Ben 10: Recalibrated

Chapter ⁴-Interogation

Ray found himself restrained in an old metal chair, his arms locked in reinforced cuffs that nullified his powers. The room was dim, with only a single hanging light bulb casting long shadows on the cracked concrete walls. His head pounded from the sudden surge of heat that had caused him to lose control back in Undertown. He was dizzy, his body weak, and his mind a whirlwind of chaotic thoughts.

He blinked groggily, trying to focus. Across from him, Ben, Gwen, and Kevin stood in a semi-circle, watching him closely. Ben leaned against the wall, his arms crossed, the Omnitrix glinting faintly in the dim light. Gwen stood with her arms folded, her eyes glowing faintly, a magical barrier shimmering around the room. Kevin, on the other hand, had a cocky grin on his face as he examined Ray like a problem that needed solving.

Ben: "You gave us quite the chase back there. But running doesn't get you far when we're involved."

Ray didn't respond immediately, still shaking off the effects of his capture. His head throbbed, and the cold, sterile room wasn't helping. The silence stretched out awkwardly for a moment before Gwen broke it.

Gwen: "We know you're not just some petty thief. That Ultimatrix you're wearing isn't standard tech. It's dangerous, and we need to know where you got it."

Ray's lips twitched into a faint grin, but he remained silent, his eyes scanning the room, searching for any possible way out. Of course, there was none. He was surrounded and weak, but that didn't mean he'd give them what they wanted.

Kevin leaned in closer, smirking as he cracked his knuckles.

Kevin: "C'mon, you're making this harder than it needs to be. Just tell us what we wanna know. Who are you? Where'd you get that tech? And why the hell are you running around Undertown like a lunatic?"

Ray chuckled darkly, his voice raspy from the exhaustion and pain.

Ray: "I'm no one. Just a guy passing through."

Ben exchanged a glance with Gwen, his expression hardening.

Ben: "You're not 'just' anything. That Ultimatrix is dangerous in the wrong hands, and judging by the way you were using it back there, I'd say your hands qualify."

Ray shrugged, as much as his restraints would allow. His mind was racing, trying to figure out how much they knew, what he could say, and what to keep hidden. He wasn't about to reveal everything. Not yet.

Ray: "Guess I got lucky then."

Gwen stepped closer, her glowing eyes narrowing. The room felt heavier, the magical energy around them amplifying as she spoke.

Without a word, she began chanting under her breath, her hands glowing with an intense, otherworldly energy. Ray's body tensed up, sensing something was about to happen. Before he could react, a sharp, violent pain coursed through his entire body.

Ray gasped, his muscles locking up as if every nerve in his body was being electrified. He tried to bite back a scream, but the agony was overwhelming. It felt like his body was being torn apart from the inside out.

Gwen: "I don't like doing this, but you've left us no choice. Who are you? Where did you get the Ultimatrix?"

Ray writhed in his restraints, the pain intensifying with each passing second. His cocky demeanor vanished, replaced with sheer desperation. He clenched his teeth, trying to fight it off, but his mind was cracking under the pressure.

Ray: "Alright! Alright! I'll talk, just stop!"

Gwen didn't let up immediately, her eyes still glowing as the magic pulsed through him. She waited a moment longer before easing the spell, allowing Ray to breathe, though the aftershocks of pain still lingered in his body.

Ray panted heavily, his skin slick with sweat as he glared at Gwen through half-lidded eyes.

Ray: "You really don't mess around, do you?"

Gwen stood firm, her expression unchanging. She wasn't playing any games, and Ray knew it.

Ray: "Fine. I stole it... from Azmuth."

That got their attention. Ben, who had been waiting outside, quickly stepped back into the room, his face hardening at the mention of the Galvanic genius.

Ben: "Azmuth? You're telling me you stole blueprints for the Ultimatrix from Azmuth?"

Ray nodded, his breath still coming in shallow gasps.

Ray: "Yeah. Galvin Prime... I broke into his lab, stole the blueprints, and built it myself."

Kevin snorted, leaning against the wall with a smirk.

Kevin: "You? Built that thing on your own? Yeah, right."

Ray shot him a defiant look, though the pain was still evident in his eyes.

Ray: "Believe it or not, I'm not as dumb as I look. Took me years, but I did it. I modified it, too. It's not exactly like the original."

Ben's eyes narrowed. He didn't like this. Someone getting their hands on Azmuth's technology was bad enough, but someone capable of building a working Ultimatrix no matter how modified was dangerous.

Ben: "And what were you using it for? You don't strike me as a hero."

Ray grinned, despite the lingering pain.

Ray: "Theft. I used it to help with my... 'business' in Undertown. Easier to break into high-security vaults when you can turn into whatever you need."

Gwen raised an eyebrow, still holding her magic at the ready in case Ray tried anything.

Gwen: "You risked stealing from Azmuth just for a life of petty crime?"

Ray laughed, though it was a harsh, pained sound.

Ray: "Petty? I've made millions off these jobs. With this thing, I'm unstoppable."

Kevin: "Wait, really?"

Gwen: "Kevin.."

Kevin: "Sorry."

Ben shook his head, his frustration growing. This guy didn't seem to realize how dangerous he was playing with the kind of power the Ultimatrix held.

Ben: "You've been lucky so far, but that thing is more dangerous than you know. You're messing with forces you can't control."

Ray's grin faded, his yellow eyes narrowing as he met Ben's gaze.

Ray: "And you think you're the only one who can handle it? I'm not afraid of this thing, Tennyson. I know exactly what I'm doing."

Gwen took a step forward, her voice calm but firm.

Gwen: "You're out of your league. If Azmuth finds out what you've done, you'll have more than just us to worry about."

Ray clenched his fists, still restrained. He knew they were right, but his pride wouldn't let him admit it.

Ray: "Yeah, well, I'm not planning on sticking around long enough for him to find out."

Ben exchanged a glance with Gwen, then looked back at Ray, his expression serious.

Ben: "You're coming with us. We're taking you to the Plumbers. You're not using that thing anymore."

Ray's grin returned, though it was weaker this time.

Ray: "Good luck with that."

As Ben turned to leave, Gwen cast a final look at Ray, her eyes still glowing faintly. She didn't trust him, and something told her that this wasn't the last time they'd be dealing with him.

Ray: "Alright, just like the prison break."

........