Ben stares at the quickly expanding, a knot forming in his stomach. Idiot! he thinks. You're a freaking ex-firefighter, and you just started a forest fire! The irony is almost laughable, if it weren't so terrifying. He recalls the same thing happening with the original Ben 10, but is this some cosmic joke? Some predetermined event he can't escape?
He glances at Heartblast, who is frozen in place, her face a picture of panic. "What do I do? What do I do?" she repeats, her voice trembling.
"Hey, hey, calm down," Ben says, placing a hand on her shoulder. "You can control this, right? You're a Pyronite! Can't you just, like, absorb the flames or something?"
Please, please let her be able to do this, he thinks. He remembers Heatblast from the cartoon being able to control and consume flames, so Heartblast should be able to as well. In theory, at least.
Heartblast looks at him, her eyes wide with confusion. "Absorb them? How? I don't know how to do that!"
"I don't know, exactly," Ben admits, "but you gotta try! Trust your instincts! You're made of fire! Just… feel the flames, and pull them back in!"
Heartblast stares at the , her expression a mix of fear and determination. She takes a deep breath, closing her eyes. Ben watches anxiously as she focuses, her brow furrowed in concentration.
"Okay, okay, I can do this," she mutters to herself. "I'm fire, fire is me… I can control this… I think."
She extends her hands towards the flames, her body starting to glow brighter. At first, nothing happens, and the continues to spread. Ben's heart sinks. Come on, come on!
Then, a flicker of recognition crosses Heartblast's face. She gasps, her eyes snapping open. She focuses, and the around her begin to dance. The smaller ones begin to recede, drawn towards her like moths to a flame.
"I… I think I'm getting it!" she exclaims, her voice filled with excitement.
She closes her eyes again, concentrating harder. The larger begin to shrink, the crackling sounds fading as they're pulled towards her. Her body glows even brighter, radiating intense heat.
After what feels like an eternity, but is really only a few moments, the begins to subside. The trees smoulder, the underbrush charred and smoking, but the is no longer spreading. Heartblast stands in the middle of the clearing, her body radiating heat.
She opens her eyes, panting slightly. "I… I did it!" she says, her voice filled with relief and pride. "I controlled the flames!"
Ben grins, clapping her on the back. "I knew you could do it! That was amazing, Heartblast!"
"Thanks," Heartblast says, smiling. "But I couldn't have done it without you, Ben! You believed in me, even when I didn't believe in myself!"
Ben blushes, scratching the back of his head. She's too cute.
"We need to get out of here," Ben says, glancing around. "Before someone else shows up." He spots the metallic container that held the Omnitrix earlier and picks it up. No real reason to take it, he thinks, but why not?
They head back to the Bugatti, but Ben pauses. Heartblast is still radiating heat. She can't ride in the car like that! She will melt the seats!
He looks down at the Omnitrix, now light pink. The silhouettes of the alien hybrids are there again. An idea hits him. He hovers his hand over the faceplate, then cycles through the available aliens. I wonder what will happen to Heartblast when I pick someone else? He decides to test it out. Considering he needs someone who can actually fit in the car, he stops at one emblem and slams down on the watch.
A bright, fuchsia light surrounds them. When it fades, Heartblast is gone.
"Hey, human! Who are you?! Where am I?!"
Ben looks down. Standing before him is a being a little over a foot tall. Her skin is grey and smooth, and her head is shaped like a heart, a far cry from the blocky shape of her Prime counterpart. Her big, green eyes have black eyeliner around them and feature horizontal, rectangular pupils. Two short, hairlike tendrils come out of her head. She sports a black and white, long-sleeved jumpsuit.
"Uh, hello," Ben replies, a little stunned. "I'm Ben. And you are…?"
"I… I don't know," she replies, looking around, confused. "Where am I? What is this place?"
Ben bends down, extending his hand towards her. "Hop on," he says gently.
The small alien eyes him with suspicion. "Why would I do that?"
"Because you're, like, a foot tall," Ben replies, "and I doubt you want to walk all the way back to my car. Plus, I don't think you know where you are."
She hesitates, studying his face. Then, with a sigh, she carefully steps onto his hand. Ben stands up, holding her securely.
"I'm Ben, do you… remember anything?" Ben asks. "Like, where you came from? Do you have a name?"
She closes her eyes, concentrating. Her expression shows she is trying her best to think. After a moment, she shakes her head. "No. Nothing. It's all blank."
Ben chews his lip, thinking. "Well, how about I give you a name? Does… Greymatter sound okay?"
The small alien considers the name for a moment, then nods regally. "Greymatter… I suppose that is acceptable, for now."
Ben chuckles. "Alright, Greymatter it is."
He opens the door to his Bugatti and carefully places her on the passenger seat. She looks around the interior, her eyes scanning every detail.
"This vehicle," she declares, wrinkling her nose, "is quite primitive, isn't it?"
Ben smiles awkwardly. "Yeah, well, it's Earth technology. Can't expect too much." In her view, a car is quite primitive. The Galvans are smart, and their technology is light years ahead of Earth's.
He starts the engine, and the car roars to life. Ben backs out of the clearing and heads back towards the highway.
Far out in the inky blackness of space, on board his massive warship, Vilgax floats suspended in a viscous, green liquid inside a large, cylindrical tank. Tubes snake around his broken form, feeding him nutrients and pumping him full of medicine. His octopus-like face is contorted in a mask of pure rage, his red eyes burning with fury. Cybernetic limbs gleam under the dim light of the tank. They were replacements for those he lost when the silver ship's parting shot nearly tore his warship in half.
"Where is it?!" Vilgax roars, his voice distorted by the life support system.
A smaller Mechadroid hovers nervously before him. Its red chassis glows faintly. "My liege, we have searched the transport ship thoroughly. The Chaquetrix is not on board."
Vilgax slams a cybernetic fist against the side of the tank, the metal groaning under the impact. "Impossible! I saw it! The device was on that ship!"
"Sensors indicate," the Mechadroid replies, its voice a monotone drone, "that an escape pod was jettisoned moments before we boarded. It landed on the planet below."
Vilgax's eyes narrow. "Earth," he growls. "That insignificant little world. Send down the Mechadroids. I want that device found and brought to me. Do you understand?"
"Affirmative, Vilgax," the Mechadroid responds, before whirring away to carry out its master's orders.
From a bay on the underside of the warship, a sleek, metallic probe launches itself towards the blue planet below. It pierces through the atmosphere, trailing a fiery tail. As it nears the surface, it adjusts its trajectory, homing in on the estimated coordinates of the escape pod's landing site.
The probe touches down in a deserted forest, the impact creating a small crater in the earth. The metallic shell unfolds and transforms, revealing a towering Attack Robot. Its insectoid legs unfold, digging into the soil. Its crimson chassis gleams in the sunlight filtering through the trees. Large, metallic claws extend from its arms. From its shoulders, small hatches open, ready to deploy support units. Its three, glowing red eyes scan the surroundings, assessing the area.
With a mechanical whir, the Attack Robot deploys two Basic Mechadroids. They launch from its shoulders, their UFO shapes hovering silently in the air.
"Search the area," the Attack Robot commands, its voice a metallic boom. "Locate the Chaquetrix. Bring it to me."
The two Basic Mechadroids detach from the Attack Robot. They shoot off into the forest, their 360-degree vision searching for any sign of the device.
The Basic Mechadroids zipped silently between the trees, their sensors pinging against the foliage. The Attack Robot stood sentinel in the small clearing, its three eyes continuously scanning the horizon for any signs of movement.
Meanwhile, Ben cruised down the highway, Greymatter perched on the dashboard of the Bugatti.
"You know," Ben begins, "I'm getting kind of hungry. Think I'll stop at that convenience store up ahead. You want anything, Greymatter?"
Greymatter scoffs, crossing her arms. "I have no need for your primitive Earthling sustenance. My Galvan physiology is far more sophisticated than to require such…unsophisticated fuel."
Ben raises an eyebrow. "Suit yourself. More for me, then."
He pulls into the parking lot of a brightly lit convenience store. He kills the engine, grabs his wallet, and heads inside, leaving Greymatter to her own devices. The store is small, but well-stocked with snacks, drinks, and various sundries.
Ben grabs a basket and starts grabbing a few bags of chips, some candy bars, and a soda. He heads to the counter, where a woman with long, curly hair and bright eyes stands waiting.
"Hey there," Ben says, placing the basket on the counter.
The woman smiles, and blushes. "Hey," she replies, her eyes lingering on Ben's face. "Find everything okay?"
"Yep, all good," Ben says, a little surprised by her reaction.
The woman rings up his items, her fingers lingering on the keys a little longer than necessary. "So," she says, looking up at him, "you new around here? I don't think I've seen you before."
"Just passing by," Ben replies, trying to keep the conversation casual.
"Well, welcome," she says, her smile widening. "Maybe I could show you around sometime?"
Ben blinks, taking a step back. Back in his old life, he was lucky if a woman even made eye contact with him. Now, he's getting flirted with at a gas station. Must be the whole handsome thing.
"Thanks for the offer," Ben says, "but I'm kind of busy right now."
He pays for his snacks, grabs the bag, and heads for the door, a bewildered. He shakes his head. Being good-looking definitely has its perks, but it's also kind of weird.
Ben barely made it out the door when [PEW]! A red beam sizzled past his ear, impacting the asphalt a foot away. He spun around, heart hammering in his chest. Hovering above the parking lot was a red, disc-shaped robot—one of Vilgax's Mechadroids!
[PEW! PEW!]
The Mechadroid unleashed a barrage of energy, forcing Ben to dive back inside the store. The clerk shrieked, ducking behind the counter. [CRASH!] Beams tore through the storefront windows, sending shards of glass flying.
He glances down at the Omnitrix. No time for a careful selection. He just needed something—anything—to fight back. He frantically spun the dial, his finger landing on a random alien. Slamming his hand down, the device emitted a blinding light.
When Ben could see again, standing between him and the Mechadroid's line of fire was…what?
Where he stood a moment ago was a woman, tall and powerfully built. Her upper body appeared human, with dark skin and sharp, carnivorous teeth. Long, orange hair obscured her eyes, but Ben could see a set of gills rippling on her neck. Her arms were covered in orange fur, ending in wicked, curving claws. Below the knees, her humanity seemed to fade away, replaced by furry, orange canine legs and paws. The being wore a black sleeveless bodysuit with small white details around her waist, the Omnitrix badge affixed to a shoulder pad on her left shoulder.
The creature let out a ferocious roar, turning its head toward him. Ben gulped, trying to keep his voice steady.
"Uh, hello?" he says, raising his hands in a placating gesture. "I don't suppose you could, uh, help me with that robot?"
He pointed toward the hovering Mechadroid, which was still firing energy at the storefront.
The creature—the new alien—growled, its eyes fixed on the machine. Ben tensed, unsure of what to expect. Then, with a speed that belied its size, the alien pounced. It weaved between the energy, dodging them with unnatural grace.
With a leap, it jumped on top of the Mechadroid, claws tearing into the red metal. The robot sputtered, spinning wildly, but the alien held on, ripping apart the machine with savage strength. Metal screeched and sparks flew as the Mechadroid fell to pieces.
Once the coast was clear, Ben tentatively approaches the wreckage. "Wow," he says, "thanks!"
He figures she must be the female version of Wildmutt, though this one's way more human-looking. He reaches out and pats her on the head. She seems to like it, leaning into his touch and snuggling against his hand. Ben thought she's cute, in a feral sort of way.
"I think I'll call you Wildgirl," he announces.
Wildgirl's gills flared as she tensed. She senses another presence. Ben's eyes widen as he saw another Mechadroid UFO heading their way.
Before Ben could react, Wildgirl grabbed him. With a grunt, she tossed him onto her back. Ben yelped, grabbing hold of her fur for dear life.
[PEW! PEW!]
The robot began firing, but Wildgirl was ready. She bolted across the parking lot, dodging energy with ease. Getting closer, she leaped high in the air. With a swipe of her claws, she tore the robot apart in a single pass.
Ben slid off her back. He reached up and pets her again. "Good job, Wildgirl!"
She pants softly, pushing towards his touch. She clearly likes head pats.
***
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Advance chapters are in my P@|r3on - Najicablitz