Ben 10: Recalibrated

Chapter 2-Broadcasted

The low hum of the television filled the small, cluttered room Ray had holed up in. The static flickered momentarily before the news came back into focus. Sitting on a rickety chair, Ray absentmindedly fiddled with the Ultimatrix belt, still feeling the lingering ache in his body from the Wreckingbolt transformation. He had barely gotten away clean. His eyes drifted toward the screen just as the reporter's voice picked up intensity.

"Breaking news from the lower levels of Undertown. Earlier this evening, a robbery went awry when the perpetrator reported a strange incident claiming his would-be victim transformed into what appeared to be some kind of alien. The alleged shape-shifting individual made a quick escape, leaving the scene in chaos. Authorities are investigating."

Ray tensed, his fingers tightening around the Ultimatrix.

Ray: "Dammit."

The footage cut to an interview with the robber, still looking shaken from his encounter. His face was pale, eyes darting around as if he expected to see Ray jump out of the shadows.

Robber: "I swear, he was just this kid, right? Looked normal enough. Then bam! He turns into some spiked alien thing-like a rolling ball of death! He came right at me, man, and--listen, I've seen some weird stuff in Undertown, but that wasn't normal."

The reporter nodded gravely.

Reporter: "And you're certain it wasn't Ben Tennyson?"

The robber's face twisted in confusion.

Robber: "Ben Tennyson? Nah, nah! It wasn't him! Ben's all over the news, right? This guy wasn't a hero or anything. He just bolted. Didn't look nothing like Tennyson, didn't even have that green jacket or whatever. But he had one of those... uh, those watch things. Like the ones the kids got."

Ray sighed, leaning back in his chair. He'd expected the comparisons. Ben Tennyson's name was everywhere now, a hero of the galaxy, known for his Omnitrix and his alien transformations. It wasn't exactly great news for Ray. The last thing he needed was to be associated with Tennyson or draw any more attention to himself.

The screen now displayed footage of Ben, flashing through his aliens, all clean and polished compared to Ray's ragged belt and painful transformations. Ben looked the part of a hero confident, in control, a champion of justice. Rays Ultimatrix, in contrast, was held together with scraps of alien tech and sheer willpower. It didn't work the way it was supposed to, and it definitely didn't look as sleek.

Ray snorted at the thought.

Ray: "Not even close."

As the news anchor droned on about the incident, Ray's mind was already racing. This wasn't just a random broadcast. The Plumbers were watching, and now they'd be on higher alert. They'd know someone with alien-transforming abilities was in Undertown. They'd want to investigate, maybe even track him down to see if he was connected to Ben Tennyson or something larger.

That meant Ray had less time to lay low.

He stood up, pacing the room. There had to be a way out of this mess before things escalated. He was a thief, not a hero, and definitely not someone looking to go toe-to-toe with the Plumbers or worse, Ben himself.

Grabbing his shirt, Ray glanced back at the TV just as they cut to an old clip of Ben fighting some intergalactic villain. Ray could feel the weight of the Ultimatrix belt around his waist, a reminder of how much it had cost him to get it, how far he'd had to go just to survive in a galaxy full of powerful beings.

Ray: "Better move before things get too hot, The last thing I need is to be mistaken for someone with a hero complex."

He slipped out into the streets, blending into the crowd of Undertown once more, his mind already turning to his next move. He would have to be smarter now, more careful. The Plumbers would be on him, and with the robber's testimony spreading, it wouldn't be long before more eyes turned in his direction.

As he moved through the neon-lit streets, Ray couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy toward Ben. Sure, they both had alien tech strapped to their bodies, but Tennyson didn't have to deal with the painful transformations or the fact that every time Ray used his belt, it felt like his body was tearing itself apart.

No, Ben had it easy.

But Ray? He'd have to stay sharp, stay hidden, and keep one step ahead of the galaxy's heroes and its lawmen. And if he played his cards right, maybe, just maybe, no one would ever know his name.

At least, not for the wrong reasons.

The scene shifted to a cozy living room, where three familiar figures sat on a large couch, the glow of the television casting faint shadows across their faces. Ben Tennyson leaned back, hands behind his head, watching the news broadcast with a bemused smile tugging at his lips.

Ben: "Another alien shapeshifter in Undertown? And they think it's me? That guy doesn't even look like me."

Gwen Tennyson, sitting beside him, crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow.

Gwen: "It's not the first time someone's tried to copy you. You have to admit, this is different. He's using an Ultimatrix. That's not something you just come across."

Kevin Levin, lounging on the other end of the couch, smirked as he tossed a handful of popcorn into his mouth.

Kevin: "Yeah, but it's a knockoff, Gwen. A cheap imitation. Bet the guy's barely holding it together. I don't know whether to be insulted or impressed."

Ben frowned a little, sitting up straighter.

Ben: "If it's a knockoff, then how did he get his hands on it? Azmuth wouldn't just let someone walk off with blueprints. This is bad news. Whoever this guy is, he's dangerous."

Gwen nodded in agreement.

Gwen: "If he really stole from Azmuth, he's a lot more than just some random thief. We can't ignore this."

Kevin shrugged, leaning back casually.

Kevin: "Dangerous or not, we've got bigger problems to deal with. The galaxy's crawling with creeps trying to get their hands on Omnitrix tech. If this guy's stupid enough to use a busted version, he'll burn himself out soon enough."

Ben's brow furrowed, his green eyes locked on the screen as they replayed the robber's interview, describing Ray's transformation into Wreckingbolt. It was rough, ugly even, and nothing like the clean, smooth transformations Ben was used to with his own Ultimatrix.

Ben: "Still, he's out there. And if he's using an Ultimatrix, even a broken one, he's going to get attention. from the wrong people. We need to figure out who he is before the Plumbers decide to hunt him down like a criminal."

Gwen leaned forward, her voice thoughtful.

Gwen: "Agreed. If we find him, we might be able to help. Or at least stop him before he hurts himself or anyone else. If those transformations are really as painful as they look, he's going to be desperate."

Kevin, still chewing on his popcorn, chuckled.

Kevin: "Or dangerous. Desperate people do dumb things."

Ben sighed, rubbing his temples.

Ben: "I don't know, but something about this doesn't feel right. The guy's using alien transformations to run, not fight. And if he's stealing from Azmuth, there's got to be more to the story."

Gwen stood up, glancing between the two boys.

Gwen: "Let's find out who this guy is. If he's in Undertown, it won't be long before he slips up. We need to be there when that happens, before anyone else gets involved."

Kevin: "Fine, I'm in. Just don't expect me to feel bad if this guy tries something dumb."

Ben smirked, standing up and adjusting his own Omnitrix.

Ben: "Alright. Let's go see what our knockoff friend is up to."

With a nod, the trio headed out, determination in their steps. The news continued to play in the background, but the hunt had already begun. Ray Carver wouldn't be able to hide in Undertown for long, not with Ben, Gwen, and Kevin on his trail.