Hidden inheritance

Chapter 3: Confrontation

"He won't do anything to Ben as long as we have our say, Gwen. Don't worry, your cousin will be safe after this." he said, giving her a hug for comfort. "Right now, Ben needs us, and we have to stay strong. Vilgax isn't like the other criminals he fought this summer, we have to stay on task for when he comes. He'll probably be armed to the teeth with attack drones as soon as he reaches that door. Stay behind me and make sure you don't get touched by the lasers."

"Okay, Grandpa." she said, inhaling before regaining her composure. She might've argued a lot with Ben this summer and she doesn't have any powers, but that won't stop that she'll try to bring that doofus back in one piece, even if she doesn't have any fancy gadget to do so.

"Ready?" asked Max, aiming the dark hallway.

"Ready." answered Gwen, determination in her eyes.

Out of the shadows, Vilgax's tall silhouette appeared, his red eyes piercing through the darkness.

As he saw both Tennysons on the defensive, he huffed. Carefully, he put down the small person he had been holding under his arm.

"Ben!" exclaimed Max and Gwen, seeing the young hero was okay.

Vilgax recognized the device Max had equipped. His eyes widening, he picked Ben up immediately and tossed him out of the way.

Ben barely had the time to register what was happening. All he saw was that Vilgax threw him away like a dodgeball (much like during their first encounter), that the alien was right in assuming Grandpa Max was the one infiltrating the ship (as much as the idea of the RV being able to fly still sounded ridiculous), that Gwen and Grandpa were safe and sound like Ben hoped they would be. And that Vilgax was just shot in the chest before being sent at the control panel, his body going through the wall.

Time stopped for Ben. He kept staring at where he was a few seconds ago, unable to process what just happened, before realization finally hit.

Vilgax got shot. Grandpa Max shot Vilgax. Grandpa Max shot him in the chest. Vilgax was mortally injured. Vilgax pushed him away from danger and took the hit. Vilgax risked his life for him. Ben saw Vilgax getting blown away. Ben feared seeing Vilgax for the last time.

Ben thought he just saw his father die.

He stood there, frozen by the shock. He felt like he couldn't move, like he couldn't see anymore. He understood nothing that occurred today, he didn't comprehend anything anymore. His whole life was a lie, he wasn't who he thought he was, his family planned to lie to him for the rest of his life, and now his real family was on the verge of dying. And he had no say in the matter despite how everything revolved around him in this whole disaster.

It wasn't fair, it was so not fair!

He could feel tears streaming down his face, he could feel his body trembling, he could feel he was about to lose it, but he didn't care anymore. He started sobbing, unable to take any sort of surprise after this. He didn't feel like the hero he wanted to be now. This whole time, he thought he was strong, but he knew how much this proved how weak, how terrible he was at it. He was the reason his family was being torn apart, and now he couldn't even fix the mistakes he made. What was wrong with him?

Gwen ran to his side as soon as she saw Ben collapse. Concerned, she shook Ben's shoulder, trying to get his attention. He didn't even budge, he just kept a catatonic expression. She called out to him.

"Ben? Ben? Ben, are you okay? Did Vilgax hurt you? Do you have any wound anywhere?" she asked, looking for an injury of any kind.

He didn't respond. Gwen checked if he had any bruises or cuts. He didn't have anything, beside what looked like a small band-aid, but he was heaving as if he had trouble breathing.