Hidden inheritance

Chapter 12: Nightly Encounters

"I'm sorry I made things more complicated, I know what it's like to have everyone see you as a freak."

"You know nothing! Shut up! Shut up!" he shouted, to no one.

"If I could, I'd do everything in my power to fix you up."

He shook his head. He was losing it. He was alone, this was just the aftermath. Tennyson didn't know what it was to be like him, he was driving him crazy, he never said that.

"I'm sorry things have to be this way, I'm sorry."

Kevin shouted as he gave a punch to the wall behind him.

He was alone. He was always alone. No one was there, he was still on his own. He didn't have anyone with him, he wasn't fighting anyone. Just himself.

"What... WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME?!"

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"There's a whole galaxy full of horror movie monsters?! Cool!"

"Anur residents inspired most of Earth's folklore about mythical creatures and stories they tell to scare children." explained Vilgax. "Humans assumed those species were their own people deformed, for lack of a better explanation."

"And now, wackos like Animo are trying to make their own monsters. Pfft, he doesn't even know there's already a bunch of aliens looking like that." 'Man, I really want to see that! Don't think I could without Vilgax getting me to leave Earth for good though...'

Vilgax was surprised Ben was that curious about the Anur alien species, even if forcefully turning into one must've caught his attention well. Usually, that part of the galaxy was much feared and disliked, but Ben seemed fascinated with it. Surely enough, Max Tennyson hadn't studied enough to know about Loboans to talk to Ben about them, or recognize one when he saw one. And it seemed the other Plumber they worked with had no idea either.

He however was suspicious of Ben's behavior when they did talk about that Plumber, Wes Green. Or rather, when Ben mentioned something about his granddaughter. Something in his son's attitude and body language threw him a few years in the past. When he had been asked a certain question about Idraxx, one he had trouble answering.

Ben might've been human, but he undoubtedly replicated the facial expressions and tone Vilgax himself had used in his youth. At least this girl appreciated Ben's non-human side more, though he disliked the way she declared his human form inferior. This wasn't the way he wanted Ben to let go of his humanity.

"Has any other alien species attacked you or threatened to take the Omnitrix?"

"Hm? No, not exactly... Actually, Charmcaster tried to take away the Omnitrix a few days ago. She almost did... but she wasn't the one who got it." Ben scratched his head uncomfortably at the memory. "She tried to swap bodies with me to power her spells with the aliens. She did... with me and Gwen."

Vilgax's eyes widened. "What?!"

"Yeah... First time, she almost got me, but she swapped bodies with Gwen instead. And now, Gwen keeps her spellbook. I think she wants to start using magic, she's the only one without cool gadgets or experience." said Ben. "Second time, though... She got me again, and Gwen got in to get her body back. Charmcaster was back into her body, but Gwen and I weren't."

"So that girl momentarily had access to the Omnitrix's power..." hummed Vilgax. "Did she notice anything she shouldn't have while she used your body?"

"No, she didn't see my birthmark. But she did say my clothes smelled like a dirty fish tank." he answered, rolling his eyes.