Ben 10 - Ultimate Series

{My first? Well, actually, my second fanfic. Anyway, just a heads-up: English isn't my first language, so there might be a few mistakes here and there. This fanfic came to life because of how frustrated I felt watching some recent review videos about the episodes and also because I finally got around to watching the Reboot after spending so much time hating even the idea of its existence.

It's honestly mind-blowing how something as amazing as Ben 10 can be so inconsistent and have so many downright bad elements.

That said, this fanfic is going to be heavily AU, blending elements from all the series, including the Reboot. I plan to completely rewrite the lore, trying to make it more cohesive—at least from my perspective.

For instance, I'll make the Plumbers a subdivision of the Galactic Enforce. The name stays the same, but it won't have anything to do with those three yellow-clad idiots (LOL). In this universe, the Galactic Enforce will be the space police, while the Plumbers will be a division dedicated to low-level planets.

Hope you enjoy the read!

}

In the depths of space, emerging from hyperspace, a lone starship sliced through the void, its sleek silver hull shimmering with the greenish glow of its energy systems. The ship was elegant, shaped like a trident, its thrusters blazing brightly as relentless laser fire rained down upon it.

Chasing after it was a colossal fleet, pursuing without mercy. At the forefront of the fleet loomed a massive flagship, a metallic monstrosity shaped like a dagger, painted in a deep crimson hue, with pulsating energy cores glowing ominously. Red electricity crackled along its surface, while cannons mounted across its hull fired continuously in an attempt to obliterate the smaller transport.

Inside the flagship, the command center was bathed in an eerie red light. Metallic humanoids clad in black-and-red armor buzzed around the controls. At the central throne stood a figure of imposing presence. Its glowing red eyes burned with intensity, and its deep green skin seemed to ooze with an almost palpable malevolence. Tentacles hung from its face, moving slowly and deliberately.

"Keep up the chase!" the figure bellowed.

"The enemy ship's shields are at thirty percent, but it's nearing the edge of this solar system," reported one of the drones in a mechanical voice.

"Advance! I want that ship destroyed and the Omnitrix in my hands. With it, no one will be able to stop me!" the figure roared, slamming the armrest of its chair with enough force to dent the metal.

Meanwhile, aboard the smaller silver ship, a tall figure with bluish skin and tentacles cascading from its head was frantically adjusting the controls. "Almost there," it muttered. "If I can make it past the asteroid field, I can reach Earth and dispatch the Omnitrix."

Ahead, the rings of Saturn came into view, their icy particles glistening against the dark backdrop of space. Beyond that, the blue planet loomed, with a massive space station orbiting it. A holographic label floated along the station's perimeter: P.L.U.M.B.E.R.S. The station was an awe-inspiring sight, a colossal disk-shaped structure adorned with towers and landing platforms.

Inside the station, human and alien officers worked side by side, monitoring the approaching fleet. The station commander, a human with blonde hair wearing black-and-white armor bearing Earth and Intergalactic Alliance insignias, watched the monitors intently. "Activate the shields and send out a warning."

A reptilian officer nodded and transmitted the message: "Attention, unidentified fleet. You are entering protected space under the jurisdiction of the P.L.U.M.B.E.R.S. This is your first and only warning. Turn back immediately, or we will be forced to open fire."

On the bridge of the flagship, the warning echoed through the speakers. The imposing figure let out a low, menacing laugh, its face partially obscured in shadows. "They think they can stop me?" It turned to one of the drones. "Prepare the main cannons. Destroy the station and everything in our way."

"Yes, sir."

The flagship's engines roared as its cannons aligned, targeting the space station. On the other side, the P.L.U.M.B.E.R.S.' defense turrets began firing back. Within moments, the area around Earth became a chaotic battlefield. Explosions lit up Saturn's rings as smaller fighters from both sides engaged in close combat.

Inside the station, officers shouted orders, trying to keep the defensive systems operational. "We're taking critical damage to the shields! We can't hold out much longer," warned a purple-skinned alien.

"Keep firing!" the commander ordered. "If we don't hold them off, they'll reach Earth!"

Amid the chaos, the lone silver ship used the distraction to launch a capsule toward the blue planet. The blue-skinned figure watched as the Omnitrix disappeared into the distance. "It's done," it whispered. "Now we can only hope it reaches him."

The small silver ship wouldn't last much longer. Laser fire from the enemy fleet pierced its hull, causing an explosion that briefly illuminated the battlefield.

The P.L.U.M.B.E.R.S. station, already heavily damaged, suffered a final blow when one of the smaller enemy ships collided with its main generators. The impact triggered a chain reaction, culminating in a massive explosion that lit up the battlefield.

The resulting shockwave spread like a tsunami of energy, reaching the flagship. Alarms blared throughout the bridge, and the crew shouted in panic: "The shockwave is hitting us! Shields won't hold!"

"Impossible!" roared the tentacled figure, its glowing red eyes blazing with fury. "Reinforce the shields! Now!"

But it was too late. The explosion consumed the flagship, reducing it to a rain of flaming debris scattered across the void of space.

When silence returned to the cosmos, only fragments and wreckage remained, drifting slowly in orbit. Yet, the capsule continued its trajectory, entering Earth's atmosphere, blazing like a meteor.

A few hours earlier – Bellwood. 

In a classroom bathed in midday sunlight, a ten-year-old boy named Benjamin Kirby Tennyson sat in the back row, clearly uninterested in the lesson. His green eyes shone with boredom as he stared intently at the watch on his left wrist. 

He was an average-looking kid, but with a mischievous air that hinted at his personality. His short brown hair was slightly messy, as if he had just come from running somewhere. He wore a white t-shirt with a black stripe down the middle and dark green pants, paired with worn-out black sneakers. 

The second hand on the watch seemed to mock his impatience, moving slowly forward. Ben sighed. 

"Come on... come on..." he murmured, unable to tear his eyes away from the small glass circle on his wrist. 

At the front of the room, the teacher was writing something on the board. His monotonous voice echoed throughout the room, but Ben hardly paid attention. He was lost in time, counting each second as if his life depended on it. 

"And I just want to remind everyone that I'll be teaching at summer school this year," the teacher said, briefly stopping his writing to look at the class. "There's still time to sign up!" 

Ben gave the teacher a brief glance and, with sarcasm, muttered, "Sure... like anyone would want that." 

Finally, the sound of the bell echoed through the school, and Ben nearly jumped out of his seat. "Yes! I'm out of here!" he exclaimed as he quickly stuffed his pencils and notebooks into his backpack. 

"Benjamin, wait a moment," the teacher's voice interrupted his celebration. 

Ben stopped at the door, rolled his eyes, and walked slowly to the teacher's desk. "What now?" 

The teacher held something familiar – a paper airplane that Ben had thrown earlier. "Benjamin, you're a smart kid, but you need to focus more. Imagine what you could do if you used your energy for something productive." 

Ben sighed, taking the paper airplane back. "Yeah, yeah, I know. Unlock my potential, be responsible, the same old speech." 

The teacher gave a small smile, clearly used to Ben's responses. "Just think about it, okay?" 

Ben nodded, but was already running out of the room before the teacher could say more. 

As soon as Ben left the school, adjusting the strap on his backpack, he spotted a scene that immediately bothered him.

He saw some students picking on another student. And he knew these two very well for a long time.

"Come on, Colin," Cash said with a mischievous grin. "We haven't been that hard on you this year. The least you can do is our homework over the summer!"

"Yeah," added J.T., teasing. "Really, you owe us that."

Colin tried to respond, stuttering: "B-bu-but... I... I..."

Ben couldn't watch anymore. He took a deep breath and walked over with steady steps. "Hey!" he shouted, grabbing the bullies' attention.

The two turned around, irritated by the interruption. Cash was the first to speak, rolling his eyes. "Oh, look. It's Tennyson. What do you want, huh?"

Ben crossed his arms, trying to look confident. "Leave him alone," he ordered, moving closer.

Cash smirked. "What? We're just asking good ol' Colin here for a little homework help." He turned to the smaller kid. "Right, Colin?"

Colin hesitated, looking at Ben as if pleading for help. "W-W-well... I..."

"Knock it off. It's clear you're bullying him," Ben said, giving both bullies a firm stare.

"Oh, really? Who do you think you are, Benny-Boy?" J.T. teased, adjusting his glasses with a finger.

Ben took a step forward, straightening his shoulders. "Who I am doesn't matter. You two need to learn not to mess with people who can't defend themselves."

Cash snapped his fingers and took a step toward Ben, with J.T. right behind him. "And what are you gonna do about it?"

Ben narrowed his eyes, cracking his knuckles. He raised his fists and made a few hand gestures. "Try and find out," he replied, his voice challenging.

The bullies smirked, clearly amused by the kid's attitude. But for a moment, it seemed like Ben had actually convinced Colin to safely step away, as the younger boy took advantage of the distraction to run off, shouting, "Thanks!"

Now, Ben was alone facing Cash and J.T. He knew he was at a disadvantage, but he didn't care. If there was one thing he couldn't stand, it was seeing someone get bullied.

"So, Benny-Boy," Cash said, clenching his fists, "let's see how tough you really are."

Ben took a deep breath, raising his fists and getting ready for whatever came next.

The scene shifts to a charming two-story house on a quiet street. Combining traditional and contemporary styles, its façade alternates between bricks and wood, with modern glass lines. A well-kept garden, surrounded by a white picket fence, complements the welcoming look of the house.

{The house in the episode "Goodbye and Good Riddance" feels more unique compared to the generic suburban homes in later series.}

Ben opened the door and announced as he entered,

"I'm home."

"Welcome home, Ben-you face!" A woman said when she saw him. She was blonde, with green eyes, wearing a red blouse and jeans.

"Hi, Mom," Ben responded kindly, even though his shirt was stained, his face scratched, and one eye swollen.

"What happened?" Mrs. Tennyson asked, shocked.

"You should see the other two," Ben joked with a mischievous grin.

"Benjamin Kirby Tennyson!" she exclaimed, furrowing her brow.

"They were bullying someone. I couldn't just stand there, Mom," Ben explained.

Mrs. Tennyson sighed and went to get some ice from the kitchen.

"Rinse your mouth. Your dad's not gonna like this."

"He'll be fine," Ben replied with a wave. "Is Grandpa Max already here?"

"He'll be here soon. Did you pack for the trip?"

"Yeah, Mom. I've got clothes, games, and batteries. All set," Ben listed confidently.

"Oh ~! An entire summer without my baby?!" She lamented, hugging him tightly.

"Oh, Mom, it's not like I'm a million miles away," Ben complained, trying to break free.

She sniffled and pulled back, smiling. "I'll miss you."

"It'll just be me and Grandpa Max. It'll be fine," Ben reassured her.

"And your cousin," she added.

"Who? Gwen? She's going too?" Ben asked, nearly groaning.

"Don't be like that, Ben," a cheerful voice came from behind him.

Grandpa Max entered, smiling, robust, and with gray hair, wearing his classic red Hawaiian shirt. He was in his sixties but looked a decade or two younger, mainly due to his fit physique.

"Grandpa Max!" Ben ran up to him, but Max quickly noticed his grandson's injuries.

"What happened here, kid?"

"A fight. They were bullying a classmate," Ben explained.

Max nodded. "I don't like you getting into fights, but I'm glad you had a good reason."

"You always said not to start a fight, but if I'm in one, I should finish it," Ben reminded him proudly.

"But don't let this happen again!" his mother warned.

"Mom, I'm not— I won't," Ben tried to deny, but held back. "I'm going to grab my bags."

"Great, let's put them in the Rust Bucket," Max replied as Ben headed upstairs.

"Do you still have the old trailer?" Ben asked.

"No, I swapped it for a new one this summer so we'll have better comfort!" Max laughed.

"Good, it was about time. That old trailer must've had a million miles on it, Grandpa," Ben joked as he entered his room.

Ben's room was his cave, with a gaming system and a large TV on a wooden TV stand, a double bed, a built-in wardrobe, and a set of drawers. "Sumo Slammers" posters covered the walls, next to shelves full of action figures and organized games. His bed was a mess, with the quilt folded and his travel bags on top.

He hummed, grabbing his bag with a smile.

"I'll see you after the summer, Room. Don't change," he joked as he closed the door behind him and threw the bag over his shoulder.

He chuckled and jumped, sliding down the banister as he sat on it.

As he slid, he landed safely on his feet after a few seconds of running.

"Ben, how many times have I told you not to slide down the banister?" His mom crossed her arms.

"Cut him some slack, Sandra. It's his last day at home," Max replied.

"I suppose," she sighed.

"Carl was just like this at his age, don't worry," Max reassured her.

"Traveling the world probably didn't help," she muttered.

"Alright, I'm ready to go." Ben looked at his grandpa and mom after doing a somersault just to show off.

"Right," Max nodded.

"Bye, Ben," Sandra smiled and hugged her son.

"I'll be back in September," Ben reassured her, hugging back.

"I know. Your dad and I will miss you," she added.

"I'm amazing, anyone would miss me!" Ben joked.

Sandra rolled her eyes and ruffled her son's hair. "I love you."

"Love you too." Ben replied as he and Max headed to the Rust Bucket. "So… where did you park?"

"Just around the corner," he explained.

Soon, Max and Ben arrived at the "Rust Bucket 2," an impressive blue-and-white motorhome with a red stripe in the center. The vehicle stood out with its six rugged off-road tires, a slightly rusted metal bumper equipped with a sturdy tow hook, and a green stylized UFO symbol decorating both sides. On the roof, a white communication dish, four antennas, and several additional headlights were prominent.

Max smiled proudly, hands on his hips, admiring the vehicle.

"Here it is, Ben: the Rust Bucket 2. Fully upgraded for our adventures!"

Ben's eyes lit up with excitement as he checked out the motorhome.

"Wow! This is amazing, Grandpa! Look at the size of this thing! It looks like something out of a sci-fi movie!"

Max chuckled at his grandson's excitement.

"Well, kid, this is where we're going to spend most of our vacation. Let's take your stuff inside and I'll show you all the upgrades."

Ben ran toward the trailer, inspecting every detail with a wide smile on his face.

"This is gonna be awesome! I can't wait to see what's inside!" he exclaimed, but his excitement faded when he spotted Gwen, his cousin, sitting by the window with an irritated expression.

"Take it easy. It wasn't my idea to be here," Gwen said, crossing her arms. "Someone convinced my mom that camping in the summer would be an enriching experience for me."

Ben sighed deeply and sat down.

"I was expecting a cool summer, Grandpa. Just the two of us driving across states, sleeping in, playing video games, and seeing amazing stuff. You know, fun things!"

"Well, sorry for 'ruining your plans,'" Gwen rolled her eyes, adjusting herself in the chair.

"We can still have fun, Ben," Max tried, with a conciliatory tone.

"Yeah, sure," Ben murmured, feeling down.

Max closed the motorhome door and settled into the driver's seat.

"Ready? We've got a long road ahead."

"Sure, Grandpa," Gwen responded.

"Okay, I'll put this on my bed," Ben said, walking toward the back, where there were two bunks and a larger bed.

"I get the top bunk!" Gwen announced, her bags already in place.

"But I wanted the top!" Ben complained, pushing his backpack to the bottom bunk.

Max sighed as he listened to them argue. He knew he had a long summer ahead.

"This is going to be a loooong summer," he thought to himself as the motorhome rolled down the road.

A stilted silence filled the Rust Bucket as the RV bounced down the road, shaking and rattling along the way.

Ben sat along one of the seats, playing a video game. He had headphones on, eyes locked on the small black portable device before him. His fingers flew over the controls, trying to immerse himself in the game he was playing.

Gwen, on the other hand, was reading, listening to the metallic sounds from Ben's game. Not that it was loud. She noticed some of the trees passing by, entering into a long clearing. "Where are we going, Grandpa?"

"We're heading to an old campsite. I used to take your dad and your uncle there. I even took your grandma once," Max replied, happy Gwen broke the silence.

"Really?" she asked.

"We're kicking off this trip right. A campfire, a star-filled night, some homemade food, and marshmallows," Max explained.

"Wow, that sounds great. I'll add it to our agenda," Gwen replied.

"Wait, wait, wait. What was that?" Ben asked. "We have an agenda?"

"Yes," she replied, pulling out a large rolled-up piece of paper with sections and color-coded schedules. "I'm still finishing it, but I have most of it organized for the next few days, even the times."

"... Oh no, Gwen, not again!" Ben responded, pulling off his headphones and pausing the game. "We don't need a schedule. Just fun."

"This is how I want my fun, Ben. I want to make the most of every day we have," Gwen replied.

"But you're restricting us too much! You can't enjoy anything if we're checking the clock every minute!!"

"And I suppose you want me to accept 'fast and loose'? How did that work out last time?" Gwen retorted. "You ruined everything!"

"Seriously, Gwen? You're still mad about that party? It's not my fault they put the cake near the pool!!" Ben shot back.

"They didn't think a geekoid like you would jump off the roof!!" Gwen rolled her eyes and muttered.

"Geek!" Ben corrected.

"Nerd," Gwen answered.

"Loser."

"Dweeb."

"Freak."

"You are one."

"And you are one-"

Max shook his head as he kept driving, before turning into the campsite. "Alright, here we are!" He pulled into an empty area so they could have a little privacy.

"Wow, seriously?" Ben asked. "That felt quick."

"Considering you two were arguing, I suppose it was faster," Max retorted as he parked and turned off the engine. "Better grab a jacket or something. It might get cold out here." He said as he went to the fridge to grab some items.

Ben shrugged, grabbing a black jacket and stepping out of the RV with his hands in his pockets. "What's for dinner?" he asked.

"It's one of my favorite recipes," Max answered as he took out a bowl of spaghetti. Well, it looked like spaghetti at first glance, except for the fact that it was moving.

This surprised Ben so much that he even stopped to ask, "Okay, I give up. What is that?"

"Mealworms. They're considered a delicacy in some countries," Max answered, humming with a smile.

Gwen barely suppressed a disgusted scream, "Yeah, and totally disgusting in others!"

"Well, if that doesn't sound good, I've got some smoked sheep tongue in the fridge."

"Can we just have a hamburger or something?" Ben pleaded.

"Nonsense! This summer is going to be an adventure for your taste buds! I'll grab the tongue," Max added, nearly salivating over his own recipes as he went inside to grab more ingredients.

Once his grandfather left, Ben leaned closer to Gwen and whispered, "Gwen, I've got some snacks and a treat my mom made, what do you have?"

She nervously swallowed, "A few bags of candy and cookies. Think we can make them last the whole summer?"

"Hey, kids! Almost forgot, I've got an octopus here!" Max called from inside the RV. "And it's so fresh, it's still moving!"

Ben shuddered. "No. I'm not dealing with that." He then stood up and yelled, "I'm going for a walk, Grandpa! Gwen can have my portion—she just told me how much she loves worms!"

"Ben, don't you dare!" Gwen shouted, but he had already run off into the forest.

Meanwhile, in space, another hyperspace portal opened, revealing an imposing ship with a brown color and orange structures scattered across its surface, resembling eggs. In terms of shape, the ship resembled a massive terrestrial taser, with two long ends constantly generating pulses of orange electricity between them. Moving with surprising agility, the ship navigated through the battle debris and reached the remains of the commander's ship from the invading fleet.

From the ship, scanners were deployed, quickly identifying a life signal. Without delay, a tractor beam was activated, pulling a dying being made entirely of green tentacles in a critical state. It was transported by drones into a healing tank inside the ship. As it regained some strength, its voice echoed through the medical wing, filled with fury:

"Ph-PSYPHOOON!!!"

A skeletal figure, with white skin speckled with black patches, a single protruding "horn," and dressed in a black cloak with metallic details, hurried into the room. His attire was filled with technological devices with blinking red lights. He approached the healing capsule, bowed in respect, and responded in a firm voice.

The being inside the capsule, still struggling to breathe, muttered weakly. A mask was placed over its face, aiding in speech. "Report..." it demanded harshly.

"Master," began Psyphon, nervously adjusting himself, "the part of the fleet I led after Primus's destruction was completely wiped out, but we managed to prevent Galactic Enforce from following our trail. I escaped and came directly here. As for the fleet under your command, it was destroyed along with the P.L.U.M.B.E.R.S. station. There are signs of life in the debris, but we still don't know how many may have survived. I can dispatch drones to…"

"IRRELEVANT!" The figure in the capsule interrupted with a roar that even made the drones hesitate. "TELL ME ABOUT THE OMNITRIX!"

Psyphon stepped back slightly, swallowing nervously before accessing his tech bracelet. After a brief moment, he resumed the report: "Sir, the ship transporting the Omnitrix was destroyed during the final attack on your fleet. However, we detected that an emergency capsule was launched before the destruction. It landed on the third planet in this solar system, known as 'Earth.'"

A heavy silence filled the room before the being in the capsule broke it with a low, guttural laugh. "Hahaha... Of course... Azmuth. I should have known... That he would send it to you." His voice carried a mix of contempt and nostalgia. After a brief moment of reflection, he continued, "It seems history is repeating itself. I'm looking forward to meeting him again... old friend."

His eyes glowed with a sickly light as he issued his next command: "Psyphon, send the Mechadroids to recover the Omnitrix. Hopefully, we'll get there before him."

"Immediately, sir," Psyphon replied eagerly. He turned around and hurried out toward the command room, his footsteps echoing through the ship.

As the being in the healing capsule watched Psyphon leave, a sinister smile spread across his lips.

As he walked through the forest, Ben grumbled, irritated:

"This is disgusting. Now I get why Dad insisted so much that I learn the basics of cooking. It wasn't just because of Mom and her crazy diets."

He pushed branches aside as he continued down the path, still bothered by his grandfather's culinary ideas about what was proper food. One thought gave him some comfort: Gwen was nearby. At least he wouldn't have to go through this hell alone. 'Maybe together we can convince Grandpa to feed us something normal,' he thought, sighing.

Looking up at the night sky, something caught his attention. A bright object was streaking across the sky at an impressive speed.

"Wow, a shooting star!" Ben exclaimed, enchanted.

But the fascination quickly turned to panic when the object made a sharp turn and started heading directly toward him.

"Oh no!" he shouted, running to escape. Though he avoided the direct impact, the force of the crash was enough to knock him down.

Covered in dust and debris, Ben coughed as he tried to get up. 'Great, now I'm covered in dirt and leaves… amazing,' he thought, pushing the branches off of him.

Cautiously, he approached the edge of the deep trench the object had created when it crashed into the ground. He peered over, trying to see what it was. It looked like a satellite, still hot and releasing steam. Curious, he crawled closer, but the ground gave way, and Ben fell with a shout. He quickly got up and focused on the mysterious object.

"What... the hell?" he muttered, analyzing the 'meteor.'

Steam hissed out as the sphere began to open. Ben instinctively pulled back.

"Oh God, please no parasites. Please, no space parasites," he whispered, nervous.

When the inside of the object was fully revealed, there was a gray base device with white wires, black openings on the sides and around the wrist area. There was a square cover screen near the 'wrist' section. It looked... like a strange wristband or a big watch.

"A watch?" Ben murmured, incredulous. "What's a watch doing in outer space?"

Driven by curiosity, he reached out to grab the artifact, but before he could touch it, the device jumped and latched onto his left wrist, absorbing his own watch in the process, and then it glowed white, then green, almost as if confirming the connection.

"GAH! What? Get off of me!" He screamed, trying to pull the device off with all his strength.

Ben tugged, pushed, even tried to use a branch as leverage, but nothing worked. He realized the thing was stuck to his skin.

"Ah-ah-ow! It ate my watch! And it's stuck! What the hell is this?"

Finally, exhausted, he stopped to examine the strange device. He pressed the sides of the round display, which opened with a distinctive sound. An hourglass-shaped icon appeared, showing the silhouette of a humanoid figure.

"What kind of crazy is this?"

Without thinking much, Ben pressed the button in the center of the display. Suddenly, the device sank into his skin, and a wave of heat washed over his body. He felt his skin change, his body grow, and something inside him was completely transformed.

When the heat subsided, Ben found himself changed. He was now a humanoid being made of fire and molten rock, with glowing yellow cracks and a strange white hourglass-shaped symbol embedded in his chest.

"Aaaaahhhh! I'm on fire! I'm on fire!" He screamed, running in panic.

Then, he suddenly realized something. He stopped running and looked at himself.

"Hey... I'm on fire, and I'm fine!"

Examining his new hands, engulfed in flames, Ben laughed.

"Look at me, I'm totally hot!" He paused. "Hah, that was good."

"Oh, yes! This is what I'm talking about!" he exclaimed, rubbing his hands together to create another fireball, which he threw at a nearby tree, knocking it down along with two others.

But then he stopped, his euphoria giving way to fear. "What… what am I doing? I'm throwing fire in a forest!"

The flames began to spread around him, faster and faster. Desperate, he tried to put them out, but all his glowing feet did was make things worse.

"No, no, no! Put it out, put it out!" he shouted, trying to think of a way to stop the impending disaster.

He tried to control the flames, but everything he did only made it worse. His magma feet left marks on the ground and intensified the fire around him. The forest was quickly starting to burn.

"Great, Ben, you're going to burn everything down!" he thought, struggling to find a solution.

Gwen Tennyson was outraged.

She didn't sign up for this, no way! There were plans for the summer, all beautifully organized, educational, and well-structured. She had charts, summer camps scheduled, and even a martial arts tournament where she planned to shine. All of it wasted because her grandfather insisted she accompany her cousin on a road trip across the country. The reason? To settle their endless arguments after Ben ruined Emily's party.

"He destroyed my best friend's party, and now I'm the one paying for it?" Gwen thought furiously, even though she knew she might have overdone it with how she teased Ben over the last few weeks.

She looked at the pot in front of her, the food bubbling inside. "Can this even be called food?" She almost gave up right there but forced herself to face the reality. "Okay, maybe it's not so bad. Grandpa would never serve something that could cause food poisoning... right? Right?"

With a grimace, Gwen pushed the bowl toward the pot, scooping a portion of sheep's tongue. She speared a piece with her fork, pinched her nose with one hand, and hesitantly brought it to her mouth.

She swallowed hard, struggling not to spit it out.

"See, Gwen, it's not that bad," Max commented with a calm smile, as if it were a banquet worthy of a renowned chef.

"No, of course not... It's just best to swallow it without letting it touch your tongue... and it's... edible..." Gwen replied, trying to keep her composure while processing what she had just done.

Before Max could respond, a distant sound echoed through the forest.

"What was that?" Gwen asked, turning to look in the direction of the noise.

Max also focused on the forest. As the first flames began to emerge between the trees, he squinted his eyes.

"Fire. Too quick to be natural. I'll call the fire department. Some idiot must be messing with something flammable."

"Ben!!" Gwen exclaimed, immediately associating her cousin with the chaos.

Max rushed into the trailer, returning moments later with two fire extinguishers. He handed one to Gwen, saying:

"Better take this."

Without wasting any time, they both ran toward the forest. Gwen moved quickly, following the trail of the flames, while Max slowed down when he heard a "sound."

Stopping among the trees, he pulled a small, cracked white button from his shirt. After making sure he was alone, Max murmured:

"A-L-I-3-N-G-O-T-C-H-A."

With those words, the button began to magically expand. A red hourglass symbol appeared, surrounded by a metal ring and a white base that covered the entire palm of his hand. A hologram soon appeared, taking the form of a bearded man with glasses.

"Phil. Look, call me back later. I'm dealing with an emergency," Max said, clearly annoyed.

Phil, however, seemed concerned. In a serious tone, he spoke:

"Max, sorry to interrupt your vacation, but I have some very serious news. The space station has been destroyed."

Max's eyes widened.

"What???"

"Ben! Ben? Are you there?" Gwen shouted, her concern clear in her voice as she looked around.

"Gwen?" Ben replied, turning toward her. Flames danced around him, climbing up the trees and weakening large branches. Suddenly, he noticed something above her. "WATCH OUT!"

Gwen let out a shrill scream as she saw a flaming creature and, worse, a glowing branch about to fall on her head.

"Gaaaah?" She squeaked, frozen in place.

"Hnn! Are you okay?" Ben grunted as he easily lifted the burning branch above his head and threw it aside. "That was easier than I thought."

"G-Get away! What did you do?" Gwen exclaimed in panic, taking a step back as she looked at the figure before her. "Who are you?! What did you do to my cousin?!"

"Gwen, wait... it's me..." Ben tried to explain, but was interrupted by a cough as a burst of fire extinguisher foam hit his face, temporarily putting out the flames around his head. However, the fire quickly reignited, fueled by his annoyance.

"Hey! Why did you do that, idiot?!" He protested, irritated.

"I don't know who or what you are, but you're going down now if you know what's good for you!" Gwen threatened, holding the fire extinguisher like a weapon.

In retaliation, Ben lit her shoe with a small flame, forcing Gwen to quickly step back to put it out.

"I warned you!" Gwen yelled, frowning as she raised the extinguisher above her head.

"You have to go! NOW, DWEEB!" Ben shouted.

A flash of recognition appeared on Gwen's face, and she lowered her makeshift weapon. "Ben? Is that you? What happened?!"

"Duh. Who else could it be?" Ben replied, as if it were obvious.

"I don't know... how about a MONSTER ON FIRE?!" Gwen snapped, trying not to panic, though she was clearly rattled by the situation.

Ben ignored the comment and turned back to the flames, trying to put them out. "Damn!"

"Hey! Stop that, you idiot! You're going to set the whole forest on fire!" Gwen yelled, now more composed.

"What do you think I'm trying to do?!" Ben retorted.

"And you're MADE OF FIRE!" She pointed out, gesturing in exasperation. "You're making everything worse!"

"What do you want me to do?!" Ben responded, turning to her with impatience.

"We leave! Grandpa called the forest rangers and the fire department." Gwen said firmly. "I mean, it's not like you can absorb fire or something!"

"Absorb fire? Good idea!" Ben muttered, inspired by her suggestion. He extended his hands, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath. Slowly, his body began to glow, and the flames around him were drawn toward him.

Gwen watched in awe as the blazing fire formed two small vortices that converged toward Ben's hands, being absorbed by his body.

"How... what did you do?" Gwen stammered, stunned.

"I... I have no idea." Ben gasped, now standing amid the remaining gray field of debris.

Before they could exchange more words, Max appeared, running through the forest.

"Gwen, Be—" He stopped abruptly upon seeing Ben. His eyes widened. "What's a pyr—"

Gwen interrupted him, giving a thumbs-up toward Ben. "Hey, Grandpa, guess who?"

"Hey, Grandpa," Ben said awkwardly, waving his hand in an awkward manner.

"Ben?! What happened to you?" Max asked, incredulous.

"Well, Grandpa, I was walking when I saw a shooting star. But it wasn't really a shooting star, it was a satellite or capsule or something like that. Whatever, doesn't matter! It opened up, and this thing stuck to my watch. I started messing with it and... boom! I was on fire, but not getting burned!"

Max looked at the hourglass symbol on Ben's chest, a look of understanding crossing his face. "I see..."

"So you turned into a monster using something that fell from space?" Gwen asked, still in disbelief.

"Monster, no! Probably an alien, since it came from space." Max corrected, almost as a statement.

"Cool!!" Ben exclaimed, excited.

"Alright, Ben. Can you get the capsule? Let's take it back to the Rust Bucket." Max suggested.

"Sure, I guess." Ben walked over to the capsule and easily lifted it, impressed by his newfound strength. He quickly followed Gwen, who began walking back toward the trailer, with Max following closely behind after checking the surroundings.

Shortly after the Tennysons left, several metallic pods landed at the spot they had just vacated. The pods opened, and in smooth, precise movements, they unfolded into bronze robots of various sizes and shapes. Some were small, dog-sized units, while others were imposing machines the size of tanks.

The robots began to sweep the area, analyzing every detail with precision. After detecting that the capsule had been moved, they split into groups. Most followed the footprints left toward the Omnitrix, while other units scattered in different directions, spreading out to widen the search.

Back at the Rust Bucket, Ben grabbed a fork full of worms and put them in his mouth, chewing with a puzzled expression. After a few seconds, he commented:

"It's not that bad... Tastes like charcoal. Ha ha!"

Gwen let out a short laugh as she speared a marshmallow on a stick. She used Ben's fire to roast it before offering it to him:

"Ben, try this."

"Uh. Thanks." Ben took the marshmallow and put it in his mouth, chewing with expectation. But he quickly grimaced.

"No... No! It also tastes like charcoal! How am I supposed to eat anything like this?"

"Hope you don't stay like this forever," Gwen teased, laughing as she listed off: "It'd be a shame to never taste delicious cakes, lasagna..."

Frustrated, Ben squirmed in his seat. "I don't want to be the fire guy forever!"

As he moved, the flames on his body flared up for a moment. Without realizing it, Ben burned the edges of the chair, which began to weaken rapidly. Suddenly, with the sound of cracking wood, the chair gave way, and Ben fell to the ground with a thud.

"Ah, great! As if all this wasn't bad enough!" he complained, struggling to get up.

That's when he noticed something strange in his hand. The fork he was holding began to melt from the heat radiating from his body, dripping like liquid metal between his fingers.

"Argh! What is this now?!"

Gwen, holding back laughter, commented: "Well, at least you have a special talent for turning things into modern art."

"It's not funny, Gwen!" Ben yelled, throwing the melted piece on the ground and trying to wipe his sticky fingers.

"Don't worry, Ben. We'll figure this out," Max said, trying to reassure him.

But Ben didn't seem willing to wait. He looked at the hourglass symbol on his chest, thinking. I messed with the watch to turn into this. If I mess with it again, maybe I'll go back to normal. Determined, Ben started pressing the symbol.

"Come on, stupid watch! Work and turn me back to normal!"

Gwen's eyes widened, alarmed. "Ben, you'd better not do that!"

Her concern was echoed by Max, who quickly hid the contents of the capsule and ran towards Ben.

"Don't mess with that, Ben!" Max exclaimed.

But it was too late. The Omnitrix started beeping and flashing red.

"Aaaaah! I messed everything up! It's gonna explode!" Ben shouted, panicking.

A bright red light exploded from the device, forcing Gwen and Max to look away and shield their eyes. When the glow finally faded, Ben was back to normal.

"I'm me again!" he celebrated, raising his arms. But when he looked at the device still attached to his arm, his expression soured. "Ugh... But this thing still won't come off."

"You'd better not mess with it again until we know exactly what we're dealing with," warned Max. "There was nothing in the capsule. I'm going to check the accident site to see if we missed anything. In the meantime, you two, get in the Rust Bucket. Close the windows, the doors, and stay quiet until I get back. Got it?"

"Got it," the two said in unison as they entered the trailer.

Back at the Rust Bucket, Ben grabbed a fork full of worms and put them in his mouth, chewing with a puzzled expression. After a few seconds, he commented:

"It's not that bad... Tastes like charcoal. Ha ha!"

Gwen let out a short laugh as she speared a marshmallow on a stick. She used Ben's fire to roast it before offering it to him:

"Ben, try this."

"Uh. Thanks." Ben took the marshmallow and put it in his mouth, chewing with expectation. But he quickly grimaced.

"No... No! It also tastes like charcoal! How am I supposed to eat anything like this?"

"Hope you don't stay like this forever," Gwen teased, laughing as she listed off: "It'd be a shame to never taste delicious cakes, lasagna..."

Frustrated, Ben squirmed in his seat. "I don't want to be the fire guy forever!"

As he moved, the flames on his body flared up for a moment. Without realizing it, Ben burned the edges of the chair, which began to weaken rapidly. Suddenly, with the sound of cracking wood, the chair gave way, and Ben fell to the ground with a thud.

"Ah, great! As if all this wasn't bad enough!" he complained, struggling to get up.

That's when he noticed something strange in his hand. The fork he was holding began to melt from the heat radiating from his body, dripping like liquid metal between his fingers.

"Argh! What is this now?!"

Gwen, holding back laughter, commented: "Well, at least you have a special talent for turning things into modern art."

"It's not funny, Gwen!" Ben yelled, throwing the melted piece on the ground and trying to wipe his sticky fingers.

"Don't worry, Ben. We'll figure this out," Max said, trying to reassure him.

But Ben didn't seem willing to wait. He looked at the hourglass symbol on his chest, thinking. I messed with the watch to turn into this. If I mess with it again, maybe I'll go back to normal. Determined, Ben started pressing the symbol.

"Come on, stupid watch! Work and turn me back to normal!"

Gwen's eyes widened, alarmed. "Ben, you'd better not do that!"

Her concern was echoed by Max, who quickly hid the contents of the capsule and ran towards Ben.

"Don't mess with that, Ben!" Max exclaimed.

But it was too late. The Omnitrix started beeping and flashing red.

"Aaaaah! I messed everything up! It's gonna explode!" Ben shouted, panicking.

A bright red light exploded from the device, forcing Gwen and Max to look away and shield their eyes. When the glow finally faded, Ben was back to normal.

"I'm me again!" he celebrated, raising his arms. But when he looked at the device still attached to his arm, his expression soured. "Ugh... But this thing still won't come off."

"You'd better not mess with it again until we know exactly what we're dealing with," warned Max. "There was nothing in the capsule. I'm going to check the accident site to see if we missed anything. In the meantime, you two, get in the Rust Bucket. Close the windows, the doors, and stay quiet until I get back. Got it?"

"Got it," the two said in unison as they entered the RV.

A few minutes after Max had left, Ben, sitting on a bench, glanced at the device on his wrist. After a moment of thought, he reached out to press the button, but a hand stopped him midway.

"Ben, no! Grandpa said not to mess with that thing!" Gwen warned.

"Oh, come on! You can't tell me you're not even a little curious about what this thing can do!" Ben retorted with a mischievous grin.

"Not even a little," Gwen replied, turning her face away as if she didn't want to give him any attention.

"Come on, Gwen! I need to figure out how this thing works. Last time, I transformed after pressing the panel. I won't do that now," Ben argued, gesturing dramatically.

Gwen thought for a moment, then sighed. "Alright, fine, but if anything goes wrong, it's all on you."

"Of course! And if nothing goes wrong, you don't tell Grandpa. Deal?"

"Deal. But what did you do last time?"

"I pressed the button, the thing turned green and popped up, showing a silhouette. Then I turned the dial, pressed it, and bam: transformation. But…" Ben showed her the device, its symbol glowing red as he pressed the button to no avail.

"Did I break it?" he exclaimed, half exasperated.

"I don't know," Gwen replied, thoughtful. After a few seconds, she suggested, "Have you tried holding the button down?"

"Uh, no," Ben said, considering the idea. He pressed and held the button for a few seconds. Like magic, the device glowed green before shrinking and transforming into the wristwatch his dad had gifted him some time ago.

"Whoa," they both said, astonished.

"My watch is back?" Ben exclaimed, surprised, though he quickly noticed it was slightly different. It had an extra button, and when he tried to open the clasp, it wouldn't budge. He pressed the new button, and his watch glowed again, morphing back into the strange device.

"Cool," he said, grinning as he toggled between the two forms. Gwen, now curious, joined him. They stopped only when the device emitted a beep and turned green.

Ben quickly pressed the button again, and as the panel rose, he smiled. "There it is! I didn't break it—it was recharging!" He turned the dial, cycling through various silhouettes. "Two... five... eight... nine... ten. Ten transformations! If one has fire powers, what can the others do? With this, I could be a superhero, like in the comics!"

"Cool!" Gwen said, getting swept up in Ben's excitement. "Hey, what's your secret identity going to be? Beast Boy? Changeling? Morph? Legion? Omni-man?"

"I don't know… How about Ben 10?"

"Seriously? That's just your baseball nickname—it's not even secret," Gwen teased, laughing.

"You can't change the classics. Besides, the transformations are disguise enough. And I can give them nicknames! The fire one could be Heatblast!"

"For a limited time only… Ah, maybe now you'll learn the importance of having a schedule," Gwen quipped.

"Aw, man, that's true… But it was awesome!"

"Yeah, super awesome. You almost burned down the entire forest, destroyed a chair, and melted a fork. Truly impressive," Gwen said sarcastically.

Ben rolled his eyes. "You really know how to ruin the fun, don't you, Gwen?"

Before she could respond, a faint, almost imperceptible noise came from outside. Gwen frowned and got up, heading toward the window.

"Did you hear that?" she asked, peeking through the curtain.

"Hm? Hear what?" Ben asked, his attention still more on the device than anything else.

"Shh," Gwen whispered, looking outside. At first, she saw nothing, but then a faint light shimmered in the distance. It moved between the trees as if something was lurking there. "Ben, come here."

Ben stood up, curious, and joined her. "What is it now? Another shooting star or something?"

"I don't know," Gwen replied, pointing at the distant glow. "But whatever it is, it doesn't look natural."

Ben squinted, trying to make it out. "Do you think it's Grandpa Max coming back?"

"Doubt it. He wouldn't make noise like that," Gwen said.

Suddenly, the sound grew louder, morphing into a metallic buzzing that tore through the surrounding silence. It was approaching fast. Gwen and Ben exchanged a worried look.

"That definitely doesn't sound good," Ben muttered, instinctively taking a step back.

Before they could decide what to do, a screeching noise echoed as something scraped against the trailer's metal walls. Gwen gasped, and Ben jumped back, raising his arms reflexively as though expecting the device on his wrist to activate on its own.

"You've got to be kidding me," he muttered, feeling his heart race.

"Ben, get under the bed! Now!" Gwen shouted, scrambling to hide.

But before she could duck down, a thunderous crash shattered the silence. Glass exploded inward as something burst through the window—a disc-shaped robot scanning the room with its pulsating red visor.

For a moment, both of them froze, fear paralyzing them.

"Ben… this isn't Grandpa's doing," Gwen whispered, not taking her eyes off the robot.

"Yeah, I kind of figured that out," Ben replied, slowly backing away. He looked down at the device on his wrist and took a deep breath. Hope you work the way I think you do, 'cause I need you now.

Without hesitation, he slammed the panel, ignoring which alien was selected. A burst of green light engulfed the trailer, and when Ben opened his eyes, he realized something had changed drastically. Blinking a few times, he tried to adjust to his new vision.

Looking at his reflection in the shattered glass, he saw he was now a giant insect with translucent wings, four flexible eye stalks protruding from his face, and a glowing stinger.

Gwen's eyes widened as she stepped back, startled by the transformation. Despite her shock, she steadied herself and faced the situation head-on.

"But... Butterfly?" she stammered, torn between worry and amazement.

"Stinkfly!" Ben corrected, though his voice came out distorted, reverberating with a metallic tone. He examined his forelegs, flexing them, and flapped his wings, producing an intense buzzing sound. "Whoa, I'm a giant bug! This is so weird… and so awesome!"

The disc-shaped robot, which had been scanning the room, suddenly reacted. Its visor glowed brighter, and it emitted a piercing buzz that made their ears ring.

"Omnitrix detected. Sending signal," a cold, metallic voice announced.

"'Omnitrix'?" Stinkfly murmured, confused, as the robot fired a laser beam that zipped through the air, forcing him to leap out through the shattered window.

As soon as he was outside, the robot lunged, projecting a sharp blade from its side. Acting on instinct, Stinkfly flapped his wings with force, spinning in midair, and launched his stinger. The strike was precise, slicing the robot in half and sending sparks and debris flying everywhere.

"Yeah! Nobody messes with Ben 10 and gets away with it!" he cheered, but his celebration was cut short. A growing buzz drew his attention. Turning his flexible eyes, he saw more robots approaching—a dozen at least—all aiming their weapons at him.

"Ah, great..."

He quickly ascended, dodging a barrage of laser fire. The shots exploded around him, scorching trees and the ground. During his escape, he watched in horror as the Rustbucket 2 was hit. The explosion made him hesitate for a moment.

"Gwen!" he shouted, his heart racing.

"I'm fine!" Gwen's voice echoed from the forest. She had managed to escape before the blast, but her movement caught the attention of one of the drones. The machine spun its blade and aimed its shots at her.

Stinkfly didn't waste time. He dove toward Gwen, grabbing her at the last second while evading the incoming fire.

"Ben, this is getting way too serious!" Gwen yelled, trying to stay calm while being carried through the air.

"Oh, you think?!" he shot back, climbing higher to stay out of the lasers' range.

Tired of running, Stinkfly decided to fight back. He tossed Gwen upward, making her spin in the air as he used the momentum to destroy two drones with swift strikes from his stinger. He caught her just in time before she hit the ground.

"Hold on tight, Gwen! Now it's my turn!"

"I… think I'm gonna puke," Gwen muttered, trying to steady herself.

"Don't even think about it! If you puke, you're going straight to the ground!" Stinkfly retorted, making Gwen roll her eyes.

In the heat of the moment, he accidentally spat a viscous glob that struck a drone directly, freezing it in place until it exploded.

"Hey... that was... useful," he said, surprised. Testing it again, he fired another glob of goo, hitting a robot that was sneaking up on him.

He dodged more shots while experimenting with his newfound ability. In a critical moment, he sensed something approaching from behind. A drone was about to strike him with its blade when, instinctively, he shot a jet of goo from one of his eyes.

"Ugh, seriously?! Now it comes out of my eyes too?" he complained but quickly realized how effective it was. The robot was completely covered and paralyzed before collapsing into pieces.

With renewed confidence, Stinkfly flew in circles, dodging lasers and launching goo from his mouth and eyes, neutralizing multiple drones. He used his wings to execute sharp maneuvers, confusing the machines while Gwen clung to him desperately.

Finally, only one opponent remained: a massive robot, the size of a car, towering over the others. It seemed more durable and emitted a deep hum as it charged a powerful cannon.

Stinkfly didn't hesitate. He shot upward, using his agility to avoid the cannon's blasts, and landed on top of the giant robot. With all his strength, he delivered a devastating blow with his stinger, piercing the robot's core. The massive machine shuddered, sparked, and collapsed into a heap of debris.

The Omnitrix began flashing red, warning that the transformation was about to end. Stinkfly reverted to his human form mid-air, losing balance. He and Gwen tumbled to the ground together, rolling to a stop.

"Ugh… That hurts," Ben groaned.

"Now I get why humans don't fly. It's awful," Gwen complained, standing up and helping Ben to his feet.

"Wait, look out!" Ben shouted, spotting a damaged robot limping toward them with its blade raised for an attack.

Gwen closed her eyes, bracing for the worst.

CLANK!

When she opened her eyes, she saw Max standing in front of her, holding a shovel that had just smashed the robot.

"Hey, kids. We need to get out of here. Now!" Max ordered, motioning toward the way back. "Back to the Rustbucket! Move!"

Back in space, inside the healing pod aboard the Chimeran Hammer, tiny robotic spiders scurried across the mutilated body resting within. The mechanical creatures worked tirelessly, injecting regenerative nanobots to accelerate recovery. The room was bathed in a pulsating, dim light, reflecting the oppressive, clinical atmosphere of the ship.

The door slid open with a mechanical hiss, and Psyphon entered, his expression grim and resolute. He offered a brief bow before speaking:

"Master, the Omnitrix has been acquired by an inhabitant of the planet… but not Max Tennyson. From the little I could recover in the feed, the bearer destroyed most of the mechadroids while assuming the form of a Lepidopterran to fight and rescue a human child, while Tennyson himself dealt with the majority of the remaining mechadroids."

The eyes of the figure in the pod widened momentarily, flashing with a cold glint of surprise. They slowly closed again as a deep, controlled voice reverberated through the chamber:

"Understood... How many units do we still have at our disposal?"

Psyphon hesitated, carefully choosing his words before replying:

"Master, all available units were deployed to recover the Omnitrix. Currently, only the HJ23 attack droid remains, as it was undergoing repairs. However, I've already begun mobilizing efforts to salvage materials from the wreckage and rebuild our forces. Additionally, we detected signals from an escape pod that left the space station, as well as life signs aboard the ship that originally transported the Omnitrix."

The figure remained silent for a few moments, weighing the information. Finally, the commanding voice issued an order:

"Send the HJ23 to track down the bearer. Use the tractor beam to capture the survivors. I want them all interrogated. They may possess useful information about the Omnitrix or our enemies."

"At once, Master," Psyphon responded with another bow before quickly leaving the room.

The robotic spiders continued their relentless work as the figure, now with closed eyes, murmured to itself:

"If the Omnitrix has found a new bearer, it could be an opportunity… or a new obstacle I must destroy."

Back on Earth, the Tennysons finally arrived at the Rust Bucket 2, but the sight that greeted them was devastating. The trailer lay in ruins, with debris scattered across the ground. Max let out a heavy sigh, running his hands over his face as he inspected the damage.

"This won't be easy to fix…" he muttered, stepping into the partially intact interior of the vehicle.

Gwen glanced around, holding a flashlight to illuminate the wreckage. "Ben, that drone… it called the watch the Omnitrix, didn't it?"

Ben, still nervously fiddling with the dial on the device strapped to his wrist, nodded. "Yeah, it said Omnitrix. That must be what this thing is called." He gestured at the watch, his face a mix of confusion and guilt. "But that doesn't explain why these robots are so desperate to get it… or why it's stuck on me."

Max, now inside the Rust Bucket, opened a drawer and pulled out an emergency radio, miraculously still intact. "Let's see if we can contact someone. We're going to need help getting out of here."

As he turned the radio on, the device crackled to life, broadcasting a frantic message.

"Mayday! Mayday! Somebody help us! We're under attack by some kind of… and I know this sounds crazy… giant robot!"

Gwen's eyes widened. "Giant robot? That can't be a coincidence."

Ben froze, a wave of guilt washing over him. "It can't be… There are more of them!" He put his hands on his head, exasperated. "People are in danger because of me!"

Max looked at him with steady resolve. "Ben, none of this is your fault. Don't blame yourself for the actions of others."

Ben took a deep breath, calming slightly. "Even if it's not my fault, Grandpa… I still have to do something. Who's prepared to deal with giant robots? Police? Park rangers?"

Before anyone could respond, a distant explosion ripped through the night, echoing across the forest.

Max frowned, already grabbing his flashlight and slinging a backpack over his shoulder. "That doesn't sound good. Let's go. I think the radio just gave us the location of our next problem."

The trio hurried toward the visitor center, the location marked in the distress signal, and arrived at a scene of pure chaos. A colossal robot, towering 40 feet tall, dominated the area. Its metallic red frame gleamed under the fiery glow of explosions echoing all around. The robot's massive, articulated limbs smashed through everything in their path, and its dark claws tore apart vehicles and structures. Its glowing red eyes, like menacing beacons, targeted fleeing civilians, firing lasers with deadly precision.

People ran in panic, screaming for help as they scrambled to escape the destruction. A massive blast struck a park ranger's jeep, sending it hurtling through the air.

"Oh no... This is worse than I thought," Max muttered, pulling Gwen behind a makeshift barricade. His eyes scanned the massive machine, his expression etched with worry.

"This is way worse than I imagined…" Gwen said, wide-eyed as she took in the destruction.

"This is amazing!" Ben exclaimed, his awe evident as he stared at the towering metal monstrosity. Catching Gwen's disapproving glare, he quickly corrected himself. "I mean… it's terrible. Absolutely terrible." His initial fear was quickly overtaken by a growing determination. "I can't just stand here. I have to do something!"

"Ben, wait!" Max shouted, grabbing his grandson's arm firmly. "You need to be careful. That thing isn't a toy, Ben. Use the Omnitrix wisely."

Ben looked at his grandfather, his expression a mix of nervousness and resolve. He nodded but didn't get the chance to respond. The mechadroid turned its gaze toward them, its red eyes intensifying as its deep, thunderous voice echoed through the air:

"Omnitrix detected. Eliminating primary target."

"I knew it! They're after the watch!" Gwen exclaimed, her voice rising in urgency.

Without hesitation, Ben activated the Omnitrix, spinning the dial quickly before settling on a silhouette. "It's Hero Time," he muttered, slamming the device's green core. A burst of intense light enveloped him as the transformation began.

Energy surged through his body as his skin turned gray, crisscrossed with moving black lines. Sharp claws extended from his fingers as his feet lifted slightly off the ground. An otherworldly aura surrounded him, and his single eye glowed with an intense purple hue, knowledge of his new abilities flooding his mind.

"This feels… different," Ben murmured, inspecting his now gaseous, flexible hands. A strange sensation of weightlessness and invincibility filled him, making him feel like an otherworldly specter.

"Ben, watch out!" Gwen shouted, panic in her voice as the three-legged humanoid robot locked its glowing red eyes on him. It fired lasers with uncanny precision, but Ben effortlessly floated aside, dodging the blasts.

"This is going to be interesting," Ben muttered to himself, realizing his new form gave him an edge. He shifted into an intangible state, letting a laser pass harmlessly through him. "Whoa! I can phase through stuff!"

Confidence surged through him. "But I can't just keep dodging. Let's see what else I can do."

The robot advanced, crushing vehicles and trees in its path as its massive claws swung toward Ben. Floating amidst the destruction, Ben observed the machine's movements, searching for a weakness.

Suddenly, he materialized on the robot's shoulder, solidifying his form. Using his sharp claws, he tore into the metallic casing, sending sparks flying. The robot spun violently, trying to dislodge its unwelcome passenger, but Ben vanished again, his intangible form leaving behind only a ghostly trace.

"That all you got?" Ben taunted, his voice echoing eerily. Missiles fired from the robot's arms zipped harmlessly through his spectral body, exploding in the clearing behind him. Using the distraction, Ben rematerialized and darted toward the robot's chest.

Inside the mechanical behemoth, he spotted its energy core—the source of its immense power. "Time to end this!" Ben said, placing his hands on the core. Instinctively, he combined his solid and intangible forms, disrupting the robot's internal circuits and causing its systems to overload.

The robot let out a metallic roar as its core began to spark and overload. Energy and debris erupted from the machine's frame as it struggled to maintain functionality. Ben quickly phased out, retreating just in time to watch the robot explode in a dazzling burst of light and metal fragments.

The explosion reverberated across the field, and chunks of the destroyed robot rained down with loud crashes. A stunned silence followed, broken only by the relieved cheers of campers and the hurried footsteps of Max and Gwen as they ran toward Ben.

"That was incredible, B— I mean, Ghostfreak!" Gwen said, still shaken by the intensity of the battle. Despite her amazement, her concern lingered. "But you really need to be more careful."

"Ghostfreak, huh?" Ben said, glancing at his translucent body with a grin. "I like it."

Wasting no time, he floated away toward the forest, leaving behind a bewildered crowd and his family scrambling to explain what had just happened.

"Who was that?" someone asked, watching the ghostly figure fade into the trees.

"Probably someone trying to help," Max replied with a knowing smile, his eyes following the faint outline of Ben disappearing into the night.

Later that night, Max and Gwen arrived at their campsite under the high moonlight, which illuminated the chaotic aftermath. The Rustbucket was unrecognizable, reduced to a twisted heap of metal. Scattered around the area were the remnants of destroyed drones, like ghosts of the recent battle. At the center of it all, Ben sat by an improvised campfire, roasting marshmallows with a carefree grin.

"Marshmallows?" Ben offered with a smirk, holding out a makeshift skewer with two perfectly toasted marshmallows on the end.

"Thanks," Gwen said, taking one and biting into it. "But... I still don't get why we didn't ask for help back there. How are we supposed to get back, Grandpa?"

Max sighed, glancing at the wreckage of the trailer. "It was better this way, Gwen. Those drones are too much trouble. Imagine the questions it would raise. Besides..." He turned to Ben. "I think the Omnitrix might be exactly what we need to fix all of this."

"Oh, leave it to me, Grandpa!" Ben jumped up, excited, and began spinning the Omnitrix dial. "There's gotta be some transformation in here that's good with tech."

Max raised a hand, stopping him. "Hold on, Ben. Let me try. Maybe I'll get lucky."

Ben raised an eyebrow but relented. "Alright, Grandpa. Go for it." He held out his arm, allowing Max to turn the Omnitrix dial. Max carefully spun it, almost reverently, until he landed on a specific silhouette.

"This one. Try this."

Ben shrugged. "Okay, let's see what happens." He pressed the dial, and a bright green light burst forth. When it faded, Ben had transformed into something entirely new.

His new form was completely amorphous, a liquid-metal body with black patterns and glowing green circuits pulsating as if alive. He tried to take a step, but his leg oozed onto the ground like fluid, drawing a nervous laugh from Gwen.

"Wow, you're... dripping," she said, struggling to hold back laughter.

"Hey, this is harder than it looks!" Ben retorted, trying to pull himself together. His voice sounded the same, but with a metallic filter overlaying it. He finally stabilized his form, wobbling clumsily as he moved.

Approaching one of the destroyed drones, something unexpected happened: his liquid-metal hand extended and touched the broken machine. As if magnetized, the drone fused with Ben's form. In seconds, it was reconstructed, now fully operational—but under Ben's control.

"Whoa! I think I can fix these things," Ben said, moving to another drone and transforming it into something even more advanced. "Or maybe… more than just fix."

Gwen watched, fascinated, as Ben turned to the Rustbucket's wreckage. He partially merged with the trailer, his glowing circuits spreading over its surface, reforming and reinforcing the broken parts. With every motion, the Rustbucket transformed into something better than before, visibly upgraded.

"This guy is awesome," Gwen said, crossing her arms. "You should call this form 'Fixer.' It fits perfectly."

Ben chuckled as he adjusted the trailer's antennae. "Fixer? Nah. I do more than just fix things." He slid out of the trailer, grabbed parts of the broken drones, and integrated them into the vehicle. He added reinforced armor and an emergency propulsion system. "I improve. Upgrade sounds way cooler."

Max grinned, impressed by the transformation. "Told you the Omnitrix could help."

Ben stepped away from the Rustbucket, his alien form glowing faintly. "Yeah, I think Upgrade's gonna be pretty useful. I just hope he can also cook marshmallows..." He extended his liquid hand into the fire, forming a perfect skewer for roasting marshmallows.

Once the Rustbucket was fully functional, the three decided to rest. "Tomorrow's a new day," Max said, extinguishing the fire. Gwen and Ben nodded, already settling into the newly enhanced Rustbucket.

As Gwen unpacked her belongings, a sudden shout broke the calm. "My schedule, nooooo!" she wailed, realizing that not everything had been fixed.

"Ha, better luck next time," Ben teased, laughing—until his expression changed to one of horror. "Noooooo! My golden Sumo Slammer card! Where is it? Where is it?"

"Ugh, great," Gwen groaned, rolling her eyes.

Ben clenched his fist, staring determinedly into the horizon. "Gwen, I swear, whoever attacked us is going to pay. Now it's personal!"

Back on the Chimeran Hammer, as the ship glided silently through the depths of space, a grim tension filled the main bridge. The pulsating glow of technological consoles illuminated Psyphon's face as he hurried into a dark and oppressive chamber. At its center, a partially recovered figure rested within a healing capsule, surrounded by robotic spiders tirelessly continuing their work.

Psyphon bowed slightly and began his report:

"Master, the wreckage has been analyzed, and we managed to recover two survivors from the battle. One is a Uxorite female identified as Xylene, who was aboard the ship carrying the Omnitrix. The other is a human, a soldier known as Steel, who led a small resistance force on the P.L.U.M.B.E.R.S. station. Both are being held in containment."

The figure's eyes slowly opened, revealing a menacing red glow that pierced the gloom of the chamber. His voice, raspy and laced with authority, reverberated through the room:

"Xylene… an accomplice of Azmuth. And the human? Perhaps irrelevant, but even the smallest insect can hide valuable information. I want both interrogated immediately."

"I've already prepared the equipment to extract memories directly from their neural cortexes, Master," Psyphon replied, maintaining his rigid posture. "However, Xylene is in critical condition, and the human has shown an unusual resistance to standard sedatives. I'll need more time to ensure the procedures are performed efficiently."

The figure tilted his head slightly, a gesture that radiated displeasure.

"Time… something we must measure carefully, Psyphon. The Omnitrix is in human hands, and Max Tennyson is not one to overlook opportunities. Prepare the interrogations within six Earth cycles. If incentives are required, remind them that there are fates worse than death."

Psyphon nodded and turned to leave, but a sharp command stopped him:

"Wait. Ensure the prisoner understands that her cooperation will be… rewarded if she gives us everything about Azmuth and his intentions. As for the human… make him scream. Humans learn faster through pain."

"As you wish, Master," Psyphon replied with a bow before hurrying out, his cloak trailing across the metallic floor of the ship.

Left alone, the figure watched the robotic spiders finalize their repairs. He let out a heavy sigh and clasped his mutilated claws in front of him.

"Fifteen cycles until full recovery… The universe conspires against me, but they don't understand…"

In the containment sector of the ship, Xylene lay unconscious in a cell sealed by force fields, medical probes monitoring her unstable vital signs. Meanwhile, Commander Steel, confined in another cell, kept his eyes fixed on the shimmering barrier before him, his expression hardened and his fists clenched.

"These monsters won't get away with this…" he muttered to himself, the red glow of the cell reflecting off his damaged armor.

Deep within the Chimeran Hammer, a low, constant hum echoed—the rhythmic pulse of the machines, preparing for what was to come.