that should be left up to the authorities. We should eat and then leave, doing anything else puts you all in danger"
"Grandpa you're wrong" Ben instantly spoke up. "She's after the watch, after me. I will not allow innocent people to get hurt because I didn't fight someone!"
Grandpa blinked in surprise while Gwen and Kayden found themselves being quiet, inching back in their seats as the two stared at each other, Ben's eyes looked hard and older then they should and filled with…guilt?
Grandpa sighed. Clearly he hadn't expected that reply. "Well..I…that's noble Ben but it isn't your job, you had no control over this-
"But I do have the power" Ben interrupted sharply. Gwen blinked in shock, she'd never seen him do something like that. "Call it responsibility, call it heroism, call it whatever. The point is that she's coming after me and I have the power to fight her, she is going to hurt civilians if I don't stop her just like with that armored bank car, I can overlook some things as not my fault or not my responsibility but not that, if I do nothing then it'll be on me!"
"But we don't even know where she is?" She pointed out, cutting into the conversation. "She's obviously going to come for you again so waiting and making a plan is the best thing to do"
Kayden chuckled, the mood softening as Ben and Grandpa seemed to deflate from the argument that had been about to explode. "What sorta plan Red? Where we're going to store the spare parts when Ben inevitably strips her wiring? Seems to be a trend at this point..or maybe it's just cause someone special is around?"
Ben just rolled his eyes at the flirty tone Kayden used, shoved a chip in her mouth and grouched. "Ehh, I'd rather stick to metal and bolts. With technology it at least does what it's supposed to and knows how to follow orders, something someone could learn"
"Yeah Red" Kayden said, turning with an impish grin making her blush at the joke getting turned on her, her face getting even hotter as Ben laughed.
She started stuttering embarrassed. "H-hey!! I didn't even do anything! You're the delinquent, I'll have you know I'm perfectly well behaved! All my teachers love me!"
"Nerd!" Ben fake coughed then started looking around confused. "Who said that?"
"EEERGHHH!"
"Heh~" Kayden chuckled. "Well seems like if you want someone obedient you've found your little teachers pet, personally I like more doing what I want"
Kayden leaned forward and opened her mouth dramatically, ordering smugly. "Feed me!"
Gwen blushed in anger and embarrassment while Ben just rolled his eyes and fed her one of his nachos, not even paying attention that he'd been randomly switching between his and Kayden's bowls, getting their food all mixed up without a care.
UGGH!
He's so gross! And why is he trusting her? His dumb girl friend is just going to beat him up, she's practically got him as her butler at this point with how he's feeding her. He doesn't even do that sorta thing for her and their cousins! Why is he doing it for some street rat.
Pow!
"FFFFHHHH!" Gwen hissed sucking on her teeth as she got kicked in the shin.
Looking up she caught sight of Ben just as he turned to look at her, his usual big stupid ugly smirk plastered over his dumb face. She grit her teeth and growled. "Ben!"
She reared her leg back and kicked him in the shin.
"Huh?" Ben turned towards her before jerking and grabbing his leg as he got kicked, hissing while Grandpa sighed and Kayden started giggling. "Ack! Fracking...bitch..fuck!"
"Come here you!" Ben hissed like an angry cat, kicking under the table rapidly at her.
She copied him and aimed towards his feet, stomping and dragging trying to get his whole foot. "Give me your fucking ankles and cry doofus!"
Grandpa gave a tired sigh. "Uggh~ It's their eighth birthday all over again"
"Hehehe~ God their such good entertainment" Kayden said stealing the two bowls from Ben and snacking on them both like popcorn.
…
After ten seconds of kicking they both froze, glancing at the delinquent before making eye contact, silently a conversation passed between them and a truce was reached. As one they turned towards the trickster.
"Come here you brat!" Ben grabbed Kayden and jerked, pulling them out of their seats and onto the ground. "Trick us huh?!"
Gwen quickly hauled herself up and over the table to jump in as well. "Come here you hussy! Kick me will you!"
"Wait! AHHH!~ No don't!"
"Gwen! she's ticklish!"
"EEEEEE! IM'HANA'PEEEEE~!"
"Hhhhaaaaaa~ Kids" Grandpa sighed.
Within a minute Gwen had Kayden in an arm bar face down on the ground, tickling her side as she thrashed, Ben was sitting on her thighs and had pulled her feet back and was tickling her soles. Laughing tears coming from Kayden as she struggled to breathe.
"Ahhahaha~ S-Tahah-staohp! Mhrcy!" Kayden begged, laughter slurring her words.
Grinning smugly Gwen paused her tickling to lift Kayden's head by a finger on her chin and make her look up at her, amusement clear in her tone. "So Levin~ Who's the pet now? You want mercy? Then tell me who's going to behave herself?"
"I WILL! I Will! STOP TICKLING ME BEFORE I PEE!" Kayden squealed.
Gwen looked up and met Ben's eyes, sharing the exact same brain cell they both grinned with fully visible teeth, Ben paused his tickling but teasingly his fingers ghosted over her toes making the brat shiver.
Smugly Gwen patted Kayden's cheek, speaking in a cheery conversational tone. "That's a good girl. Try and play footsie with me again and we'll have you act like a cat as punishment before we let you go~"
When they let her go Kayden collapsed into a blushing mess on the floor, which now that Gwen got a look at her red-faced and teary eyed from getting bullied instead of having that dumb smug smirk, she had to admit it was sorta cute. For a delinquent.
"Hahaha~ Well that was at least a fun game" Ben chuckled while stretching.
He frowned at his spilled bowl of nachos and with a sigh reached to turn on the radio-
"#-eaking news! A robot has begun attacking the police academy! Fourteen students have been evacuated with five injured but more are inside, no know fatalities as of now-#"
"Grandpa, don't even think about it. I'm going, either help or don't" Ben said in a tone that was absolutely convinced as he began looking at his watch and dialing in an alien.
Grandpa looked at the radio then at Ben, Gwen found herself unsure about if she should say something, then Grandpa sighed. "Fine. Let's go. Everybody in the RV!"
Grandpa got up and started rushing to carry the plates and radio inside. On the floor Kayden groaned and peeled herself off the ground, rolling her eyes she grabbed the delinquent by the wrist and started dragging her towards the RV, Ben already in front of them.
—
Rojo, who we'd learned the name of thanks to the helpful news broadcast, was firing energy blasts when I arrived.
Officers running away as beams pierced the building and tore through walls, I had to distract her so using XLR8's super speed I launched a food cart at her at mach speed, the cart slamming into her and the attached propane tank exploding in a ball of fire.
Spoiler: XLR8
Rojo growls as she sweeps aside the smoke, a scowl clear on her mutated cyborg face. "You. I'm going to fucking tear your throat out, he can have the fucking watch, I want to watch as the life bleeds from you"
I tilted my head. "Really? Well tell whoever he is that he'll have to catch me first. Hope you can keep up"
Rojo's drone shoulder rays move up and aim at me as time slows down, my perception kicking into overdrive.
I circle around confident that no one will get hurt from the stray shots, Kayden and Grandpa were helping civilians get to safety while Gwen was using her shield and going through the academy to save the students.
The thing is it doesn't really matter what you can do, can XLR8 hurt you? Then if so he has all the time in the world to do so or make a plan to do it. That was what people didn't really understand about super speed, if you're an idiot like canon Ben then you just run around, if you're intelligent though?
Then you don't lose.
I raced around her in a tight tornado, using my momentum and sharp claws to hit at weak points, joints, seams between the alien metal plating, spots like the liver, servo's and spine where I knew a tiny amount of force would be enough to cause damage. In seconds as air was pulled away and she was lifted off her feet cracks and cuts appeared along her body.
Rojo tried engaging her flight but doing so accurately was difficult when my tail smacked against her eyes repeatedly disorienting her.
I raced away letting her drop onto the ground gasping for air and disoriented, I had a few seconds before the military drove a tank in, which was crazy and I was certain broke a few different laws. Anyway once I'd gotten three blocks away I raced back, using the running start and Rojo's disorientation I slammed into her full speed.
There was a loud clap as I came to a halt, asphalt under us fractured and the sound of glass shattering could be heard, for a normal human's sight Rojo simply vanished and down the street a building exploded into a dust cloud. In my perception she ragdolled, the blow hitting her right in the stomach and folding her like a lawn chair, the transfer of momentum sent her flying like a missile.
Nodding to myself I hit the watch, a green flash of light filling the street which is quickly followed by a second flash.
Now I wait.
—
Rojo found herself screeching in absolute fury as she slammed into the road, puke and spit still covering her mouth from where she'd been made to empty her stomach, again.
She was going to fucking tear his balls out through his fuck-mothering throat, fuck not hurting kids, she was going to murder them. Absolutely kill all the children after this, this was her final fucking straw.
WHERE THE BLASTED FUCK IS THAT RUNNING GECKO!!!!
She grit her teeth and yelled enraged. "Where the fuck are you? Come out or I'm going to find those two cunts and peel their skin off like fucking potatoes!"
"#No, you won't#" A digital voice spoke like someone speaking through a radio.
She spun around only to scream as black and green slime exploded out of the cracked asphalt and wrapped around her, pulling her down before she could fly away, her skin burned as she felt something sinking inside her, her body spasming as her mind opened and something came forward.
—
Space had faded, a yellow tented kaleidoscope spiraled around her as she sank deeper, like swimming through mucus.
Above her a mountain of armor and flesh moved, eldritch and cybernetic, like the love child of the sea and stars. Its red eyes were twin suns glaring down with contempt like a god observing the unworthy, like a bored child finding a lone ant, like something that would take all before it. It's voice a suffocating pressure that came from every direction and inside her, as though space itself was its mouth piece.
"Listen to every word, be afraid"
In front of the titan floated a blob of black with green circuitry, upon its chest was that watch. It stared passively, uncaringly as the pressure built, as her body screamed, as she drowned as the space itself bubbled and began to churn into three parts.
"You cannot run, you cannot hide from me. I will find you, and when I do.."
The voice paused for just a moment, her mouth widened to scream in a voice she no longer possessed, her bones grinding away, everything held in place waiting.
"..I WILL RETRIEVE MY OMNITRIX AND DESTROY YOU!"
The sheer wrath that filled her mind sent her tumbling downwards into the depths, her mind splitting in a hundred directions as lines, codes, commands, wires filled her neurons.
A single voice spoke with conviction before everything snapped.
"When you come, you will die"
Darkness.
I95 Rest Stop/9:46pm/Later
I yawn tiredly as I neatly sort the last component of the tech I'd de-bonded from Rojo, though she'd collapsed after I'd done so and had to be taken by paramedics.
Since I'd already worked with parts of the drones before it was easy to take all the pieces apart and fully depower it, though I was very excited to get an in-depth look at the new parts that I hadn't gotten to see like its main computer, processor, main power and its cooling systems, it would have to wait for another day.
From everything I'd seen and researched so far I'd learned a lot. Vilgax's drones seemed fairly basic and built mostly for economy, the most impressive feature I'd found in them was the wiring and how the whole thing ran. It was made using bio-organic components, the wiring was some sorta super conductive bacteria gel while the motherboard container was like a miniature sealed terrarium of engineered life, I figured that was partially how it had been able to merge with Rojo.
The hoverboard that Tetrax had given me was also extremely interesting in that it used purely crystals and refracted light to compute, which was why it was so small, it was production and implementation of photonic crystals centuries beyond the twenty-first century.
Basically light was reflected through the crystal and based on that it could be used to store, read and send information similar to a quantum computer, only from what Grey Matter was seeing I believed that they were so knowledgeable that they were able to mix the crystals into doing a mixture of both quantum and regular computing. Thus while I was still working out the exact mechanics and hadn't started theorizing in ways to replicate the crystals or reverse engineer it, it was still incredibly valuable.
Also understandably, Petrosapiens were incredible at creating hard light projections, literally crystalized light. I'd done something similar with Gwen's shield and using the robot drones laser technology to sorta freeze them in place but that was even more slapdashed then the ray is, using the principals of their hard light projectors I could definitely make something way better. Though that would require me to take the time to totally rebuild Gwen's bracelets from scratch so I'd save it for when I had free time, or I unlocked Ditto.
Just these small bits of tech were enough that I could revolutionize the world, not to the same extreme as if I can learn omni-energy but still, it would catapult humanity at least two or three centuries into the future.
I giggle excitedly as I grin and stand up, stretching my back gives a satisfying series of pops.
"Hey Grandpa! Ben's giggling like a creepy pervert instead of telling us whatever it was he saw in that robobitch's head!" Kayden obnoxiously whined from her seat on the bench, she'd already changed into a pair of Gwen's sleeping clothes.
Grandpa sounded exasperated from where he was sitting opposite of Kayden. "Kayden, please don't curse. I'm sure Ben will tell us in a moment, right kiddo?"
Kayden grinned smugly for some reason while Gwen opens the restroom door and stepped out wearing blue pajama pants and a purple pajama shirt with a crescent moon design, matching the same pajamas Kayden was borrowing.
Spoiler: Gwen in pajamas
"No Grandpa, he definitely forgot while he was focused on his toys" Gwen said condescendingly. "Come on and spill dweeb"
I slumped, groaning as I muttered to myself. "Great, now their ganging up on me"
I head over to my bed and start taking out my sleeping clothes while explaining. "When I went Upgrade and merged with Rojo something weird happened, some giant alien thing with a squid for a head appeared and started talking"
Kayden and Gwen leaned forward in interest as I stripped off my shoes and socks from my aching feet, my pants and then my shirt before pulling on my pajamas. Grandpa though jerked and paled, his attention immediately on me fully, he asked quickly in a stutter. "W-what did vi-he say?"
I intentionally narrowed my eyes and peered at Grandpa like I'd caught him acting strange, which he was but mainly I wanted to plant the idea that I was noticing his weird behavior. I was fairly certain Vilgax was supposed to show up soon.
"He said his name was Vilgax, the same guy who sent those robot drones. That I should be afraid, that I can't run or hide and that he would get HIS Omnitrix and destroy me" I said, Grandpa paling like a ghost as I stared him in the eye and freely admitted. "I told him I'd kill him if he tried"
"Damn" Kayden grinned. "Hard core"
"BEN!" Grandpa nearly shrieked, genuine fear in his voice. "W-why would you say something like that"
I looked at him flatly and spoke in a deadpan monotone as I counted on my fingers. "He sent a robot drone that nearly killed Gwen and me and almost hurt innocent civilians, his robot like possessed that weird bicker girl who again nearly killed us, then he told me to be afraid like some kinda weird pedo and that he'd destroy me…yeeeah~ No, I'd call that self defense at that point"
Grandpa stared at me slackjawed, his eyes uncomprehending.
I shrugged. "I won't go out of my way to kill him or anything, hell I'll even try to play peacemaker if I can but the moment fighting starts you can one hundred percent believe I'll be trying to make Ikayaki"
Slowly, ever so slowly, like a prehistoric ice shelf scraping against the barren continent, Grandpa Max closes his eyes and folds inwards. His elbows resting on his knees, his head in his hands as he rubs his temples and a weary groan exhales from him in the silence of the RV. "...kid's, please go to bed"
I flinch feeling guilty at the tone Grandpa used. 'Ahh great, I've done it now'
I finished buttoning up my pajama shirt and started slipping under the covers, Gwen and Kayden also coming over as Grandpa tiredly began turning out the lights.
Before I could lay back though Kayden latched on to my arm, a big grin on her face. "I need a teddy bear, so dibs!"
There's an unholy offended screech and a fist knocks Kayden in the back of the head like an anime, ducking Kayden grabs her head with a pained whine. Growling angrily, Gwen grabs Kayden by the ear. "Are you insane!? You're not spending the night in Ben's bed you-...get over here! Did no one teach you manners or appropriate behavior for a girl? You don't sleep in a boys bed! You need a bed? Then you'll be sleeping in mine"
"Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Hey I was-Ow!-just teasing!! Stawp!" Kayden whined teary eyed as she was pulled along behind Gwen to the ladder up to Gwen's bunk.
Watch as Kayden gets sent up the ladder, Gwen proceeds to glare at me like I was the problem and then goes up herself. Confused, I decided to shrug and lay back and get comfortable, pulling the warm twelve pound weighted blanket up over me with a relaxed sigh.
Looking up I can see Gwen's head peering over the edge of the bed, a pout clear across her face as she glares at me, nervously sweating I closed my eyes. Someone flicked out the light and I could hear Grandpa settling into the bed that folded out from the benches near the RV door, even then though I could still feel Gwen glaring at me
'UUuuhgh~! So unfortunate!'
—
He stayed awake listening to the sounds of the kids(God Devlin, he was so sorry for not keeping an ear out, he'd promised the kid he would and he'd only made one check in) slowly falling asleep.
Maxwell Tennyson had seen, done and experienced much in the fifty nine years he'd been alive. Some glorious, some horrific, some filled his soul with pride while others kept him up at night, but few of them were things that he truly couldn't help but see every time he closed his eyes.
When he'd gotten a report that the base his little sister Vera was stationed in as an assistant Plumber had been attacked, later learning she'd help fight off the intruders with a broken arm.
The time when he'd guarded a tiffin prince's peace transport to another planet for a 'conference', the little thing was so smart it was able to speak English even though it was so young, it had spoken of how it had a responsibility to its family and people to pacify some general from attacking their home world. He'd only realized what it really meant, that it had known what would happen, when it had looked back at him and given its best attempt at a human smile as it was grabbed and eaten in front of him.
The night he'd been going to bed only to find Verdona in bed, at peace, dead. Or at least her shell. He knew she was an Anodite, that came with certain expectations like being nomadic and selfish and having a bit of a short attention span. he knew he'd been lucky for her to stick around for three years and that by Anodite standards that was a miracle, that didn't make his heart keep from dying.
The sheer feeling of horror, relief and then self hate and rage that filled him when he'd seen the planet he knew Gordon was stationed on get completely consumed by the singularity bomb Vilgax had made, only to then get hailed by an escape vessel saying his older brother was alive, not any of the civilians or other officers he should have helped evacuate, just Gordon.
The look of hurt and shock on Gordon's face when he'd decked him, screaming and yelling that he'd let hundreds die to save his own life…he'd screamed a lot of things he didn't remember, he just remembered waking up after the fight and Gordon had moved back to Earth, to Texas, hadn't talked with him till ten years later and even now twenty years since that fight they still weren't close.
The look of disgust on Frank and Carl's faces the morning after he'd come home drunk, having spent a month fighting to keep Vilgax from conquering fire planets only for the bastard to glass them in retaliation, missing Frank's graduation and Carl's birthday. He didn't remember what excuse he'd used, he didn't remember any of that night, he did remember that neither boy said a word to him until a month later when they moved out…he'd been relieved because that meant he could go on the mission to hunt Vilgax without worrying about them.
Ten years ago, his last mission as a plumber before retiring, his third mission spent training and supervising the newest rookie plumber from Earth. Hoping to teach a foolish young man in his early twenties all the important lessons Max had learned the hard way, a young Devlin grinning with joy at the picture of his daughter, how Devlin had died in his arms with that picture being the last thing he'd looked at, having made him swear to look after the girl.
Tonight…that look in Ben's eyes.
He couldn't say that was a child being ignorantly cruel or saying kill and dead without proper understanding…not with how well Ben had laid out his thoughts and reasons.
It was a ten year old child, not even afraid but instead logically stating a bad man was after him, that kind, generous, loving Ben would go for the kill the moment he had the opportunity because his logical, intelligent, insightful grandson understood he would die if he didn't.
Worse was the not small feeling of pride he'd felt, like when he'd first been accepted as a Plumber and had made recommendations for Gordon and Vera to be interviewed, it was a pride of 'That's a good Plumber, a good soldier'. It was swallowed by a nauseous feeling of disgust, that same disgust he'd used as fuel to never let his son's know or become Plumber's like him, because he knew they'd suffer horrors and be great, and he knew he'd be proud at how well they'd handle that horror.
'I'm a terrible parent' Max thought to himself, again, though this time his thoughts were more towards him being a grandparent.
…
Max had spent half of his retirement drunk, alone and avoiding his family. Most likely for the better considering his attitude and temperament at the time, fresh off the horror of fighting across the galaxy.
He spent a whole year getting sober then the next four slowly getting his sons to even be willing to speak to him, three of those years deep cleaning and replacing a few surfaces around the RV to get rid of the stench of cheap beer, then last year spent begging for one chance, one opportunity to get to know his grandkids. He'd gotten Carl to agree only because he'd buttered up Sandra so well by being supportive towards Ben, his youngest son genuinely hated him. Frank was actually far easier to convince, the boy had always been the most level headed and understanding person in the family by half.
Then the one summer vacation he'd been planning with them, the one that had gotten Gwen interesting and Ben had been so excited for, and he fucks it up literally on the first day by getting Ben attached to one of the most dangerous myths in the galaxy.
On top of that the single most dangerous being in the galaxy, the war lord whose atrocities had quite literally been the sole reason for the Plumbers milky way division's existence, was alive again after getting strapped to a nuke and launched at his own ship and was specifically looking for the thing strapped to his grandsons wrists(and wasn't that ironic that it was his grandson of all people).
Gwen had almost gotten captured and hurt multiple times.
Kayden was a surprise slap in the face that just shoved another of his many failures into his face.
Ben…he'd seen it. That shot from the mercenary in the bore hole had hit him in the chest and his back had visibly glowed through his shirt, Max wasn't an idiot and had seen the effects of beam weapons many times, if Ben hadn't transformed…
..God.
What would he say to Carl? How would he have told his son that he'd let his son die?
…
He closed his eyes and just listened to the sounds of his grandkids breathing, the three chaotic children's quiet in and out breaths overlapping, Kayden and Ben snoring like they were having a competition, Gwen grumbling in her sleep about delinquents and cheaters or something or other.
Maybe he should call Vera. He hasn't spoken to her in a while, he'd planned to visit her early in the trip but little Joel's wedding is later in the summer so they'd just decided he'd swing by, have her stay and ride with them to and back from the wedding, it'd give them a lot more time to talk and catch up at least. Now he wasn't so sure if it was the correct choice.
…
He hasn't hugged Vera in…a decade at least, just another thing he regrets.
God he hopes he can at least fix a few of his regrets this summer.
So in canon Kevin goes crazy when he absorbs energy and super crazy when he absorbs DNA right? Well we know he trashed his house and that he apparently knows he was born with his power, so he's been using it for a long time, also we can assume that when living on the street he was getting himself charged up fairly often to use his power.
So that means logically that Kevin and by extension Kayden would have been fairly high off energy almost constantly. It's actually fairly sad when you think about it.
Also Kayden/Kevin is a hybrid of human and Osmosian, it seems like in Ben 10 like humanities main 'superpower' is our adaptability and our ability to breed, humans can adapt to wildly and intensely different places and handle a whole host of crippling damage, similarly in Ben 10 and most fiction humans are also able to adapt and in rare cases just randomly spawn mutant powers from freak accidents.
Also there hasn't been shown an alien that humans can't breed with in Ben 10, I can maybe guess and theorize but currently there isn't one specifically stated to not be able to. Further these kids often lose some of the weaknesses of their alien heritage, some times being weaker as well but mainly their human half simply lets them be more resistant to things that would kill a pure blood version of their species, and this is only with humans, when Ben 10K uses fusions that doesn't happen, it's exclusively human hybrids.
So all together that makes an interesting picture. It makes logical sense that Kayden's biology would be vastly different than a regular human, like missing or additional organs or having them replaced with entirely different alien versions.
Zs'Wescraven-Romero is the name of a creator deity on Zs'Skayr's home world who is worshipped and attributed by his religion as the creator of ectonurites and the first monster in the universe, the title Zs' is meant for pure blood families that are particularly respected. You get a cookie if you understand the reference.
Azmuth definitely has like one little screen or something in his lab with a feed constantly monitoring the Omnitrix and he occasionally glances at it and feels smug about this little human brat trying so hard to copy his technology, Ben knows it in his bones, he can feel the smugness every time he gets zapped or messes up.
At the end there Rojo really was just in full Karen REEEEE mode. But that also brings up a thought I'd had, realistically Ben's villains for a majority of classic are not difficult to beat, even if you don't know how to switch between aliens or switch to human then retransform and just stick with one alien you still can beat like 90% of all classic enemies.
The main difficulty comes from Ben himself and the fact the series refuses to let Ben grow. Like yes Rojo is very durable, however she's still human under all that tech and if you hit her correctly there is no reason why she shouldn't be injured, she's not indestructible, thus XLR8 is 100% able to rock her shit.
That isn't to say Ben won't struggle, no, certain villains will definitely be able to match him, but to put it simply he won't be in much danger from minor villains, only the major villains will really threaten Ben's life. I'm going to really start going into AU and crossover elements now as well so that enemies and events aren't too boring so if you have a fun idea for an alien species or bit of tech you think could show up let me know.
Poor Grandpa Max. He's an old man who's spent a very long time trying to do his best and making a lot of honest mistakes, he's trying to reconnect and fix those mistakes but it's difficult when you don't know what to do, especially when those past mistakes want to make you make more mistakes.
Remember to like, comment and let me know what you thought, remember that discussion feeds my motivation.