A Certain Scientific Omnitrix, Book 7: Saints of Destruction

Ben's Hope

Ben's injuries ran so deep, it was unfathomable. He couldn't move his arms, his legs, just turning his head hurt.  When he first awoke, he knew he was alive because of all the pain he felt. But his pain ran deeper then even this.

He failed. He failed to protect Mikoto. what use was he now? A crippled human who didn't have a ghost a chance against Acqua.

Ben had never felt his hope go so dim. Ben stared at the ceiling from the bed in which he was lying. What was he to do now?

"Awake are we?" said Tsubaki, putting a towel on Ben's head. "You're lucky. If you weren't Eatle when you took most of your damage, you'd probably be dead. Eatle's armor has two layers, the second layer is mainly meant to regulate his stomach temperature when he converts his food into energy, but it also serves as a double protection against serious blows.. if Acqua had any knowledge on Alien Anatomy, he would've killed you in 12 seconds. "

"Mikoto?" Ben groaned.

"3 broken limbs, but she'll be okay." said Tsubaki. "Believe it or not, the Omnitrix's healing nanobots rub off onto people you spend a lot of close time with.. responds to your emotions.. she'll have your healing speed no problem. "

"Thanks." said Ben. "Though.. when I leave, can you not tell her that I've gone?"

"Leave? You're not going anywhere unless I turn you into Gravattack and you float out." said Tsubaki. "Those injuries won't heal fully for at least 3 days.. and it'll be at least a few hours before you even gain mobility. And where would you want to go anyways?"

"I have to finish this with Acqua, with either me dead or him defeated." said Ben. "It's him or me.."

"Ben.. don't." said Tsubaki. "What about Misaka?"

"I don't deserve her Tsubaki. I bring nothing but trouble to the girls that get involved with me. Kai, Elena, Lilith.  Every girl that has fallen for me has gotten the bad end of the stick one way or another." Ben said. "It has to end.. all of it has to end. Before Mikoto gets caught up in it too."

"And yet, if it weren't for you, Mikoto would be dead, and Impulser would be rampaging over this world as a Level 6." said Tsubaki. "Stop looking at the terrible and start looking at the good you've done. Mikoto owes her life to you.. but she loves you for much more then just that..  You're a hero.."

"No.. I'm not." said Ben. "Tsubaki.. I killed Kakine.. I lost control... and I killed him..."

Tsubaki smiled. "Really? You think people don't already know that? Ben.. it's common knowledge that Kakine was killed by your hand, but nobody's sorry to see him go. And the way everyone sees it.. Kakine was a casualty of war, not a victim of murder. Nobody is perfect.. not even our heroes."

Ben wasn't convinced.. however. He didn't feel better at all.. he needed to clear his head.

Ben groaned in agony as he forced his limbs to move... much to Tsubaki's surprise. there was a flash of green light as Swampfire got up from the table.. parts of his body were shriveled from intense injury. Swampfire closed his eyes, concentrating hard.. as his shriveled parts grew back to their full look.. repairing themselves with regeneration.

"That won't work." said Tsubaki. "Even with that healing, considering how much internal damage you have, Swampfire's regeneration will just be a quick fix.. he may be able to regrow limbs and lost parts.. but blunt damage is a different matter.."

"Then I'll just cut off my broken limbs and grow new ones.." Swampfire groaned.

"You'll regain mobility.. that's for sure.." said Tsubaki. "But Swampfire's internal root skeletal structure has damage to their cell walls and flame reception modules. Ben.. you're still severely injured, even by Methanosian standards.."