As soon as he got far away enough from the campsite and, using Wildmutt's instincts to make sure Gwen and Max weren't following him or tracking him, Ben called out to his bodyguards.

"Guys! You can come out!"

He waited for them patiently. Sixsix and Kraab had been helping him from the shadows ever since Vilgax left them to him, and while it was annoying to know he was chaperoned, he had to admit they were pretty useful.

The last few days had been pretty busy. Kevin came back again (the two didn't do anything that day, which didn't help their case) and he was forced to team up with Ben. Ben himself had trouble believing they were back on the same side for a day, at least before Kevin backstabbed him again (though when Vilgax is your father, it probably wasn't that hard to believe). Ben knew he had to be careful next time they'd meet, now that Kevin knew he could combine the aliens' powers to be stronger.

Then, Ben got an offer to join in the Galactic Enforcers. If he didn't have a space tyran as his dad, maybe Ben could've thought about it before saying no. But he felt bad about not keeping the insignia Ultimos gave him. (Also apparently, that Vulkanus guy who came from the same planet as Technorg worked with Sixsix before, another hint Vilgax didn't really hire innocent people to do his work).

Ben also received a new form, a Florauna he called Wildvine from a planet called Flors Verdance, the same planet from which the Alien Mushrooms that attacked him came from. He had control over plants and could camouflage himself. He also had a slight squabble about his birthday with Gwen, which he won through a bit of manipulation (though he was satisfied of it, he wondered if that date still meant anything. Was he truly born on that day ten years ago?).

Then... last time they met the Forever Knights, Max was back to his serious, secretive, controlling self. Ben seriously felt like going on his own for that mission, but he knew better than to question him that time, especially if he didn't want to out himself. He was grateful Sixsix and Kraab had his back when fighting the temple guardian. He was having more and more trouble holding back his moves during fighting, it was good that they were able to aid him while Max and Gwen were looking for the sword in the temple. Otherwise, he wasn't sure he could've kept his focus during the battle.

Lastly, the family went to Las Vegas, where Hex presented them to his own relative: he had a sorceress niece who called herself Charmcaster, and she was younger than him but just as bad as him. Gwen also was momentarily back to being Lucky Girl, much to everyone's amazement. The stone she used however was useless now, but Ben was sure she could still be a hero (probably because at least, she didn't have unreliable backstabbing family members around, but also because if he didn't need magic to do hero stuff, she wouldn't need it either).

When Ben asked the two Bounty Hunters if there was magic on other planets (just to be sure he wouldn't have to fight an alien version of Hex), Kraab didn't know a thing, but translated Sixsix's gurgles and grunts. There was apparently a planet entirely made of mana, an energy of magic and light, somewhere in space, with beings of pure energy living on there. Gwen would probably like it if she went there, since she was a magic nerd and all. Maybe there was a chance she too went out of Earth, someday.

"Guys, I'm right here, you know? You need to show me the meeting point." He tapped his foot on the ground. "We don't really have time for hide and seek, so if you could just-"

He flinched when he felt Kraab's claw touch him from behind. Almost tripping when turning around, he glared at both adults for the scare.

"My apologies, young master. We were making sure nobody would intervene in your reunion with your father Lord Vilgax." apologized Kraab.

"You don't need to act like ninjas, I already took care of that. I can take care of myself just fine for now, so let's get going."

With a sigh, he followed after the two aliens. He still preferred they called him by his name, but after a few weeks of calling him "master", "young lord", "your highness" and whatever alien word equivalent Sixsix had for him, he stopped caring or trying to convince them otherwise (thank goodness they didn't call him "prince").

He hadn't imagined hunters from outer space to be like this. Well, they definitely matched his expectations when they were trying to saw off his arm, but now that they worked for him, they weren't as bloodthirsty and dangerous to have around (too bad they couldn't help with his chores). They were probably in it more for their money, Ben guessed, but if so, they did it really well. He wondered what they'd do if Tetrax reappeared.

If Tetrax ever came to learn what became of him, who he really was and that Vilgax wants him as his heir, Ben wasn't sure he could elude him without risking to lose the watch. And with the Petrosapien's rocky fight with Sixsix and Kraab, Ben felt there would be a lot of damage. There was also the risk Max and Gwen learned about it...

A few more steps, and Ben was able to see where the gigantic spaceship landed. His father either didn't know how to be more discrete, or he just loved giant spaceships with glowing red lights.

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

Vilgax waited on his throne, tapping his clawed finger impatiently.

Max Tennyson would be wise not to have tried to pick up on his message to Ben's guards. He swore, if he attempted to bring them apart once again...

"Hey. I'm back!"

The alien warlord turned his head. Though Ben couldn't see it, he smiled as he took his son in his arms. It had been a few weeks after last time they saw each other, and though the alien king knew his son was as capable of fending for himself as much as him, Vilgax would not and could not let go easily of what he had as his most precious possession.

"Missed you too. Sorry I was late, I couldn't sneak out before everyone went to sleep, and I couldn't use the watch to go out earlier without anyone noticing me." apologized Ben, welcoming the embrace.

"It does not matter what took you long, all that matters to me is that you're back to me, Ben." said Vilgax.

As they sat down, he observed the change in Ben's behavior, compared to how he acted when talking about the energy absorber who attacked him.

The boy seemed more relaxed than during their last encounter, more content and comfortable with talking to him. Now that he was starting to see Max's true face, he wasn't stuck within the morality that was enforced on him anymore. Ben would start seeing things differently from how this planet made him see soon enough.

"But first, tell me. How are you, son?"

"I'm better than good, I feel great! I even got a new alien!" Ben said, showing his wrist to Vilgax. "The alien icon is Wildvine's. He's a Florauna I got some time after you left."

"Hmm, have you been getting this 'form unlocking streak' before we met?"

"Don't think so. It's like I only got my new aliens after you came." Ben smiled. "I'm glad that you even help me with this, at least you tell me what I need to know about myself and what I have."

He may be somewhat tolerating and accepting that Max was lying to his face and not sharing any information he'd need, but that didn't mean Ben wasn't allowed to feel mad and conflicted about it. His venom when he said that seemed to satisfy and amuse Vilgax.

"I hope it stays that way. How many aliens is there inside the Omnitrix?"

"While I'm not sure of the exact number, there is about over a million DNA samples from all across the galaxy. Each sample corresponds to a species and its variations."

"Wow! A million?! I could like, become a ton of stuff with the watch! There's that many people in the universe?"

"Mostly from this galaxy. Outside of what you call "The Milky Way", there's life beyond, and power to seize." Vilgax clutched his fist ambitiously. Ben guessed the squid being was thinking of past conquests.

"Speaking of that, um..." he scratched his neck at the memory of the last time he was inside a spaceship going through space, "Kevin came back."

"That juvenile delinquent who replicated your powers?"

"Yeah, uh... We kinda both got kidnapped, actually. At the same time."

Vilgax frowned. "So where were the two Bounty Hunters I assigned to protect you?"

"They were about to help, but we got sucked by a teleporter. Then... we got into a fighting ring." Ben could feel anger was rising inside Vilgax, even if there was no sign of it yet. He just knew that the alien warlord wasn't liking where this story was going. "We had to team up to escape. We got rid of the guy responsible for that, but he backstabbed me before we went out."

A sigh from the squid man followed Ben's tale. So Ben really did live the same experience as he did, though in different circumstances... He wouldn't be surprised if someday that Kevin runt became a Plumber for what he did to his son.

"Where was Max during all of this?"

"He was kinda out cold in the Rustbucket with Gwen. Kevin has the strength of all my aliens combined, he knocked them out straight while I was becoming Diamondhead. And now he also knows how to combine my aliens' powers. He didn't have Cannonbolt so I was able to get rid of him, and now he's stuck somewhere in space, with a prisoner I helped escape."

"You did well. If I get my hands on that human abomination, I promise there will be hell to pay. A creature like him should know better than attempting treachery on you."

"Kevin doesn't know better than that, none of the bad guys I fight do." Ben frowned. "They just realize that we're still enemies as soon as they don't need me anymore, and they try to get rid of me, forgetting I'm the one coming up with the save in the first place. I can't trust anybody in that kind of situation."

"You can't always expect loyalty from others. Once a person isn't considered necessary anymore, people, especially those from Earth, only think of throwing it away without a second thought." seethed the warlord. "It's better if you don't keep trust in those who wronged you, I have known that experience and I know once they stab someone in the back, they will be back for more."

'He really didn't have it easy with humans before. I wonder if what Grandpa did wasn't the only thing that made him so spiteful.'

"That aside, did you encounter any other kind of issue?"

"Well, nothing in particular but, uh... Say, do you know a planet made of mana?"

Vilgax raised a brow. Did Ben wish to practice magic and spells? He already had the Omnitrix on him, was he thinking of acquiring other kinds of abilities the watch couldn't provide? Though unless Max let a word slip about how he became a Plumber...

"Well, it is not known to many, but yes. There is a planet far away from this solar system entirely made of mana. Mana is the energy of life and everything that exists, even if some creatures like Ectonurites possess little to no mana. The most powerful source of mana in our realm is Anodyne, a planet where beings of pure energy, called Anodites, develop their powers and magical abilities." Vilgax explained. "They consider themselves pure as they do not possess bodies like ours, and their immortality often gives them a sense of superiority over us."

'So there's magic aliens somewhere in space? Let's hope Hex and his niece aren't part of the next space expedition, or they'd try an invasion. Heh. Humans invading aliens.'

"So I could turn into an Anodite with the watch?"

"No. While they do have something to replace it, Anodites lack DNA. It would be impossible to gather a sample from them."

'Huh, so they don't have DNA? I mean, it would make sense. Or not? How do Diamondhead and Heatblast even have DNA in the first place?'

"Energy beings like them are also too volatile, too hard to manage. Although I do have the technology to neutralize their powers, it is hard to channel mana into something mechanical or that doesn't rely on magic. The Omnitrix could malfunction if you were to use magic directly on it, and the damage ensuing would be unpredictable."

"Good thing magic is Gwen's thing. What is an Anodite like?"

"Well, I didn't get to meet one myself, but Max Tennyson did get enamored with one before. I believe it was how he even joined the Plumbers in the first place."

"WHAT?!"

'Grandpa fell in love with an alien, and he didn't tell us?! I mean, I know I shouldn't ask too personal questions, but come on! He's a Plumber, he told us a lot about his past. Would it hurt to tell us that kind of stuff? It's not like that person would be someone special.'

Vilgax was really amused by the boy's temper. Max didn't tell him that either.

"I have never met her, but it did seem somewhat serious between them, even if there were other persons interested in him." Ben was sinking into his seat. "All I know is that her name is Verdona."

"Who else does he know that he didn't tell us about?" Ben sighed, crossing his hands. 'Wonder where that Verdona person is now. Who was she to Grandpa Max?'

"Where did you hear of mana anyway?"

"There's this evil wizard guy, named Hex. He uses magical junk to make himself more powerful, but I kick his butt every time." 'Okay, it was Gwen most of the time, but I did the kicking while she did the thinking.' "Sixsix and Kraab told me stuff about mana and how it kinda works. Well, Kraab spoke for Sixsix. Why can he speak human, but Sixsix can't?"

"Actually, they do not speak the same language as we do."

"Huh?"

"One of the most essential tools one must equip themselves with if they do not know how other species express themselves, is a universal translator. It allows any alien creature to communicate with one of a different kind without any language barrier between them. However, translators cannot translate some more complex speeches, such as Sixsix's Sotoraggian form of speech. Other species, such as Vulpimancers, do not have a biology allowing them to speak other languages, making communication difficult."

"Yeah, I already kinda know about the last one." Ben's memory of what the two Null Void criminals tried to do to Wildmutt was still fresh in his mind, mostly because of the humiliation he felt when he lost, and Phil won.

"Thankfully, your Omnitrix is naturally equipped with a translator of the sort. If you ever found yourself stranded, as long as that device is on your wrist, you will be able to seek assistance from any nearby creatures if necessary."

"It's cool the watch lets me do lots of things, but... Do you know who made it?"

Vilgax nodded. "While he's mostly known for getting his population towards a revolutionary technological progress, the one who made the Omnitrix is a Galvan named Azmuth."

"A Galvan?"

"They are small frogs with grey skin and usually horizontal pupils. They act like they're above any creature with less intelligence and act petty towards them for any mistake they commit."

'Now I know who Grey Matter is. Do they have anybody looking like Gwen on their planet? I feel she'd get along with them very quickly.'

"Max never told you about the creatures inside the Omnitrix?"

"Nah. Since everything about being a Plumber is part of the past for him, he hasn't said a word about what he knew about aliens. The only thing he doesn't hide from us, is how disgusting his cooking is. Yuck."

Vilgax raised an interested brow. Ben assumed he was going to comment his Grandpa's actions, since that's what their biggest issue was about. He was wrong.

"Does he still prepare those mixtures and meals that could kill after a single bite?" Ben blinked. Vilgax asked... about Max's food?

"Uh, yeah. I know some aliens can't eat Earth food, so maybe he cooked for aliens as a Plumber. But if that's the case, I think he still uses the same recipes when he was still in service, I can't eat a thing of what he makes without feeling sick for hours. Ew!"

Vilgax chuckled at his son's disgust. Ben was used to Earthly meals, he never tasted any dish from any other planet. Of course he would get sick with something completely new, whoever raised him instead of his real father didn't make the effort to show him culture that would be considered "alien" to him now. But then it meant...

"Do you have the adequate medical treatment you need before leaving this planet?"

Ben stared in confusion. Medical treatment? "Like, what kind of treatment?"

"Were you given the right medications and pharmaceutics before eating what that Plumber gave you?"

"Uh, I know it's not all that healthy, but do I need all that stuff to have lunch?" Ben asked, worried about what Vilgax implied.

The warlord sighed. Did Max Tennyson want Ben to fall sick? Did the Plumber want to damage the king's son by feeding him something he couldn't digest, weakening him and causing him discomfort? Because that's what Vilgax understood.

"I should've known. Follow me, Ben."

Ben nodded and went after his father. They walked through the long hallways, back to the place Ben recognized as the medical bay. Vilgax started tapping on his command panel, showing letters and numbers Ben understood nothing of. But seeing how Vilgax looked mad while reading what was on the screens, it wasn't a good sign.

"He didn't." Vilgax slammed his fist on the panel, angrily.

"What? Is it really necessary?"

"Of course it is." Vilgax turned to Ben, patting his head. Ben suddenly felt very, very patronized by the tone change in Vilgax's voice. He was actually treating him like a little child. "Your body hasn't had the vaccines necessary to be immune against many dangerous sicknesses, and he omitted making sure you'd stay healthy."

"I could actually fall sick from eating what Grandpa Max makes?" he asked, knowing it wasn't really that hard to believe.

"Plumbers always get shots against illnesses when they're hired. Since you luckily never enlisted in their Academy or any program they would've had in mind for someone as strong as you, you never had that." Vilgax sighed. "So, if someone who visited the rest of this Galaxy, they should've made sure whatever they prepared was safe for a human being to consume, especially one that never got to learn what's outside this planet. Fortunately, it is an easy fix."

"Huh?" said Ben as Vilgax took his arm. Without a warning, a drone came in and drove a syringe into his skin. "Aaah!" Ben fell flat on the ground. "What are you doinnnnnnn..."

He couldn't speak out the rest of that sentence properly anymore, his entire body went numb.

"Those vaccines you missed are supposed to be given when you're an infant, still a baby, but you grew without them. A lot of pain comes from them the latter they're given to you, so it would be wise if you didn't feel anything before we're done."

Ben gulped at Vilgax's decision of paralyzing him. If that was how he was handling Ben's health being in danger, it'd be wise to never fall sick again in his life. Vilgax carried him to the bed, and his eyes widened when he saw the numerous syringes and pointy items that were unknown to him, some looking like dart guns and war weapons rather than what a doctor would use.

"Now don't worry, it may seem painful, but you won't feel a thing. Well, until the drug you were given wears off. You'll just have to lay there and do nothing."

In spite of his current state, Ben managed to pitch a scream through