Every Ben Tennyson throughout space and time has had his fate intertwined with that of the Omnitrix, except for one. After fighting alongside his alternate counterparts to defeat Vilgax, Ben decided he'd fight alongside his grandfather by joining th...
I stirred slowly, like surfacing from a dream I couldn't quite remember. My eyes blinked open, greeted by a sterile white ceiling and the soft hum of machinery. For a moment, everything felt still—too still.
I tried to sit up, but—
Thunk.
"Ow!" I winced, clutching my forehead. Something hard had blocked me. I looked down and saw a red tube connected to a syringe embedded in my arm. My breath quickened. A mask covered my mouth, and I was enclosed in a glass pod.
"What...?" I muttered, heart racing.
I pushed against the lid with all the strength I could muster. It hissed open, releasing a burst of cool air. As I sat up, a sharp pain shot through my back—but something else caught my attention.
Uraraka.
She was curled up in a chair beside me, fast asleep, clutching my black adventuring jacket like it was a lifeline. I glanced down at myself—shirtless, electrodes on my chest and stomach, only my shorts left on.
I pressed a palm to my forehead, trying to piece it all together.
The mission. The Rooters' base. The rescue. The explosion.
Sky Crawler.
I'd pushed myself to the brink to get everyone out. I remembered the cold vacuum of space, the fire behind us, the shockwave that carried us to safety. Then... nothing.
A chill ran down my spine, amplified by the air conditioner's hum.
ACHOO!
"Huh?! What?!"
Uraraka jolted awake, eyes darting wildly. When she saw me, her expression shifted—shock, relief, and something deeper.
Her eyes were bloodshot, cheeks stained with dried tears.
"DEKU!!!"
She dropped the jacket and rushed to my side, wrapping her arms around me in a tight hug.
"U-Uraraka..." I stammered, flustered but grateful. I raised my arms to hug her back—until she punched me in the arm.
"OWWW!!!"
I clutched the spot, wincing. But her fierce gaze stopped me from asking why.
"You big dummy! How could you be so reckless?! You haven't opened your eyes all day! I thought you were—" Her voice cracked. "Your friends kept saying you'd be okay, but I waited and waited..."
Tears streamed down her face again.
My heart sank. I hadn't realized how much pain I'd caused her.
"Please," she whispered, voice trembling. "Don't ever risk your life like that again. Do you hear me?"
I nodded, guilt pressing down on me like gravity.
We'd signed up to be Space Adventurers knowing the risks. But seeing her like this—devastated, confused, hurting—I questioned everything.
I reached out and gently cupped her cheek. She leaned into my hand, eyes closing, her breathing slowing.
"I promise," I said softly. "I'll be more careful. So please... don't cry anymore. It hurts me more than anything to see you like this."
Her eyes widened, then softened. A small smile tugged at her lips.
Just as the moment settled, the door creaked open.
We turned.
A tall figure entered—dinosaur-like in appearance, wearing a doctor's coat.
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