Hidden inheritance

Chapter 7: Trust

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").