Chapter 133: Ultimate Sixsix: Part Two

Disclaimer: I Don't Own Ben 10 Or Any Of The Characters

Disclaimer: I Don't Own The Rights To Nathan Black Or Any Associated Characters, The Rights Go To annihalator2015

Author's Note:

* Hello and welcome to Chapter One Hundred and Thirty Three.

* I hope you guys enjoy this chapter. One thing, a portion of the beginning of this chapter will be written in third person, opposed to the first person style that I usually write in. Anyway, let's get into it.

Earth-Prime

Monday, January 21st, 2019

Madison High School

Nathan

After the attack, Nathan got up, immediately going and jumping up onto one of the tables before letting out a piercing whistle.

"Alright people, get into the hallway quick like! That psychopath might return, and I'd rather he not have a room of over a hundred people to take hostage, yeah? So let's move, everyone out now, and start taking a headcount of the group you were with when you were sitting down, if there are any injured, I'll get them to the infirmary! Move people, let's go!"

He shouted before getting down and opening the doors to the main hallway for the students to leave before he quickly went around, thankfully not finding anyone dead or badly injured. He left the lunchroom and immediately got a headcount of all the groups, and found that no one was missing, except for Ben.

The thought that Ben was Alien Guy crossed his mind, but he waved it away. That'd be too obvious, more likely Ben had left not long after the bomb went off, because while he was definitely a fighter, he wasn't at his best right now. He had clear trouble just walking at a fast pace, meaning he was recovering from something that kept him from getting any food.

"Alright, at least no one was hurt, because that could've gone horribly wrong if that bastard had decided to toss multiple bombs." He muttered under his breath before sitting down on the floor.

"What was Alien Guy doing here?" one of the students asked amongst the commotion.

"Do you think that one of the students here is Alien Guy?" another student asked.

That same lingering thought came back to Nathan, but just like last time, he banished that thought.

Sometime Later

Ben

After wannabe Sixsix left me on a rooftop, I had to get back to school. And quick. And get back to school quickly, I did. I landed on the roof just as the Omnitrix timed out and I reverted back to human form. As I ran on the rooftop, I pulled my mask up to my nose and pulled out my phone.

Gotta call Gwen. Gotta make sure she's okay!

I unlocked my phone and opened up my contacts. I selected her contact information and dialed her number. I put my phone to my ear as I took off the backpack that I had been wearing. I was pulling out my school clothes as she answered.

"Ben? Are you okay?" she whispered from her end.

"Yeah." I said, nodding even though she couldn't physically see me. "He just gave me a scare. I'm okay."

"Did you find anything out about him?"

"Can we talk about this later? Where are you? Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. After the attack, they moved us all to the library. They're going to call school off early because of all this."

I held my phone with one hand as I put one of my arms through one of my shirt sleeves.

"Are parents coming to get students or are they going to take the busses?"

"Busses."

"Really? Isn't that a bit unsafe?"

"I didn't ask. Ben, you need to get in here."

"Right... And how do I get in there without being noticed?"

"There's a door at one of the back corners of the room. If you can somehow get into that room, maybe by using the ventilation system, then you might be able to slip in unnoticed."

"Huh. That sounds like a lot of work. Can't I just, I don't know, slip in through a window?"

"Ben, the windows are on the second floor. And do you really think that you can slip in through a window without a room full of students noticing you?"

I didn't answer that question.

"I didn't think so."

I sighed.

"Alright, fine. I'll see if I can use the ventilation system to get into that room so you can let me in."

"Okay, I'll see you soon. Good luck."

She hung up after that and I was left on my own again.

Five Minutes Later

I found myself in a small storage closet after coming out of the ventilation system. After getting dressed on the roof, I dropped my backpack into a bush since no one would notice. Of course, I had to avoid security cameras, which I think I was able to do. I quietly opened the door in front of me and luckily, just as Gwen said, there was no one around.

I walked out and shut the door behind me. I walked toward a bookshelf that was obscuring the view of the rest of the library. As I walked around the corner of the shelf, I caught sight of Gwen and she noticed me right away. She gestured for me to walk over to her and I did. Once I reached her, a relieved look came to her face.

"Everything alright?" she whispered.

I nodded.

"Yeah, for the most part." I whispered back.

Before she could say anything else, someone interrupted us.

"Hey, Tennyson."

I turned to my right, to see Nathan standing a few feet away from me. Once I noticed him, he walked a bit closer to us.

"You seemed to bolt from the cafeteria after that bomb exploded." He said.

I looked at him with that look, I was still confused on how he could just throw me like he had done. I had to break the silence and respond.

"I uh, have a weak stomach when it comes to tense situations. I made a mad dash for the restroom and I'm afraid that I lost my lunch."

He breathed sharply through his nose.

"That's unfortunate. Glad to see that you're okay, though."

I nodded, the same look not leaving my face.

"It was you who threw me away from that bomb, right? Thanks for looking out for me."

"Not a problem, Tennyson. Someone's gotta look out for the little man."

I gave only a slight nod this time. I was suspicious of him and he knew it. I could tell from the look in his eyes alone.

"Well, it's been nice talking to you, Tennyson. Take care."

He then walked past, without saying anything else and I turned my head to watch him go. Once he was gone, Gwen gave me a look.

"What was that all about?" she asked.

I looked back at her, no longer interested in watching Nathan walk away.

"It's Nathan. I think there's something off about him, Gwen." I whispered. "When that hand grenade or whatever it was landed on the table, he picked me up and threw me across the room like I was a rag doll!"

She didn't say anything at first.

"Maybe you're right to think that something is off with him. But the thing is, Nathan saved your life. So, at the same time, maybe you should just let it go. Besides, you've lost weight after what happened, so I wouldn't be surprised if he was able to lift and threw you."

I was surprised and disregarded the last thing she said.

"L... Let it go? But he..."

I didn't get the chance to finish what I was saying. She grabbed my hand and started pulling me along.

"Come on, this isn't important. We need to talk about the bigger picture."

She led me to the middle of the library to a table where Albedo and Sunny were sitting. Once Gwen and I sat down, Sunny spoke first.

"So, did you get a good look at it?"

I nodded.

"He. It's a he, I think. And it's another Sixsix, using an altered version of Leon's original suit."

"Another Sixsix?" Albedo whispered to me. "So, a copycat?"

I shook my head.

"Not quite. He's almost his own person. His costume is completely different and inspired, as much as I hate to say it."

"Different?" Gwen whispered. "How so?"

"Well, the armor is a mix of alternating orange and light blue tiles. He wore orange boots, gloves and a cloak with a hood, as well as a satchel. But also, he wore a pale yellow goblin mask, with glowing red eyes, a pointy nose and ears, and a working mouth!"

Albedo scratched his chin.

"So, kind of like The Hobgoblin?" he whispered.

In response, I lightly slammed my hands down on the table, spooking all three of them.

"We're in the wake of a terrorist attack and you're cracking jokes?! What the fuck is wrong with you?!"

"Me? I'm just trying to lighten the mood!"

Gwen put both of her hands up.

"Both of you chill out."

I let out a sigh and Albedo did the same.

"Alright, fine."

"Did you learn anything?" Sunny whispered.

I shook my head.

"No. All I know about him is that he wants me to suffer for what I did to him. Something about a girl. Does that ring a bell with any of you?"

Neither of them said anything. I sighed as I leaned back in my chair.

"Great. Thanks for the input."

Gwen spoke up next.

"Well, now that they've announced that they're closing school for the day, you're coming straight home with us."

I shook my head.

"No, I'm not."

She looked at me with confusion.

"What do you mean you're not? Your mom wouldn't want you out during all of this, especially given what you've just been..."

I put up my hand.

"Save it." I said, cutting her off.

She looked at me with anger.

"How dare..."

"I said, save it! This guy wants to watch me suffer. He wants to destroy my life. I'm not the one who's in danger, it's you three. I need you guys at home, out of danger while I handle him. I have to try to make things right."

This time, it was Albedo who tried protesting.

"Your mother..."

"Mom is the person who's the most at risk here! The same with Verdona!"

No one said a word. I clasped my hands together and rested them on the table.

"Please you guys, I'm begging you! Go home and let me do my job! This is something I have to handle!"

None of them said a word and that worried me.

Sometime Later

Eventually, even though they didn't want to, the three of them agreed to go home as I requested. Gwen kissed me in plain view of the passing students and faculty (not that anyone would really care, I think) before they left.

"Stay safe." She said. "And be careful."

I nodded.

"I will. I love you."

She nodded back.

"I love you, too."

The three of them turned and began to walk away after that, but I felt compelled to call out to them.

"Sunny!" I exclaimed.

She turned back to me with a confused glance, but nevertheless, walked back in my direction. Gwen and Albedo watched her come back to me, but they turned to give us privacy, I suppose. Once she was standing in front of me, I reached out and firmly gripped her forearm. She looked confused, but once she saw the serious gaze in my eyes, the look on her face changed.

"I trust you, Sunny. I want you to know that I trust you with the responsibility of what I'm about to ask of you. Don't let either of them come after me. The three of you need to be there to protect my Mom and Dad if that freak decides to go after them. I need you to be there."

She nodded with a sincere look on her face.

"I will. I promise."

She tried to get me to let go, but I tightened my grip on her.

"And promise me, promise me, that if the worst case scenario happens, you'll get Verdona out of there! Find Grandpa Max, he'll know what to do!"

I think Sunny could see the fear in my eyes, because she looked concerned. But she didn't refuse. She nodded again.

"You got it."

I finally let go and allowed her to walk back to the other two. I let out a sigh as I tried to comprehend my duties.

You're beginning to trust Sunny. You're opening up to her.

I nodded.

"Yep. I never thought I'd find myself saying this, but I'm glad that she's around."

That's when that other voice entered my head.

You should trust Sunny. Listen to everything she tells you, just like how you should have listened to Albedo when you had the chance.

I shook my head and tried my best to banish those negative thoughts.

Oh, boy, I thought. Do I have a huge problem ahead of me.

Kai

Sometime Later

"No, everything's fine." I replied as I talked to one of my friends on the phone. "It was just some crazy psychopath that attacked the school."

"And you're fine? You're okay?"

"Yeah, I'm..."

I stopped in my path as I thought I heard something behind me. When I turned around, there was nothing there. Nothing at all.

Weird, I thought.

"Sorry, I thought I heard something behind me." I said as I continued walking. "Anyway, they let out school early. I'm walking home right..."

I turned to look ahead of me when I stopped speaking and walking. In front of me, hovering on a board of some kind was a humanoid figure, wearing some kind of armor with an orange and light blue color scheme. It wore orange boots, gloves and a hood. Its mask though, was the creepiest feature. It was a pale yellow goblin mask, with glowing red eyes, a pointy nose and ears and a mouth that moved, as I would find out soon.

"Hello, my dear!" it said in a sinister, inhuman voice.

He then rushed toward me on that hoverboard of his and grabbed me, tightly gripping my throat. I dropped my phone as he grabbed me and took off with me in his grip. And that's also when I started screaming.

Ben

Not Too Long After That

Downtown Bellwood

My patrol finally picked up a lead when I heard the screaming of a young woman.

"Well, so much for me catching him before something bad happened!" I exclaimed to myself.

I moved forward on the rooftop that I was on in my Diamondhead form. I jumped over a couple of rooftops until I found him, but once I did, I stopped in my tracks to see him hovering several feet above the streets. And in his grasp, squirming and kicking, was my ex-girlfriend, Kai Green. Oh and this time, he had a sword in a scabbard strapped onto his back, like a katana.

Why is it that so many villains target my ex? Well, to be fair, only one other villain has... Ugh, focus, Ben! This is no time to be contemplating this! I can't allow Kai to be in danger because of me, even after all she did to me. Just hold on, Kai. I'm going to get you out of this!

I cleared my throat and spoke up.

"Alright, Goblin! You leave her out of this! She never did anything to you!"

He gave me a quizzical look.

"Goblin? That's an interesting title for such a... superior combatant."

Superior combatant? This guy is so full of it!

"Goblin, let her go!"

He now gave me a confused look.

"Very poor choice of words."

Then he dropped her, sending her falling toward the streets below. I had to be fast. I fired a barrage of crystals to form a ramp as I dove after her. And miraculously, I caught her. As we slid down the ramp as I continued generating it, she spoke.

"Do you always come to the rescue of damsels in distress?"

I snorted.

"Only for the ones who are dumb enough to get themselves into situations like this."

"Why you asshole!"

I snorted once again.

This, you say this to the guy who just saved you.

"Yeah, cry me a river."

Eventually, we came to a stop on the ground, in an alley. I sat her down behind a dumpster.

"Now stay here." I whispered. "And stay hidden!"

"But..."

"No buts! I'm taking care of this!"

I ran away from her and up a fire escape towards the roof, not giving her the chance to talk back to me. Once I got to the roof, I spoke in an aggravated tone.

"Alright, Goblin! Where are..."

I was immediately cut off by one of those hand grenades landing in front of me.

"...You?"

I used my hands to form a diamond-like shield, even though I couldn't be harmed in this form. Once the grenade exploded, I retracted the shield, to see the new Sixsix standing in front of me, no hoverboard this time.

"This has to end!" I exclaimed.

He shook his head as he slowly approached, emitting a sinister cackle as he did.

"Not yet. We're just getting started!"

I rushed forward to punch him, but he caught me completely off guard as not only he moved faster than me, but he punched me square in the jaw. And it knocked me off my feet!

How could he punch me so hard and not feel any pain from it?!

I tried to get back up as I watched him approach.

"How... How did you punch me that hard? Without..."

"Without feeling any pain from punching diamond?" he cut me off. "Perks that come with a formula that some of my friends came up with."

Formula? As in a serum? Has to be Enoch...

I took a breath as I continued backing away.

"You... Enoch gave you the performance enhancer, didn't he?"

"Ooo, look how smart you are!" he exclaimed.

He then kicked me in the jaw thereafter.

He didn't even seem to be in any pain from hitting rock hard diamond!

I rolled over across the roof and after that, I tried to get up in time, but I wasn't moving quickly enough. He kicked me again and sent me across the roof.

"Come on! Give me a real fight!"

Okay, so I get that this guy is apparently crazy strong, but the next thing he did really surprised me. He grabbed me and picked me up, as if I were as light as a feather!

He's just lifting me? How much does Diamondhead even weigh?!

He threw me across the roof effortlessly. I finally got up before he could get back to me and that's when I heard the oh so dreadful sound of the Omnitrix beginning to time out. I reverted back to my human form and once this happened, the new Sixsix just grinned.

"Ah, now the fun can begin!"

As he approached, I noticed something. The fingers on his orange gloves extended, so now that he had claws on each hand.

"Are you fucking serious?!" I exclaimed as he rushed toward me.

I actually did succeed in getting out of the way... for the most part. At the last second, he did scratch my hand, which cut through the fabric of my glove and the skin, drawing blood from me. I let out a gasp of pain as this happened. I turned and actually tried to fight back, going as far as putting my fists up, but that did little good for me. He swiped at my chest and sent claw marks diagonally across my chest, once again cutting through the fabric and skin.

"Agh!" I exclaimed.

Eliciting pain from me only made him smile with satisfaction. After I recovered, I did manage to land a punch on him, but it didn't seem to do anything. As I tried to throw another punch after that, he caught my fist in his hand and kicked me in the stomach again. And again, this knocked the wind out of me.

He really seems to like that move!

I fell down onto the floor of the rooftop and struggled to keep from being grabbed by him. But of course, I wasn't fast enough. He grabbed me by the back of my head with one hand, as far as I knew. He lifted me up and walked with me over to a brick wall. He then slammed my face into the wall and forced my face down the wall, causing my nose and mouth to grind against the brick wall.

It surprised me when the fabric of my mask tore where my nose and mouth was, to the point where my lower face up to my nose was now exposed. I also noticed that blood was dripping from both my nose and lips.

I elbowed him in the stomach as I got back up, which gave me just enough time to get up and get away from him. I turned around and what I saw next made me fear for my life. As he approached, he pulled his katana from its scabbard.

"It's time to die!" he exclaimed as he held the katana out in front of him so that it's sharp edge faced me.

He then began charging toward me and I thought this was it.

There's no way that I can get out of the way in time! He moves too fast for me to react!

But I wouldn't have to react and attempt moving out of the way. As he charged toward me, the new Sixsix was caught off guard by a rock hitting him in the head, sending him off course.

"Leave him alone!" someone exclaimed.

I turned around to see Kai, standing only a few feet away from us on the top level of the fire escape.

Kai... Had she really thrown a rock to distract him long enough for me to get away?

The new Sixsix quickly recovered from the attack and directed his attention to Kai.

"That's the last mistake you'll ever make, my dear." He said in an angry, sinister tone.

He began to approach Kai, so I had to move fast. I ran toward him as I picked up the rock that Kai had thrown at him. Once I reached him, I hit him in the back of the head with the rock, causing him to stagger a bit. I then put my arms around his neck, getting him into a headlock.

"Leave her alone!" I exclaimed, mimicking what she had said. "She didn't do anything to you!"

She just continued standing there, not moving as she did.

"Run!" I exclaimed, finally prompting her to get out of sight.

As I said that, he moved one of his hands downward and dug his claws into my thigh, causing me to cry out in pain. He used that opportunity to break free.

"Don't worry, I don't need her anymore. I just needed her to be the bait so you would come to me."

He got away from me as I held my thigh, feeling the warm blood flowing from my wound as I did. He began cackling as he looked at me.

"You're looking tired, pal. How long do you really think you can keep this going?"

I got into a really sluggish fighting stance.

The Omnitrix needs to finish recharging soon. I'm dead if it doesn't.

"I can do this all damn day." I said in a weak voice.

He returned his katana to its scabbard as he spoke.

"Really? Because you're flimsy fighting stance and your voice say otherwise."

I didn't let him antagonize me. I rushed forward and managed to land one punch, but that was it. After that, it was over. He punched me once in the gut and then delivered several blows to my jaw and face, each strike drawing more and more blood from me. He then roundhouse kicked me in the jaw, sending me down.

As I slowly got back up, I noticed him drawing his katana again. I tried to approach him, but he didn't give me the time to plot out a cohesive attack. He slashed diagonally across my chest, cutting through some of the fabric of my shirt and leaving a gash in my chest, that immediately started bleeding. There wasn't even time for the pain to register with me. Then, as if to add insult to injury, he kicked me square the chest, sending me backward.

Kai

I hid on the middle of the last flight of stairs on the fire escape out of sight of that freak, when I witnessed my protector fall onto the edge of the rooftop, some of his upper body hanging off of the edge. He briefly turned his head in my direction. I saw the lower half of his face exposed because of the missing portion of his mask. I saw his nose and mouth, with blood trailing from both. I also noticed that his right lens had been shattered, allowing me to see a green eye underneath.

This man was giving his life to protect me from that freak and here I was, having been mean and ungrateful toward him.

"Run..." I could barely hear him speak.

Before I could do anything in response, that thing picked him up.

Ben

As the new Sixsix picked me up, I reached out and touched his mask, leaving a faint bloody mark on his forehead from my bleeding hand.

"Please..." was all I could say.

He disregarded my plea for mercy. He brandished his katana, ready to strike.

"You will no longer be a friendly neighborhood Alien Guy." He said to me in a low and aggressive tone.

He hefted the katana and I braced myself.

Kai

I watched as the freak stabbed my protector in the stomach, part of the blade emerging from his back. Without another word, he pulled the blade out and threw my protector off the roof. I looked over the edge and watched him land in a dumpster, no longer moving. I didn't give that freak the time to get to me. I moved as if my life depended on it. Once I reached the street level in the alley again, I ran up to the dumpster and looked inside. He was still as ever.

He saved my life, I have to try to get him help!

I reached for my pocket, but then remembered that I had dropped my phone once that freak had grabbed me earlier.

I have to go find some help for him!

But I didn't run. Instead, I continued looking at his motionless form. I finally noticed that he was breathing, but it was slow and labored.

Before that, I have to know who my protector is...

With that final thought, I reached toward his partially destroyed mask.

Next Chapter: After a close encounter with death, Ben contemplates how he will combat his new enemy. Ben gets a pep talk from Nathan. Kai confides in Ben.