Hidden inheritance

Chapter 12: Nightly Encounters

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

"Uhhh..."

"Admire these beauties. Aren't they healthy and fierce?" said Vilgax.

Ben looked at what looked like a hole in the ship's floor, still with tubes coming out of the walls' surface. There were tons of weird green squid-like monsters underneath.

"Squids, are these..." Ben turned around, unsure. "Are these my brothers and sisters?"

Vilgax looked at him before lightly laughing. "No, no. These aren't infant Chimerans. These squid creatures roam on Vilgaxia, they can be very affectionate. Put your hand in there and try to get one."

Ben gulped as he obeyed. He put a hand in the hole, and yelped as he felt a slimy tentacle wrap itself around his right wrist. He pulled his hand back and saw the weird red-eyed and red-teethed green creature glare at him.

It made an offensive cry, slightly scaring Ben. Then, he instinctively glared at it, taking a more severe, cruel expression for a moment.

The squid being stared at him, pausing before making a softer, smaller cry. It seemed to affectionately grasp his hand with its tentacles instead of threatening to bite it off. He didn't even realize his expression had momentarily changed.

"See? They already like you."

"Sweet. Nice to meet you, little buddy." said Ben to the squid monster. It answered back with another soft cry. "You know, I'm not sure I'll come on Vilgaxia when summer ends, but I really love these little guys."

Even though his father seemed insistent that he followed him back home, Ben was starting to feel less and less resilient every time he visited.

Had it been about two months ago, he would've categorically refused to go anywhere off-planet. And now, the opposite feeling was building up. Ever since the truth came out, Ben had a thousand questions roaming in his head, and it felt like Vilgax had every answer he needed, everything he needed and wanted to know, and more.

There was a world full of wonders and discoveries out there, and he had the potential to find it all. It was surprising how he went from only thinking there was either good or bad in the universe to the person he was now, all thanks to Vilgax's care. He had never considered that someone could be both. It wasn't all that black and white, he was discovering gray on the surface of this entire story.

Vilgax was certainly someone who did a lot of evil and damage. But he also was a caring and protective father, and he had been making up for the years they spent apart whenever Ben came to see him. He even let Ben get Ghostfreak back, albeit with some modifications, and took samples from the Omnitrix just to be sure Ben would never lose the ability to become any of its species.

For someone who wanted to rule the world, it felt like Vilgax wouldn't be such a bad person to take that role. Even if he showed himself to be scary and really violent back when he didn't know who wore the Omnitrix, he knew what was right for Ben, and did everything in his power to make Ben feel at ease with him, make him feel safe. Like family should.

All Vilgax wanted from him, all Ben needed to do... was to accept following him and go back home, together.

Of course, he just couldn't leave yet. It wasn't that simple, he couldn't go away without a warning, he still had a life on Earth. But he also had much more awaiting him, away from here with his father. When summer would end, he had to make a decision.

Stay, or leave.

As he pat the small creatures reaching his hair and climbing on his shoulders, Ben made his choice.

If there was still something strong enough, meaningful enough, to hold him back, he'd stay on Earth and live his life as a human the best he could.

If there was nothing holding him back, if no one would stop him...

Then Ben would follow Vilgax. He'd leave everything behind him, he'd let go of everything that made him part of Earth, and would accept his life on Vilgaxia. He'd accept his role as the future heir. And most of all...

He'd embrace his role as future ruler of the galaxy.

Vilgax noticed Ben wasn't paying too much attention, seemingly lost in the feeling.

"Do you want to bring one with you during your stay with Max Tennyson?"

"And have to do all of the chores in the Rustbucket on my own, with extras, just to prove I'm responsible enough to get a pet? Not a chance." said Ben. "But, can I come and say hi to these little guys down here whenever I visit?"

Vilgax nodded, much to Ben's satisfaction.

If you like this story I suggest going to the original source here
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12886550/1/Hidden-inheritance

And if you want more like this I suggest going to the original author of this story Heato-kun's home page here
https://www.fanfiction.net/u/7748632/Heato-kun