Ben 10: Alien Rebirth

Chapter 50: Race Against Time, Part 3

When the watch eventually timed out, Ben emerged from the bathroom and saw Gwen standing next to the bleachers.

She asked, "what happened?"

Ben replied, "he found me, that's what happened. Eon wants me alone. Then that's what he's gonna get."

Gwen exclaimed as she ran off after her cousin, "Ben!"

She ran after him with Kevin and Hope following them.

Gwen said, "you can't do this on your own, Ben!"

Ben asked, "what says I couldn't?"

Gwen said, "for one, you ran into the girls' locker room."

Ben said as they went outside, "on accident. It was the closest locker room."

Gwen said, "on a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the stupidest thing you've ever done…. This is a 15."

Ben sighed, "you know, there's nobody MAKING you stay."

Hope said, "maybe. But we're here anyway."

Ben glanced at his girlfriend, his cousin and best friend.

He sighed and said, "alright…. After school, we'll meet back up with Grandpa and Grandma. We will take on Eon together."

The others smiled at Ben.

….

Later that evening….

The kids were outside, on some benches.

Gwen asked, "if Eon knows you're being watched by Plumbers, don't you think he's gonna know you're setting a trap for him?"

Ben replied, "I don't care. When he shows his helmet head, I'm gonna be ready. Bellwood's my town, your town…. Mom, Dad, Grandpa's town. I'm not gonna let him threaten our home."

Kevin touched the bench and covered his hand in metal from it as he said, "well, I'll be happy to serve him a knuckle sandwich."

Hope tipped her hat and said, "with a side order of magical butt whoopin'."

Gwen rolled her eyes and said, "well, this isn't gonna be easy. I mean, we still don't even know WHY he needs you and the Omnitrix."

Ben said, "like it matters. He's hurting innocent people, threatening our home, he's gotta go."

At that point, the group heard a noise.

Gwen asked, "what was that?"

Ben replied, "... I can't tell."

Hope summoned her staff and called out, "who's there?"

Max and Xylene then showed themselves.

Max said, "you called us, remember?"

Ben and Gwen said, "Grandpa, Grandma!"

Xylene said "you all ready to take on Eon?"

Ben said, "as we'll ever be."

Max looked a little apprehensive about the whole thing, to be honest.

Max said, "I'm just worried, Ben. The last time someone was directly after you specifically, we fought the Negative 10. And Eon seems to be giving them a run for their money."

Ben said, "we'll never know what he wants with me until we face him, Grandpa."

Before the discussion could go any further, suddenly, a bunch of Eon's minions ran out from the shadows and restrained the group while they were caught off guard!

The team struggled as Eon appeared from seemingly out of nowhere and said, "right you are, Benjamin. And I intend to tell you EVERYTHING…."

….

We see Ben, Gwen, their grandparents, Hope and Kevin all tied to pillars in the room housing the Hands of Armageddon.

Ben struggled the most, especially as Eon stalked towards him.

Ben started to say, "what-"

Eon interrupted, "-do I want with you?"

Ben glared as Eon chuckled to himself.

He continued, "I suppose now I can tell you everything. You see, Benjamin, I'm not exactly from your universe…."

Ben asked, "you mean you're from another universe?"

Eon stated, "precisely. You're not as dim as I remember…. Anyway, long ago, I was the protector of my Earth. I faced so many foes. Many you'd find familiar and many you have yet to meet. But it was when the Chronians attacked, everything failed."

Xylene asked, "Chronians? But aren't they extinct?"

Eon said, "in your universe, yes. As well as mine. As is everyone else."

Ben asked, "then how are you alive while the rest of your kind are dead?"

Eon said, "don't be so naive! They weren't my kind! I was locked into this disgusting form when all life on Earth was eradicated! And I made them pay for what they did!"

The others glanced at one another in confusion. Locked in that form?

Eon chuckled, "you haven't figured it out, have you?"

Ben asked, "figured out what?"

Eon posed the questions, "think, how do I know so much about all of you? About what will and won't happen? Why I'm still alive and the rest of the Chronians are dead thanks to me?"

Eon slowly pulled down the sleeve of his coat…. Revealing the shattered remains of an Omnitrix! It was fused to his flesh like shrapnel, the dial cracked all over, emitting a low purple glow.

Everyone, especially Ben, went wide-eyed, as they figured out what Eon was implying….

Ben stuttered, "n-no way…. You're…. Y-You're-"

Eon removed his mask, revealing the face of a grown-up Ben, gaunt, hair mostly gray, sunken-in purple eyes, one of which was black and purple gnarled teeth, pale skin and part of his cheek was heavily burned, showing tendons and teeth underneath.

Eon said, "Benjamin Kirby Tennyson. Or, I was…. Until those Chronians destroyed my universe and trapped me in this form! I can't even use the Hands thanks to what's become of my Omnitrix!"

Gwen said, "I get it now! You want Ben and his Omnitrix to unlock the Hands for you!"

Eon nodded as he put his mask back on and said, "yes, dear Gwendolyn. With the Hands, I will finally be able to restore my universe! My friends…. My family…. My beautiful bride…. My children…."

Max exclaimed, "Ben! Don't do it! Who knows what this will do to our world!"

Eon growled, "I will do whatever it takes to restore my universe…. Whatever. It. Takes."

As he reached up and touched the Omnitrix, its dial changed from a bright green to a sickly purple.

Gwen's eyes glowed bright pink for a split second as she yelled, "leave him alone!"

Eon began to turn the dial to a new silhouette on the watch, which looked like him.

Hope yelled as she thrashed against her bindings, "BEN!"

Eon pressed down the dial, as the Omnitrix glowed.

Ben thrashed and groaned, as his body began to change into what looked like a younger version of Eon!

He had the same pale skin, purple eyes, but lacked the gray hair and scars.

Everyone else looked horrified as the chains around Ben turned to dust.

Eon seemed to vanish into thin air as Ben's eyes opened in a fierce glare. Ben slowly walked towards the Hands of Armageddon, his hands engulfed in purple energy.

Gwen said, mortified, "Ben…. Are you even in there?"

The newly changed Ben glared over, he remarked, his tone cold, "sorry to disappoint you…. Such power…. Unleashed at the behest of a mere child. But no longer. I am FREE!"

….

Meanwhile….

We see most of the Plumbers locked in a room by Eon and his minions.

And for the time being, it looked like they were up a creek without a paddle.

Doris groaned, "how the Hell are we gonna get outta this…."

And that's when an unexpected solution showed up.

Ed White poked his head from the window and said, "somebody order a rescue?"

Doris couldn't believe it as she remarked, "you've got a knack for showin' up when you're needed!"

Ed began searching through his key ring as he said, "I get that a lot. Now, let's get you all outta here…."

….

Meanwhile, Ben's hands were stretched towards the Hands, purple energy flowing between them as the room started to shake.

Hope said, "we gotta get free and snap Ben out of it!"

Kevin groaned as his hands were tied, "if I could just touch something to absorb it!"

Gwen asked Hope, "is there a spell we could use to get out of these binds?"

Hope replied, "I think so!"

Kevin responded, "then I say, go for it. Before the roof comes down on our heads."

Hope and Gwen nodded as they both recited a spell that managed to break their bindings!

Gwen told Hope, "you free the others. I'll see if I can snap Ben out of it."

Hope nodded as she went to free Max, Kevin and Xylene. Gwen saw a pipe and grabbed it as she approached her cousin.

….

The Plumbers were irritatingly waiting as Ed was STILL searching through the key ring!

Doris groaned, "we don't have time for this, Ed!"

Ed replied, "I'm looking! I'm look- found it!"

He held up a key with Hello Kitty on it.

Everyone gave flat looks.

Ed chuckled, "my niece loves Hello Kitty."

Ed used the key and unlocked the door.

The Plumbers all stormed out.

O'Neil said, "now we gotta help Max and the others."

Doris asked, "with what?"

Ed smirked and pointed at a wheelbarrow full of Plumber guns.

He said, "I figured those would come in handy…."

….

Back with the others….

Ben was so distracted by what he was doing, he didn't notice Geen coming up behind him with the pipe. Gwen swung hard, hitting Ben over the head, breaking the flow of energy between him and the Hands as he turned to glare at her with burning rage.

Gwen commented nervously, "glad I got your attention…."

Ben glowered, "it also made me very angry. So there's THAT."

He began stomping towards Gwen just as the other Plumbers showed up through the doors!

Doris pointed her gun at Ben and yelled, "don't move, Eon!"

Max ran in front of the Plumbers and exclaimed, "wait! Stop! That's Ben! Eon turned him into a Chronosapien too!"

Ben nonchalantly flung his hand to the side, sending Max and the others sprawling to the ground.

Ben growled at Gwen, "you will not delay my plans!"

Gwen cried, "Ben! Please! This isn't you!"

Ben growled, "Ben is gone. There is only Eon. And nothing will delay the restoration of his world."

Gwen cried out, "I don't believe you! Ben, I know you're still in there!"

Ben powered up a bunch of violet energy in his hand, attempting to obliterate the young redhead.

He growled, "do you have any last words?"

Gwen began to glare at Ben and said, "just three…. Think fast, dweeb!"

Gwen threw her hand forward as a ball of pink energy hit Ben in the face, sending him flying to the ground, hitting his head hard on the concrete!

Gwen tentatively walked over to Ben, asking, "Ben…?"

Ben slowly sat up and rubbed the back of his head.

He groaned, "ow! What the Hell, Gwen?!"

Gwen sighed in relief and said, "looks like I literally knocked some sense back into you."

Ben grunted, "and probably knocked something loose…."

Gwen said, "sorry…."

Ben looked down at the Omnitrix symbol on his chest and said, "time to change back…."

Ben experimentally tapped the Omnitrix, and in a flash of purple turning green, he was back to being normal Ben.

The others, all back on their feet, made their way over to Ben and Gwen.

Hope asked, "so, is it over?"

Ben turned towards the Hands of Armageddon and said, "no. Not until the Hands are destroyed. Otherwise Eon will keep coming back to turn them on. So, does anyone have any ideas?"

No response.

Ben asked in confusion, "guys?"

Ben turned, and saw that everyone was frozen in place like statues!

Ben backed up as a familiar voice said, "how right you are…."

Eon materialized in-between Kevin and Xylene and began skulking towards Ben yet again!

Eon growled, "nothing will stop me from restoring my world!"

He began reaching for the Omnitrix again as Ben exclaimed, "oh no ya don't!"

Ben quickly dialed up an alien and transformed before Eon could reach him! In a flash of green light, Feedback was standing there!

Feedback smirked and said, "hope ya don't mind a feedback loop…."

Eon growled, "what alien is this?!"

Feedback asked, "you mean you never got this alien in the watch?"

Eon growled, "I had access to a million aliens, but this one never came up. No matter, a small inconsistency!"

Eon began shooting balls of sparking, purple energy at Feedback!

But to his shock, Feedback's plugs started to absorb them.

Eon gasped, "impossible!"

Feedback grinned, "well, I wouldn't say that…. After all, it IS happening!"

Feedback fired the energy back at his counterpart.

The energy hit Eon dead on, sending him flying! Eon staggered to balance himself and grabbed onto a nearby tesla coil, charging his energy up as he sent it flying at Feedback again. Feedback smirked again as he absorbed the energy, but held it within his hands as he ran at Eon! Eon kept shooting violent energy at Feedback, but the alien hero kept dodging until he jumped over and behind Eon! Eon quickly turned, but was hit up close by Feedback letting loose the energy!

Eon was sent flying right into the Hands of Armageddon! Purple lightning surrounded the evil Ben and the Hands as everyone was unfrozen and went wide-eyed as they saw what was happening.

Eon screamed, "YOU HAVE NOT SEEN THE LAST OF ME, TENNYSON!"

A blinding flash of white light surrounded Eon and the Hands of Armageddon, temporarily blinding the others. When the light cleared, all that was left behind were intense scorch marks on the ground.

Feedback said before turning back into Ben, "not in a million years…."

Gwen said, "nice one. Gotta admit, you had us worried there."

Ben nodded and said, "yeah. You ain't the only one."

Doris said, "well, it looks like Eon is finally gone for good."

Max said, "never say never, Doris. After all, we never thought we'd see Vilgax or Malware again…."

Xylene said, "indeed. Anything is possible."

Hope said, "either way, now that that's taken care of, I believe there's a talent show we need to get to…."

Ben looked at the watch and smirked as he said, "I think I've got just the alien…."

….

Gwen exclaimed, "you just HAD to pick this one!"

Hope and Gwen were clinging to Wildmutt as he was running through the woods towards their school.

….

At that time, the parents had finished filling the auditorium and were watching the acts as they went on.

The latest act that had just wrapped up was Cash and JT performing a comedy act…. A terrible comedy act. No-one laughed. Not even their friends and family.

To put it simply? They stank like a pile of rotten fish.

As they were booed off stage, the acting teacher was nervously pacing back and forth, since the next act, Gwen and Hope, weren't there yet!

A few moments later, Gwen and Hope came in, looking a bit disheveled after quickly changing into matching blue and purple suits modeled after Zatanna from DC.

The acting teacher asked, "where have you two been?!"

Hope said, "um, putting the last finishing touches on our act?"

Gwen pointed over her shoulder at a tarp that was moving slightly.

The teacher said, "well it had better be a good one…."

….

Max, Xylene in her disguise and Kevin had quietly entered the auditorium to sit with the rest of the people there. They sat next to Ben and Gwen's parents.

The acting teacher came up on stage and said, "and now, our final act for the evening! Give it up for; the Amazing Charm Casters!"

Gwen and Hope came out with big smiles as people clapped.

Gwen said, "thank you, thank you! For our first trick, we shall be summoning an alien tonight!"

The crowd began to laugh.

Hope smirked and said, "the crowd thinks we're joking, Gwen. Shall we silence their laughter?"

Gwen smirked and said, "indeed."

The two said in unison, "hocus pocus, brackus bralien! Summon us a big, furry alien!"

They snapped their fingers as a puff of smoke engulfed the stage. When it cleared, Wildmutt sat in-between the girls and roared.

The crowd gasped in shock and awe.

Hope said, "looks like they're speechless."

Gwen said, "indeed they are, Hope. Now, folks. For our next trick, we will transform this creature into something much less scary."

Hope snapped her fingers as a tarp flew overhead, connected to some wires.

Gwen pointed at the tarp, and it lowered on top of Wildmutt.

Hope and Gwen heard the sound of the Omnitrix underneath and smirked as they said in unison, "Zim Zim, Zallubim! Take this beast and transform him!"

The two clapped their hands together as the trap suddenly fell closer to the ground, with something still clearly under it.

Gwen and Hope then pulled the tarp, revealing Ben on the ground. The crowd gasped in awe and began to clap and cheer!

Ben got to his feet and took a few bows.

He called, waving to the crowd, "thank you, thank you!"

Nearby, Cash and JT stood, fuming.

Cash fumed, "we could've done better than that…."

JT replied, "No, we stunk."

Cash shot back, "shut up!"

….

Gwen, Ben and Hope were smiling from ear to ear as they held the trophy for first place in the talent show.

Sandra told her son, "I'm so proud of you, sweety! First place!"

Gwen's parents hugged her close.

Kevin told her, "nice one, Gwen."

Gwen blushed lightly with a smile.

For the time being, the world was safe yet again from another extraterrestrial threat.

….

Reviews:

CNguy: thanks.

DarkAbyss53: glad you love the story. And thanks for the kind words.

bensonlyhope: thanks so much.

Michael Thompson: thanks so much, and glad you enjoyed the chapter.

SuperSentai199: glad you loved it!

Bailey Radcliff: thank you very much. I'm glad you've been doing well and have been up to a lot. I might do a Thundercats story some day.

Guest: I'm trying to stick to a concrete backstory for Zs'kayr.

Ushindi: thank you very much. Looma will indeed show up for Kevin. We will see more Myaxx. Ascalon might be used more often, but not fused with the Omnitrix.

modernnewsies123: thank you very much.

Death Fury: thanks.

Anti-Mage: glad you're loving this and how I fit this movie into canon.

coronadomontes: thanks.

Guest: indeed it is split into 3 parts, since I was trying to fit in a lot.

Chroma Chill: yeah, I'm trying to update my stories, old and new, more often.

Swampfire is GOD: yes, I have returned to update more stories!

….

Author Note:

And thus, after longer than I'd like, we finally wrap up the events of Race Against Time! Next up will hopefully be Destroy All Aliens, a brief montage of the Omniverse flashbacks, and finally, an event involving a certain Mechamorph before we move onto Alien Force….