Hidden inheritance

Chapter 6: What if: Gwen 10

If it couldn't get off, then someone must've taken it. But who?

Tetrax couldn't have come back with whoever knew how to take the watch off, otherwise he would've heard a lot of noise. Plus, Tetrax had trusted him with the watch (but would he now, if he knew who Ben's father was?)

If Kevin somehow managed to absorb it off Ben's wrist, he couldn't have been silent about it a minimum, Ben would've been dead or would've woken up to a rubble pile instead of the Rustbucket.

Phil was away in the Null Void, so unless he found another portal, came out of it, followed through without being recognized by bystanders or without bragging that he escaped from a dimension of dangerous monsters, managed to find the Rustbucket, sneaked inside and took it off, it was impossible for him to be responsible for it.

Ben started sweating, feeling he was about to panic. This wasn't going well, where could the watch be now?

Did Vilgax decide to take it off of him after all? But he had entrusted him with it! And while Vilgax had been skilled enough to go back on Earth unnoticed, Ben doubted he could say the same about the Rustbucket.

Sixsix and Kraab could've done it, but they didn't know about it more than Tetrax did, and Vilgax had no reason telling them how to get it off.

Who else knew about the Omnitrix enough to know how to take it off?

Ben started shaking. No, no, he couldn't stop being a hero, not now! Vilgax had been counting on him, he just lost the most powerful weapon in the entire universe. What could Ben do now?!

He had to find who was able to go inside the Rustbucket and take the watch unnoticed. But how could anyone get inside without warning Max or Gwen about it?

Wait...

Gwen didn't know a thing about the Omnitrix more than Ben did, but Max has been hiding a lot of stuff from them this summer. The Rustbucket was his home, he could get inside without arousing suspicion. And even if he said he didn't know anything about it beside rumors, what if...

'What if it's just another of his excuses?'

He already lost plenty of time, better start looking than stay here before the Omnitrix was given to someone else. Or worn by someone else.

Suddenly, there was noise outside.

Ben carefully looked behind the curtains. They were at a gas station, and by the looks of it, there was a robbery going on.

'Great. Best day to lose the Omnitrix ever.'

He took a peek and saw a scared Gwen. Ben knew he had to intervene, but the watch was missing. Omnitrix or not, he needed to be a hero.

He looked at the RV's console. The Rustbucket was a Plumber vehicle, and while Ben didn't know how to drive, he knew that it had stuff a normal vehicle didn't have. He went to the drawers and started searching.

..............................................................................................................................

Gwen had her back against the wall, paralyzed by fear. And annoyance too.

This was the first day of summer, and they got straight into a robbery?! What kind of vacation was this?

It was already bad enough she had to spend the next months with the doofus of the family, she had no say in her summer plans. Her activities schedule was put aside for a road-trip with her grandfather, and she couldn't say no unless she wanted to pass off as immature and whiny, like Ben.

Ben had complained immediately when he saw her, and she was thankful they hadn't been in the same school, otherwise she would've quit (or waited for Ben to quit or be expelled, it'd happen sooner or later anyway).