Hidden inheritance

Chapter 4: Incomplete Truth

"B-Ben, listen! It doesn't have to be this way, we could all work together!" he pleaded in fear, making Diamondhead scoff.

"No way. This is one hero who's not for sale, especially not to a monster like you!" declared Diamondhead, picking up the device and pointing it towards Phil.

"Look! I know a lot of things about being a Plumber! I could show you! If you don't take my advice, you'll take forever to get rid of alien scum like Incurseans or... or Vilgax!" said Phil, not realizing he struck a nerve.

"You don't know a thing about me, do you?" asked Diamondhead, feeling his anger rising. "I don't need any help from people like you, you're the real scum on this planet! And if you were smarter, you'd realize where I'm coming from, and that I've already dealt with people worse than Vilgax ever was. Like you, for instance."

Phil tried to move back, and another crystal shredding his outfit, almost reaching his arm, prevented him from doing so. Gwen covered her mouth, taken aback at how far Ben went to stop the man. Almost too far.

"You're just a coward, attention-seeking, greedy jerk who risks innocent lives for his own benefit, I don't want to be someone like that."

"Then what are you going to become?! C-Come on, kiddo!" he said, a fearful smile on his face. "The Omnitrix is all you need to be as great as Max, you don't need him to tell you what-"

"Grandpa Max is a thousand times better than you!" shouted Gwen, getting their attention. "He showed Ben how to be a proper hero ever since summer began, and even if he lied to us, he did it to protect us!"

Both Ben and Phil stared at her sudden outburst.

"Ben, look. I... I know you're mad about what happened today, you don't like being lied to and, I don't like it any more than you do. But, I know that Grandpa Max was dead worried when you were kidnapped. He was hyperventilating when we landed back after escaping Vilgax's ship. He still didn't tell me anything but..." she paused, "Grandpa Max really cares. I really hate that he lied to me too, and probably to our parents too, but I know that he never meant to hurt us when he kept his Plumber job a secret."

"H-He didn't tell you about his past? Why not?" said Phil, attempting to make a distraction.

"If he did, Ben would've wanted to get into this alien stuff way before he got the watch, he could've gotten himself in danger and I can't bear to imagine how bad he'd feel about losing him. You, on the other hand, are just a selfish jerk only in it for the money, nothing to do with him or what Plumbers are supposed to be!" she said, glaring at the man for scamming them.

"See, Ben? Max never told you the truth, it probably means he never thought you should follow his footsteps, he probably thought you were too weak. Don't you want to prove him wrong?" Phil argued, making Diamondhead wince in hesitation.

"Ben! Don't listen to what he's saying!"

"Come on, Ben!"

"Ben!"

"Ben!"

"BOTH OF YOU, SHUT UP!" shouted Diamondhead, clasping his head, the projector still in hand.

"Be careful with that thing, kid. Just give it to me, and I'll leave." said Phil.

"Like I'd believe that." said the alien, aiming at him again with a confident smirk. "Sorry, but I've already made my choice, and I'll be doing my own business without you. Let's see how you like being in there." he threatened, proud as Phil looked intimidated. "Too bad I won't be joining you, I wish I could see how the people you've captured and used for your own gain feel about you being trapped with them."