Chapter 2: Arrival
"Hello, I am Tennyson Maxwell, nice to meet you!"
"Hello! I, err, Ben Tennyson, um, nice to see me!"
"Ben, you need to go last name, then first name. Japanese culture puts a certain amount of importance on the first name. Use our family name first, and give your first name to close friends, family, and romantic partners. Also, I thought you reviewed the difference between you and me for homework last night. We can not review everyday; you must achieve conversational level in japanese by-"
"By the next UA entrance exam, I know, I know! We've only been over that, like, twenty gazillion times Grandpa!"
"Then prove it Ben. I have history homework, do you?"
"Wait! Uh, I know you said homework, but was it history? I think so. OK, uhhhh, yes, I do!"
Ever since the deal had been brokered between Benjamin Tennyson and the United States government, Ben's life had changed back into the unusual. Agent Coleson has returned several times to talk to Ben, Grandpa Max, and his parents, and was even scheduled to come later today. While the family waited, Grandpa was in the middle of an intense Japanese lecture, something that had become commonplace in the Tennyson household.
The deal was simple, but complex at the same time. On paper, it was Ben's chance at redemption from his summer joyride across the United States, performing vigilante feats in every state he traveled through. A chance to prove he had a hero's heart, and could take the responsibility of the powers he now had. But things are never that simple. Ben's circumstance presented several major issues that forced Coleson and the Tennyson adults to change and augment the deal in order to make it fair, balanced, and actually possible for Ben to do.
The first was the most obvious: Ben was 10 years old. The average UA first-year student was 14 or 15. While his parents wanted Ben to wait until he was that age as well before sending him out, Coleson firmly held his ground. His superiors would not have the 10 year old that single-handedly proved the American Hero System unsatisfactory at handling threats above the common thug have 5 years to plan, train, and learn. While Coleson tried to assure Ben that most of his coworkers did not see him as a current threat, Ben knew he was still feared. The laws he had broken justified this decision.
The second was closely related to the first: Ben had no chance of making it into UA in his current state. There was no question on how he would perform in the infamous practical exam for heroics, his extensive fighting experience against aliens and villains gave everyone confidence that no matter what UA threw at Ben, he would succeed. He was even projected by Coleson and Grandpa Max to come close to, or even surpass the current record. No, the problem was the written exam, the one to get into general studies. It was easy to forget that the most iconic hero school in the world was also well known for its academics and ability to give students in the general studies course an incredible foundation to move onto college and university. Ben was not incredibly smart even comparing him to other, normal human kids his age. He was no dunce, but he was no star student, finding it difficult to apply 100% of himself into his schoolwork. Japanese culture also puts far more importance on education than in the Americas. Ben learned through Grandpa Max's lessons that Japanese middle schoolers actually had to apply to highschool, similar to how Americans applied to college. Ben was painfully average in American academics. There was no way that he would pass the written exam, and if he did not pass that, it mattered not how he did in the practical, he would not be accepted.
Ben, when that conversation had initially occurred, piped up saying he could just take the test as Grey Matter. A Galvin, like Azmuth, could make even the most brilliant minds of humanity look like blithering idiots in comparison, trivializing the test. However, that answer was shot down quickly. UA had the written exam to test the basic intelligence of the student, regardless of their quirk. While unconditional super-intelligence quirks are very rare, quirks that give conditional intelligence are not. Either by ingesting certain foods or substances, or touching some sort of power source, many quirk users could temporarily increase (or decrease) their brain functionality. UA did take this into consideration by banning the usage of such quirks and having one of their professional heroes, who served as the faculty of UA, as a proctor for the test.
The exclusive usage of professional heroes as staff was unique to UA, and presented a problem for the deal. Coleson said that upon accepting the deal, a Plumber agent would be dispatched to be hired into the school to keep an eye on Ben, but this was now impossible. UA was in the middle of a big new hire meaning they were not accepting any new applications, frustrating Coleson immensely. Grandpa Max had proposed something in a whisper to the ear, so as to not let Ben hear. Coleson's frustrated visage transformed into a pondering one and he whispered back, and they eventually agreed to talk it over later. That was the reason for Coleson coming later, to finalize the last issue with the deal and finally get the official one signed.
Most of the main issues had been resolved months ago: the deal had been first introduced at the end of summer and now it was the middle of winter, and Ben's life now revolved around preparing him for his end of the deal. While the plan was for Ben to immediately depart for Japan on that first night of discussion, it just took one folder full of Ben's academic reports to a bemused Coleson from a thoroughly disappointed Sandra Tennyson to show that Ben was not high school material. Coleson then worked out an agreement between the Tennysons and the government: Ben would have 1 year to prepare for UA, but only on the academic and cultural side. Ben was still banned from using the Omnitrix, not even to practice for the practical. Ben would be provided everything needed to learn Japanese language and culture, and be ready for their high school curriculum. With education provided by a special government branch, Ben was pulled out of his old school under the excuse of 'moving.' It was a weak lie even by Ben's standards.
The relationship between Ben and his parents had improved greatly after that first night of wild emotions and revelations. Ben and his Mom spend the hours he would normally spend in school going over 3 years of Japanese middle school academic curriculum in just a single year. It was hard, and Ben found that his Mom pulled no punches when it came to his education, part of a government deal or not. However, with no summer trip to distract his thoughts, and the dire situation always weighing on his mind, he was making good progress. Not spectacular progress, Ben was no latent genius or child prodigy, but progress nonetheless. With his Dad, it was a lot harder to make things right. Ben was grounded for the entire season of fall, due to his selfish actions when first using the Omnitrix and not telling his parents about the situation he was in all summer. With no video games or going outside, Ben would have normally fallen into the pits of boredom, but he shocked everyone by using his newfound free time to attempt to study even more. Carl Tennyson was harsh on his son, but that was out of love, not hate. This new side of Ben, the sudden influx of mature behavior, was the push he needed to start making things right with his son. He ended the sentence early, and the father and son could be seen taking walks to the park, where they would play soccer, unknowingly watched by certain individuals expertly hidden from view...
Coleson was not lying when he said Ben would be monitored at all times. Ben never actually saw any agents other than Coleson, who was such a common figure in his life that he was almost becoming like an uncle. Ben, despite being 10, had a warrior's intuition from months of fighting powerful opponents, and could tell from the prickling hairs on the back of his neck and the burning sensation of gazes locked onto him that he was being watched inside, and especially outside. He did not know if they were armed, but he was not willing to test that. Speaking of government agents, Ben's struggle to grasp Japanese conjugations was interrupted by the doorbell ringing at 4:30 PM sharp. The standard time for meetings with Coleson.
"Ah Tennyson! Good to meet you! Quiz time Ben! What is your favorite food? Coleson walked through the door without his signature suitcase, rather this time he held just a single yellow file.
"Mr. Coleson, I've had to deal with an hour of Grandpa's lecture, can we just not right now?" Ben's pathetic whine leaked out as he rested the side of his head on the dining table. It just so happened that both Grandpa Max and Agent Coleson were fluent in many languages, and all of the most common ones. Because their work demanded it from them, of course it did. Ben could not believe his luck.
"Allright, chin-up sport, this is the last real meeting this time. Me and your Grandpa work out this last kink, your Mom and Dad read through and understand everything, you sign, and then it will all be set into motion." Ben's head snapped up. That last one? This was faster than expected.
"Well Max," Coleson turned his attention to his Grandpa. "I got to hand it to you, this alternate plan of yours is just the backup we needed. UA is acting really strange about staff applications, and they are tight-lipped about it. No one knows why, but no application is being accepted. I know their heroic studies teacher retired from both teaching and heroism, so my branch started working to get an agent in that position. Would not be the first time UA hired foreign staff. Then they go into a mini-lockdown! If you did not already have someone on the inside, we would have been in trouble." Someone already on the inside? A Plumber was already teaching at UA? Maybe an undercover agent. Ben vocalized his thoughts, getting the two adult's attention.
"No Ben, he's not an undercover agent. He is not actually a Plumber either. He's an old friend of mine that I worked with back in my heyday as an active Plumber. He's in a good spot in the UA staff, and will just as easily fulfill the tasks that the deal entails. He owes me a favor, I can guarantee this." Ben's interest was piqued. How much did this 'friend' of Grandpa know? "Ben, this... 'person,' yeah lets go with that, is one of five people on Earth not with special clearance that knows of aliens and their involvement on Earth. The only other ones are your parents, Gwen, and Kevin Levin, but he is no longer an issue. If you pass the UA enterence exams, I'll take you to meet him so that we can iron out more precise details about your stay in Japan. Any other question?"
Ben shook his head at his Grandpa. At this time, his parents walked into the kitchen, obviously waiting for their time to finalize the deal. Ben's Mom gave him a warm smile, to which he returned easily. With the progress Ben was making with his Mom's homeschooling, her confidence in him grew, bringing them close together. His Dad was not so kind, as he was giving Grandpa Max a glare which was not returned. Ben sighed at this display. While Ben had fixed his relationship with his parents through time, effort, and action, the same could not be said about Grandpa Max. Ben's parents blamed him for their son's current predicament, which was not entirely fair, but the only other person to blame was Gwen, whom they were ordered to leave alone. Ben's Mom had warmed back up to him ever-so slightly, but his Dad still gave him a frosty glare whenever they were in the same room, and never spoke more than a few words to him at a time. Ben could only hope that Grandpa Max could prove himself during their time in Japan, as that would probably be the only time he could. Coleson cleared his throat to begin.
"This is the formal signing of the deal between Benjamin Tennyson and the United States Government. Benjamin, you stand accused of breaking laws of both quirk regulation and alien technology. Your vigilante spree across the United States had both villainous and heroic elements, which results in you being sentenced to life imprisonment. However, due to your heroic actions, and the vouching of people close to you, a second chance will be issued as follows.
Benjamin Tennyson will be put into the Japanese heroic school known as UA High School, during which his Grandfather, Maxwell Tennyson, and his compatriot will monitor his progress at becoming a hero. Due to Ben's stance as a 10 year old, and his original level of intelligence, a year was given to allow him to learn enough to be on at least an even level with the other student hopefuls. While the government assisted in providing the tools to succeed, they are not responsible for the usage of said tools.
Benjamin Tennyson must graduate from UA in three years, the Japanese standard. During those years, Benjamin must manage both his grades and heroic improvements in order to remain. While Benjamin does not have to be the best at anything, he can not be the worst. Should Benjamin be expelled from UA for logical reasons, then he will be escorted back to the states. Benjamin is also liable for any leaks of alien knowledge or technology. He is expected to use his officially registered quirk Cellular Adaptability and whatever lie he comes up with to cover his tracks. Failure in this section will result in a sentence of greater magnitude, depending on the level of the leak he has caused.
Benjamin must remain heroic in Japanese society to gauge how he will do in America. He must successfully acquire a Japanese heroic provisional license when the opportunity arises. Due to age restrictions, we are aware Benjamin will not be able to acquire a japanese professional heroic license. Instead, if Benjamin should make it this far into the deal, then he will return to the States, where he will work as an underground hero for both the Plumbers and the Extraterrestrial Control Division of the United States. If he should prove himself, upon Benjamin's 18th birthday, his sentence will be scrubbed and he will be free once more, so long as he does not become another threat. Is everything understood?"
Ben nodded at the end of Coleson's depiction of the deal. Not gonna lie, he was on the verge of collapse. He has so much to do!
"Good, now, Mr and Mrs Tennyson, the payments will be as follows. If you would look here, we need to determine if he gets his own account or we work out of yours..." Coleson worked out the more complicated and logistical stats with his parents and Grandpa, with Ben nodding alsong, not getting anything they said but pretending to in order to save face. After signing the contract binding Ben to the deal, it was time for Coleson to leave.
"Am I going to see you again?" Ben did not want to seem desperate, but he really did not want Coleson to leave his life. Ben had unknowingly, and unwillingly entered into a world that interacted with extraterrestrial life on a daily basis without the general public ever knowing. Coupled with his contract preventing him from ever telling the truth, even directly telling him to lie in order to keep aliens a secret, as a bit much for a kid. He wanted people to talk to, people who could understand. Coleson was one of the few people he knew he could talk to freely. A hand suddenly plopped itself onto his head, and ruffled his hair a bit. As Ben tried to peel the offending limb off, Coleson's next statement warmed his heart.
"If you like it or not Ben, we'll be seeing each other a lot, for the rest of your life. I'm now working on the Benjamin Tennyson case full-time, and I've got a lot of work cut out for me. Do me a solid kid, and make sure you make it to your 18th birthday in one piece, and a hero to boot. I got a lot of faith, and money, riding on your shoulders, so work hard alright?" Ben nodded once more, steeling himself mentally for the years to come. He watched alone on his driveway as Agent Coleson pulled his car out, and drove away, out of the little town of Bellwood, and to wherever he needed to report to. Agent Coleson, while he did keep in touch with the Tennyson family, would never set foot in the town again.
After watching the Agent leave, Ben turned back and walked inside. But then he stopped, and pondered what he just heard. '...and money...?' Was Coleson betting on his outcome? Oh, that scheming son of a bitch! Ben signed aloud with frustration; Coleson was serious when he needed to be, but he was playful at heart. 'I guess if I want to punch him in the face for using me for gambling I gotta beat UA first.' Yeah, that was a good first step! Ben walked back into the dining room, and caught a glimpse of his Grandpa and Dad slipping into the backyard. That put a frown on his face. While they were trying to be sneaky, Ben knew that they were still talking, and probably arguing. He wanted to run out there, and reassure his Dad his Grandpa was not at fault for what had happened the previous summer, but felt that he should leave his Grandpa to fight his own battles. So he turned to his Mom, who was looking at him from her seat.
"Hey Mom, could we work on Japanese History some more? I'm having trouble with how they described the first emergence of quirks."
Many days, weeks, and months passed, with Ben learning, studying, and practicing all things Japanese in order to fulfill his side of the deal. The Omnitrix, still locked onto his wrist, served as a constant reminder to why he pushed himself as hard as he did. With time's passage, Ben finally felt ready, as the day of his flight dawned.
"...and make sure to call every sunday!"
"I will."
"If you need anything-anything at all, make sure to call at a different time. I'll always pick up for you, you know that right Ben?"
"I know you will, Mom. Could you let go now?"
"...no."
"I figured." Sighed Ben, but he snuggled a little bit deeper into the arms of his Mom, hugging her as if he could prevent the reservoir of tears from bursting out.
Ben, now 11 years old, could not help but notice once more the strange confrontation between his Grandpa and Dad. His Dad was in the doorway, arms crossed. His Grandpa just in front of him, wearing his iconic red Hawaiian floral button-down, gazing right back. Ben knew his Grandpa and Dad had yet to work out their differences fully. Their mannerisms towards each other had not improved much over the months, but at least they could tolerate each other's presence in the same room. So imagine Ben's shock, when they suddenly embraced one another, locking their arms tightly, with Ben's Dad frantically whispering into his father's ear, with Grandpa Max rubbing his hand soothingly in circles on his son's back, nodding knowingly. When they finally broke apart, they noticed both Ben and Sandra with shocked looks on their faces, openly staring at them. With a laugh, they both approached, Grandpa Max taking his Mom aside to talk to her, and his Dad resting a hand on his shoulder.
"I won't tell you anything your Mom has not already Ben. Just make sure to listen to your Grandpa, alright?" That's it?
"Is everything alright between you and Grandpa? I thought you were still mad at him, and you went on those dark nights with him and all that you know?" All of Ben's fears regarding the two most important male figures in his life blabbered out, with his mind unable to stop the words from tumbling out.
"Ben, I just had to work things out. This is just not what I was expecting when I became a parent. I thought I would see you graduate from the local middle school before sending you off to high school, but here you are, leaving for an international institution world-renowned, and you never set foot on a middle school campus." Ben saw his Dad's eyes glow with confidence as he brought the other hand onto his free shoulder, and crouched down to meet him eye to eye. "I do not know everything about that dang watch on your wrist Ben; even Coleson told me that was classified. But I know that it gives you the opportunity to be a hero. Something I always knew you could be. So go out there, and show Japan, the United States, and the whole dang world what the Tennyson family is all about!" Wow, his Dad could give one heck of a motivational speech. Now he carried not just the weight of a life-long prison sentence on his mind, but now he had to bring pride to the Tennyson name. No pressure!
"I got this Dad! Keep your eyes on the news, 'cause Ben 10 is going to be the best hero ever!" While he meant that to be serious, his response only brought his Dad's right eyebrow up.
"Ben 10?"
"That's my hero name. Remember when me and Mom designed my hero costume? I also thought of names that night. I'm Ben and I have 10 forms!"
"I thought you had 11. And did you not say that the watch could hold up to millions of forms? Why limit yourself to 10? And why use your name for your hero alias? It's kinda weak dude." Leave it to dads to ruin their son's fun.
Ben huffed as he turned away from his laughing dad and marched over to the car that held his traveling duffle bag full of his belongings. He did not want to take everything, this was only temporary after all. As he slid into the shotgun seat as his Grandpa started the car, he looked once more at his parents: his mother finally letting her tears fall and his Dad holding her, but kept his gaze locked onto Ben. He gave his son one final nod, and Ben returned it with a large grin and a thumbs up. As Grandpa pulled the car out the driveway, Ben turned around in his seat to wave goodbye to his parents, and they did so back smiling as best they could. As his parents, home, and town faded from view, only then did Ben let out a sniffle. He knew Grandpa had heard, but he stayed quiet, focusing on the road. The reality of the situation crashed down upon Ben like a stone, and he felt his composure starting to break. He was doing this for real, and the year his Mom bought him was up. Doubt began to spread within his chest: was he really ready, would he be accepted by his peers despite being so young, could he keep the secret of the aliens? Just as he was about to cry in despair, Grandpa Max suddenly spoke up.
"Tennyson, are you alright? Do you need anything?" Japanese Grandpa, really? Ben had endured a year of long, harsh lectures by his Grandpa, and was now confidently ready for conversation.
"Of course I am! I was born ready!" Maybe a trying conversation with his Grandpa could keep his mind off things. This tirade of japanese conversation continued, with Grandpa Max pleasantly surprised at the confidence Ben showed in his spoken japanese. While Ben struggled with writing and grammar and times, his speaking was quite good. He would improve in those areas anyway, as UA's academic expectations would force Ben to learn and adapt. Upon leaving the car at the rental company he had used to rent the car for the short trip, Ben and his Grandpa proceeded to navigate through the notoriously slow and inefficient transportation hub that were American airports. After long lines, continuous baggage and luggage checks, and multiple incidences of the Omnitrix setting off metal alarms, the two finally made it to the waiting bays. After a pleasantly short wait compared to the amount of time it took to slog through airport security, Ben had yet another good surprise as he analyzed the ticket his Grandpa handed him.
"First class? First the school stuff, then a car just for an hour drive, then this? What's with all the good stuff?" In the few times Ben had traveled in an airplane with his parents previously, he remembered them complaining about ticket prices for even basic airplane fare. He knew that the government was supposed to provide monetary compensation per their side of the deal, but did they have to get first class? On such a long trip it was bound to be expensive. Grandpa Max explained.
"Well Ben, we've been given single flight tickets, not roundabout ones. That makes it significantly cheaper. Also, the less eyes on us, the better. You already got some looks because of the metal detectors, but me and Coleson expected that. We wrangled in first class for privacy reasons."
"I can't take the Omnitrix off, you know that right? You would think with quirks being everywhere as they are it would make metal detectors irrelevant, I mean no one needs a weapon to be a threat anymore!" Grandpa Max made no comment, and just chuckled at his Grandson's reasoning.
"Just get on board Ben, we gotta talk a bit on the way there anyhow."
The airplane was smaller than most commercial planes, but its seats did not force its customers to squish together like sardines. Ben and Max got comfortable in their leather seats as their captain ran through the basic procedures, interjected by an occasional squawk. Their pilot must have some sort of avian mutation due to their quirk. As the plane took off, Ben quickly began to feel the boredom of flying take over. Usually when he flew, it was with his Stinkfly transformation, and that flying was far more fun because he was the one actually flying, not inside some metal can with wings! As Ben began to fidget, he saw Grandpa Max put a small fanny pack on his lap and opened it. Ben scooched over on his seat to get a closer look, only to be surprised when a small pamphlet was dropped into his lap.
"Ben, I did my best to explain Japan to you, but nothing really can come close to how different Musutafu is from Bellwood. Bellwood is a small town, and you never really had to deal with dense city life before. Japan is known globally for their early acceptance of quirks and a high amount of powerful and popular heroes. Ben, your alien forms will stand out, but not as much as you think. You ran into an obvious mutant-type quirk once or twice in Bellwood, but you are going to see hundreds in just your first day in Japan. DO NOT STARE. But you know that already don't you? Anyway, due to the time zone change from going to the States to Japan, when we land it will be about 3 PM give or take. We use that time to find our apartment, establish where UA is, and get you to sleep early. The entrance exam is early the next day, so we need you to be aware and focused!" Ben nodded along at his Grandpa's ramblings as he flipped through the pamphlet. As he opened the last page, another fell out. Taking them side by side, one was the condominium complex he was to stay at for 3 years, which Coleson assured them was paid for in full, and the other of the UA entrance exam day activities, showing students where to go and at what times.
"Grandpa, I haven't used... ummm... my quirk in a while." That was understating it. Ben had not transformed into a single alien in over a year! It was like an itch he could not scratch, and at times it drove him crazy. He could not count the times at night when he'd go under his covers, press the button just below the faceplate of the Omnitrix to pop the top up, and just cycled through his forms. Many times he found his right index finger gently resting on top of the faceplate, just a small press away from going hero. Every time, however, Ben managed to pull away his right hand, and then deactivated the watch with resignation. It was so strange; he could remember so vividly the strength and abilities his alien's offered him, even after a year's hiatus. "Will I be able to pass the practical?"
"You went from worrying all year long about the written portion, and laughed at the thought of having to try in the practical. Now, it's the opposite. How quaint." Ben pouted as Grandpa Max enjoyed a light laugh at his expense. "Ben, you went through each of your 10 alien forms blind once, and found yourself effortlessly able to bring the absolute best out of each and every single one of them. Trust your instincts. If they can get you through Vilgax, you will do fine in a controlled exam."
Hearing his Grandpa's confidence in his fighting capabilities warmed Ben's heart. It reminded him of what his Dad said hours ago, that he was fighting for the Tennyson name. While Maxwell was a name not many should know, the fact that he had been a galactic hero during his Plumber days gave Ben quite the bar to reach. Grandpa Max then told him to try to get some rest, as the flight would be long with not much to do. Ben leaned his head against the cold metal near the window, examining the Earth below him, as he slowly drifted to sleep.
Ben woke up about an hour away from his destination, and immediately felt something was... off. Grandpa Max explained that due to them changing time zones, they had actually set their clocks back several hours, messing with Ben's biological clock and instincts generated from living in Bellwood. The two Tennysons spent the next hour analyzing the map of Musutafu, trying to figure out the best way to get to their new apartment home. When the plane finally landed, and Ben nearly burst out into the Japanese airport, desperate to finally escape the flying metal can or boredom, he was shocked by two very wild changes. The first, of course, was that there was so much Japanese writing where there once was english! Ben immediately felt stupid for feeling so awsruck by such an obvious change. Of course there would be Japanese characters instead of the English alphabet, they were in Japan! For someone that had not before experienced a country that spoke a different main language, this was a culture shock for Ben, and it would not be the only one.
The other things were quirks; lots of them! Some people were using light manipulation quirks on the runways, others were using noise altering quirks to communicate over telecoms, and so much more! There were never this many instances of quirks being used in public back home in Bellwood. Japan had lighter quirk regulation laws, allowing them for work or specific situations, but in turn had harsher punishments for breaking the law. And the heroes. One look sweeping across the station showed Ben just how much Japan commercialized their hero industry. Advertisements, magazines, on the TV's, some uniformed hero with a fancy name like Gunhead or Gang Orca was displayed. American heroes were far more job-oriented than the Japanese ones it seemed. To Ben, being a hero was a job, a profession like a lawyer, doctor or engineer. In Japan, being a hero was a way of life; from public interviews to endorsement deals, being a hero was a big deal.
"Stick close Ben, we have to get a taxi. I don't want us carrying our luggage for two and half kilometers (1.5 miles about) in a city we don't know." Ah right, he needed to use meters instead of miles now. Goodbye imperial system, hello metric system!
As the two made it outside the airport and into the city, Ben could not help but stand in place, looking around with his mouth agape in amazement. For an American boy raised in a nice, quiet suburb, the contrast with the hustle and bustle of the Japanese city was incredible. Musutafu may not be the capital of Japan, that was still Tokyo, but it certainly was the capital of heroics, and was impressive on all fronts. Tall glittering skyscrapers, busy streets full of cars, sidewalks full of people and street vendors, and just across the street, Ben could see what he knew as a hero agency! It was small, the sign of a small-time independent hero probably still looking for their big break, but the forestry-aesthetic made it stand out from the concrete jungle surrounding it. Etched into the large sideways trunk that hung over the entrance, Ben could faintly make out the characters of the hero Kamui Woods. From the small crowd that hung around the front, it was clear that this hero may not be so small after all, maybe he just wanted a small agency?
"Taxi! Ben, get over here! Yes, we need to go to the Hiyoshi Condominium Complex! Great, we'll come right in." Ben hopped off the sidewalk, hurried to the door facing the street and managed to crack it open just enough for his slim body to squeeze in without putting the door in a speeding car's way. Ben found it ironic that despite having drastically less space to work with, more traffic to work around, and many more stop lights, city drivers were ruthless with a capital R. Ben had a habit of shutting his eyes whenever his parents would go into 'road rage' and it came into effect here, with the strenuous, bouncing car ride full of japanese expletives that Grandpa made him swear to never repeat, passing without Ben taking a single look out the window. He was going to live here for 3 whole years, so there was not much lost, he would just explore what he missed later.
The apartment Ben was expecting was no shabby american drama home, rather, when he opened his eyes, he was greeted by soft whites and blues, with plants sparingly placed to give some contrasting green. The Hiyoshi company owned several of these complexes across Japan, ranging from hotels, to apartments, to others like the one before Ben. The complex before Ben was the only one owned by Hiyoshi in the Musutafu prefecture, but boy did they go all out! Coleson must have pulled a few strings, for this was far nicer than anything Ben was dreaming of! Grandpa Max produced two keys out of thin air, vaguely mentioning how he was 'mailed' them months before. Ben knew this was a lie, but this was covered by the United States Government, so there was no harm in the real reason. It probably just involved some sort of Plumber technology. So, the grandfather and grandson made their way to the second floor, walked down some halls, and finally opened up their condo, which would serve as home for 3 long years.
Upon opening the door, Ben noticed how their condo was both large and compact at the same time. The large single room that the door led them to functioned as a kitchen, dining, and living room all in one. The kitchen was right next to the door, spanning the entirety of the wall parallel to the hallway the two had just walked down. A small island with a sink and plenty of space gave the kitchen elbow room, great for Grandpa's bigger figure and love of cooking. On the side of the island opposite to the kitchen were nestled bar stools, for eating on the island should the need arise. Near the island was a square dining table with four chairs, but knowing Max and Ben, they would be eating on the island unless company was over. A fair bit further from the dining table were 2 plush armchairs flanking a longer couch that were all facing a TV set upon a small wooden stand. At the end of that area was a large sliding door, which was actually glass in a solid plastic frame. With the blinds reaching the ceiling to the floor, they could control the amount of natural light that entered the main room. A small balcony, dirty from the city, gave access to the wonderful sounds of screeching tires, honking horns, and general hubbub from the people below. Three doors, two on the right of Ben, near the front door, and the other on the last wall, opposite from each other. The door closest to the door was a simple bathroom, with a sink, towel, and toilet. The other two were the bedrooms, each with their own bed, desk, drawers, and even a shelf to personally decorate. Each bedroom had its personal bathroom as well, with a sink, mirror, toilet, and shower. Ben claimed the room closest to the door, storming in shouting 'MINE!' and dumped his duffle bag unceremoniously onto the bed.
"Explore the room a bit kiddo, but then come out here we are not done yet. I got one last person to talk to, and you need to be here as well." That was new. Coleson was busy with his own case, his parents were probably going to let them settle in, and Grandpa told him they would meet with his agent/friend at UA after the exam. Who could it be?
After sliding some clothes into the dresser, putting some basic school supplies on his desk, and depositing some toiletries in his bathroom, Ben strolled out of his new room feeling more happy then had thought he would be. This room, this condo, was great! He then saw Grandpa at the dining table, his own suitcase still by his side, but opened. He had taken something out, something covered in black cloth, and put it on the table. Grandpa Max beckoned for Ben to approach, to which he did and took a seat adjacent to him. As he spoke, Ben saw that the object within the layers of black cloth was slowly being revealed.
"Ben, I've made a decision to briefly come out of retirement. I promised that nothing bad would happen to you from the extraterrestrial side during your stay at UA. Your father and I can not stop you from fighting villains at UA, as that is literally a part of their heroic curriculum. We know the danger, and trust in you and your fighting abilities with the Omnitrix to stay safe. However, with you using the watch in public again, we can not guarantee that no other aliens will not try to get the Omnitrix for themselves, like Vilgax. Hence, I need you to look at this." Grandpa Max removed the last piece of black cloth to reveal a small... Omnitrix? It was not a watch, just a large metal disk, but it did have the oh-so familiar geometric green hourglass with two grey triangles almost meeting in the middle. "This is my new Plumber's badge, and serves not only as identification, but also communication. I had a friend of mine work on it, and I need to test it out.
Grabbing the badge, Ben watched as his Grandpa put the disk about a foot away from his mouth, heard him clear his throat, and listened to him recite a simple message about him testing the communication function of his badge. Surprising Ben, the Omnitrix suddenly glowed a brighter green, and then he heard double, as if there were two Grandpas talking at the same time!
"Glad that works. Now, I'll do my best to not use this during school hours, as I don't think your teachers, or senpaiwould appreciate a phone-like interruption. But, you can talk to me back in emergencies, as it's faster than checking your phone. Give it a try!" A quick recital back into his watch showed that it was indeed a two-way connection. While impressed, something began to nag at the back of his mind. How did Grandpa connect a badge to the Omnitrix? Sure, there was Plumber tech, and Grandpa was plenty smart, but the difference in technology level was obvious, even for Ben. As he opened his mouth to ask these new questions, the Omnitrix suddenly activated! The dial turned, and the faceplate popped out. As Ben reeled back in shock, the watch proceeded not to transform him, but rather project a sort of green light, in which an enlarged figure took shape, an old grizzled Galvin, who's whiskers reminded Ben of a particular Omnitrix creator.
"AZMUTH?" Ben cried out as the holographic projection took form. The elderly Galvin suddenly flinched back at his loud cry. Was this live? A recording? So many questions!
"Quiet down you buffoon! I'm old, but I'm not hard of hearing!" Ben began to tremble. He was once more present in the midst of the greatest mind across five galaxies; even amongst a race of geniuses, Azmuth was leagues above everyone else. And he was the one who first told Ben of his heroic heart, and believed in him during his final fight with Vilgax. He even let him keep the Omnitrix after all he did, so how could Ben not shake in the presence of such a being? "Stop shaking the Omnitrix, fool! I'm getting nauseous from all the movement on screen! Calm down! Now!"
As Ben slowly composed himself, he lowered his left arm onto the table, giving him a stable surface to keep the projection level. Grandpa Max suddenly bowed his head.
"A pleasure to see you again, First Thinker. I once more thank you for giving your personal assistance in my time of need." Grandpa Max spoke in such a formal tone, one that Ben had not heard in a very long time.
"Can it Maxwell; or should I call you Magistrate? We both don't like the pompous titles we have been burdened with, so call me Azmuth like everyone should." Yep, that was Azmuth alright. Direct, to the point, with no need for fluff and filler. At least his sharp words were directed at someone other than himself.
Azmuth shifted his gaze to look down at Ben, humming to himself. "Looks like you aged a bit boy. Humans do age so fast, and with such drastic physical changes! You've grown about two inches, your facial structure and body fat composition have shifted, it truly is fascinating how species with short lifespans like you develop." Easy for Azmuth to say, Galvins lived for thousands of years, never really growing or changing aside from wrinkles and skin coloration! To a Galvin, over 90% of the universes' intelligent species are 'short-lifespan savages.'
"I suppose I must be the one to tell you Ben; as you probably have guessed your grandfather reached out for my help some Earth months ago. No longer am I in self-proclaimed exile on Xenon, I have returned to Galvin Prime to continue my work on perfecting the Omnitrix. My people have also crowned me as the 'First Thinker,' pah! If they really wanted to honor me, they would leave me alone. But, back to you, Ben. I've decided to help your grandfather, and by extension you, as a means to further my research in the process. As you can see, I've connected the Plumber badge to the Omnitrix's unique signature, allowing for communication that is unable to be traced or hacked by average human technology." Ben's head was spinning, Azmuth, helping him again? He was already in debt to him for letting keep the Omnitrix, shutting off its Self Destruct Sequence, giving him access to Way Big, his most powerful transformation, and now this? With all these questions bouncing around in his head, Ben blurted out a single question. And what came out of his mouth did not amuse Azmuth.
"The Omnitrix is a phone?" He heard his Grandpa bark a laugh as Azmuth's gaze hardened into a glare at such a stupid question.
"The Omnitrix is much more than just an alien transformation device Ben! It has teleportation capabilities, monitors the users health, protects the user as you saw with the energy feedback explosions with Vilgax and then some! I included everything the user might need!"
"Can it tell time?"
"No, that is a function I deemed unnecessary."
"Ah."
"Now shut up and listen for once Ben Tennyson!" Ben bit his lip and looked down in shame. Him and his big mouth were bound to get him in trouble. A sigh of resignation escaped the legendary Galvin, and he turned to Grandpa Max. "I need to speak to the boy alone Max."
Grandpa Max gave a nod as he rose from his seat. Turning to Ben, he said "I'll walk around and familiarize myself with the local area Ben. I'll also take care of dinner, so be polite with Azmuth, ok?" With a nod and a smile of reassurance, Ben watched as his Grandpa opened the door of their new condo, and slipped out quietly. Now it was just him and Azmuth. Turning his attention back to the Galvin's projection, Azmuth began talking once more.
"I'm sure you're wondering why I'm helping you again Ben, especially after my tirade of not thinking the universe was worth saving. After accusing you, Vilgax and all the others who wanted the Omnitrix, for using it as a weapon, I'm sure I seem hypocritical right now." Ben would actually disagree. Sure, Azmuth's first impression on Ben was that of a pessimistic asshole, but Ben now saw him as a super-serious, hold-nothing-back genius who simply did not filter his words. He was the first to tell him he had a hero's heart, so the Omnitrix creator found himself upon an unshakable pedestal in young Ben's mind. "I am doing this to further my research as I stated before. I wish to perfect the Omnitrix by evaluating the prototype's performance in a variety of situations, and working out its flaws." This got Ben's full attention. The Omnitrix seemed like a flawless, all-powerful device. What could be done to improve upon the only level 20 technology device in the universe? Turns out, a lot.
"I'm sure you've had 'incidents' where the alien transformation was not the one who had originally selected. This is something that may have to do with the primitive AI within the Omnitrix, so further testing will be needed. The amount of time in an alien form is currently capped at 10 of your Earth minutes, which may be insufficient for many situations. Changing alien species while already transformed also exponentially increases the drain of the device's power, another error I must correct. The location of the Omnitrix emblem differs on each species, which can be a problem for new users like yourself. I must standardize the location of the emblem for easier access to Omnitrix functions, perhaps the chest? That seems like a fitting place..." Ben could not help but agree with many of the flaws Azmuth had pointed out. Many a time over his summer vacation, first getting used to the watch, he found that even after confirming the alien silhouette on the Omnitrx's faceplate, it would transform him into something unsuitable for the situation, forcing him to adapt. Ben also avoided transforming when already an alien, as his already short 10 minute span would drastically reduce. He admitted that 10 minutes was a bit constricting. Being without such a crippling weakness would have made fighting Vilgax and Kevin 11 easier, and less life threatening.
"I do not go back on my word Tennyson: I do put my faith in you to use the Omnitrix for purposes of good. This will be an excellent opportunity to see it, and you, in action. I will be monitoring your progress with your grandfather and his associate. Ah, while on that topic, do not worry about covering the Omnitrix's origins as my creation. I've been talking with Max's friend, and we've come up with a proper story to cover you against students, teachers, and whatever gremlin that wants to know." That was certainly a news bomb. Who was this friend of his grandfather, it seemed like he was the only one who had no idea of what he/she/it was!
Ben tried to get the answer out of Azmuth. "So Azmuth sir, this person, who knows Grandpa, can you tell me who it is?" Azmuth shook his head in reply.
"In due time Ben, you will meet him. He is a fascinating fellow, and I have had shockingly large amounts of enjoyment with our conversations. His word game is quite immaculate, and even got me agreeing with him in some cases! He is truly another anomaly for Earth, with an intelligence far beyond what the planet should produce. I dare say he is the smartest being in the solar system. He is no Galvin, but an astute study nonetheless. About the level of a Cerebrocrustacean, which is an impressive feat for someone of his stature and background. No matter, all you need to know for now Ben is that as long as you keep your mouth shut when it should be, no one will be the wiser of the Omnitrix. The combined intellect of your grandfather, myself, and N- I mean Max's accomplice will be able to make a backstory fully believable to any human."
"You carry my greatest invention yet on your wrist Ben Tennyson, and with it, my blessings. Take care not to prove that I was wrong in placing my faith in you." With that, and a flash of green, the Omntrix's bright green glow faded to its usual coloration, and rotated back into place.
Ben slumped back in his chair, mentally drained. His country, his family, and now aliens were all heaping expectations and pressure onto his young shoulders, and the strain was starting to show. Doubt once again began to spread in his chest, constricting his breathing and his mind. He had not even taken the entrance exam, and he was already expected to pass it to meet this friend of Grandpas. He was just 11 years old, he was not ready for this level of maturity! He wanted to just relax for a day, something his year of rigorous study with his Mom had not let him have. Before his thoughts could worsen his mood any more, the front door suddenly opened, and entered Grandpa Max, with multiple bags of produce, containers, and other commodities held within. Setting the containers of take-out rice bowls on the table and then placing produce in the fridge and the others in respective drawers and cabinets, except for one box, Max sat down across from Ben. He did not speak; he merely pushed a bowl in front of Ben and started to break apart the cheap wooden chopstix that came along with it. Ben glanced into the kitchen to see the microwave's clock. 6:30 PM, dinner time.
Ben mindlessly ate, not really processing the taste or texture, lost in thought. He had disappointed Azmuth before with his actions pretending to be a hero, how was he doing anything different now? The only real difference was that he was now doing it within the laws of human quirk society, but Azmuth did not know this, and he would not care. Ben was interrupted by a mug being placed before him, full of what seemed like tea. Ben looked back at his Grandpa with a confused expression. He never drank tea before, why did he offer him it now?
"This tea will help you sleep, Ben. It's the same kind I bought when I was stationed in Japan in my novice Plumber days. I can tell you need to think, and I won't interrupt you this time. But overthinking can be dangerous Ben, and tomorrow is one of the biggest tests you will face." Grandpa Max got up, threw away his finished rice bowl in the trash before walking over to his grandson, patting him gently on the back.
"You're doubting yourself, and you think it's impossible. That you will never get into UA. And that even if you do, it will not change anything. But Ben-" Grandpa Max's voice lowered to a gentle tone, one he only used when Ben was upset. "-this doubt you're feeling, it's not rational. You've faced worse before, and came out on top. You've trained an entire year for the written, and nothing in the practical could even hold a candle to Vilgax. You just need a push- something to prove to yourself that you've got what it takes. Tomorrow, go in there and just do your best. You'll be shocked at how you do, I guarantee you that. And when you get your acceptance letter, when, not if, we'll celebrate. I'll leave you to it, make sure you drink that tea. Goodnight Ben."
As his Grandpa picked up his suitcase and moved into his room to settle in, Ben eyed the tea in the mug before him. A gentle touch told him that it was warm, not hot. Perfect for drinking. Over the course of thirty minutes, Ben just held the mug in his hand and gazed out the sliding door window, watching the sky fade from blue, to orange, to dusk. When the mug was empty, Ben stood, threw away his trash, put the mug in the sink and filled it with water to let it soak, and wordlessly went into his room. The tea certainly was effective, as Ben was brushing his teeth, he felt waves of sleepiness wash over him despite it barely being 8:30, an hour and a half earlier than when he usually sleeps. After washing up and changing into comfy All Might pajamas, Ben slid into bed, still thinking about the many people so important to him, watching him with judging eyes. Ben closed his eyes, turned his head, and fell asleep.
Tomorrow was the UA entrance exam, the first major test Benjamin Tennyson has to overcome to prove his heroism. Ben knew that this was important, and felt the weight of the world on his shoulders because of that realization. If he failed here, it was all over. So before fading into unconsciousness, Ben swore that he would pass the UA entrance exam.
He had to.