The old RV, affectionately known as the "Rust Bucket," rumbled along the winding forest road as dusk painted the sky with shades of orange and purple. The atmosphere inside the weathered RV was anything but peaceful.
"Ben, I'm telling you for the last time, stop throwing paper balls at me!" Gwen Tennyson's green eyes flashed with irritation as she swatted away another projectile aimed at her red hair.
"What are you going to do about it, stupid?" Ten-year-old Ben Tennyson grinned mischievously, already preparing another round of ammunition from his notebook. "Tell Grandpa Max about me?"
"That's right!" Gwen lunged forward, but Ben dodged with practiced ease, their ongoing sibling rivalry playing out in the confined space of the RV.
Behind the wheel, Max Tennyson chuckled softly, his weathered hands steady on the wheel despite his grandchildren's antics. His Hawaiian shirt and casual demeanor masked years of experience that Ben and Gwen were still unaware of.
But there was a fourth passenger who seemed strangely detached from the chaos around him. Asher Tennyson sat by the window, his dark eyes fixed on the passing forest. Unlike his cousins, there was something distinctly mature about his demeanor that seemed out of place for a ten-year-old boy. His Asian features and thoughtful expression set him apart from the typical American children around him.
This is really happening, Asher thought, his mind racing. I'm actually living in the Ben 10 universe.
The memories of his former life felt like a distant dream, memories of watching cartoon adventures on a screen, never imagining that one day he'd be a part of them. After his parents died, he'd been raised by distant relatives and government assistance until Max took him in. At first, Asher had dismissed the coincidences: the name Tennyson, the upcoming summer trip, the familiar faces. But when he'd met Ben and Gwen, reality had hit him like a meteor.
He was in a world of aliens, advanced technology, and dangers that made his previous life seem mundane by comparison. And if his memories were correct, tonight would change everything.
A mechanical chime suddenly echoed in his head, causing Asher to sit up.
"System initialization complete. Host confirmed. Commencing login protocol activation..."
Asher's heart nearly stopped. The words were clear as day, but no one else seemed to hear them. He had read enough novels in his previous life to recognize what was happening.
"Congratulations! You have successfully connected to the Universal Sign-In System!"
The voice continued with the efficiency of advanced AI. "This system can detect nearby objects and individuals of significance. Upon successful login, rewards are distributed based on rarity: Legendary Gold, Epic Purple, Rare Blue, Uncommon Green, and Common White."
As if to demonstrate, Asher's vision suddenly overlapped with a golden aura surrounding Ben, who was still engaged in his paper war with Gwen. The light pulsed rhythmically, almost hypnotically.
"Login target detected: Benjamin Kirby Tennyson. Approach and make physical contact to complete the enrollment process."
Asher's pulse quickened. A golden aura meant legendary level, the highest possible reward. And if his understanding of the timeline was correct, he knew exactly what that reward would be.
Asher stood up with practiced nonchalance and made his way over to where Ben was preparing his next paper projectile. "Hey Ben, you've got something on your shoulder," he said with a friendly smile, reaching out to lightly pat Ben's shoulder.
"Huh? Where?" Ben looked down, confused, as Asher's hand made contact.
The moment their skin touched, the mechanical voice sounded again.
"Login successful! Legendary reward received: Complete Omnitrix coordinates and 100% compatibility binding to host Asher Tennyson!"
Asher's breath caught in his throat. The Omnitrix, the most powerful device in the universe, was essentially guaranteed to him. Not only would he know exactly where to find it, but unlike in the original timeline, there would be no question of compatibility.
"Coordinate display activated."
Suddenly, Asher's vision filled with a three-dimensional map of the surrounding area. He could see their current location, the campsite they were heading to, and most importantly, a pulsating red dot that indicated where a certain alien capsule would crash in a few hours.
"Thanks, man," Ben said, brushing his shoulder, even though there was nothing there. "False alarm, I guess."
"No problem," Asher replied, settling back into his seat with newfound purpose. He forced himself to appear calm as his mind raced with possibilities. In the original timeline, Ben had stumbled upon the Omnitrix during a walk in the woods. But now Asher would be ready and waiting.
"All right, kids," Max called from the driver's seat as the RV began to slow down. "We're almost at the campsite. I hope you're ready for a summer of adventure!"
If you only knew, Grandpa Max, Asher thought as he watched the familiar landscape pass by outside his window. The campsite came into view, a peaceful clearing surrounded by dense forest, perfect for a family camping trip. Perfect for changing the course of destiny.
As they pulled into the compound and Max began to set up camp, Asher helped with the preparations while keeping an eye on the sky. According to the coordinates on his system, he didn't have long to wait.
"I'm going for a run," Asher announced once the camp was set up, stretching casually. "All that sitting in the RV has made me restless."
"Don't go too far!" Max called, busy with the campfire. "And watch out for wild animals!"
"Will do, Grandpa!" Asher waved, already jogging toward the tree line. His heart pounded with anticipation as he disappeared into the darkening forest.
Behind him, Ben and Gwen continued their bickering around the campfire, unaware that their cousin had just set in motion events that would reshape their entire universe.
In the forest, Asher moved purposefully, following the system's guidance. The coordinates led him deeper into the forest, away from the campsite and toward destiny itself. Through the canopy above him, he could see the first stars beginning to appear in the darkening sky.
Then he saw it, a brilliant streak of light cutting through the atmosphere, growing larger and brighter with each passing second. The alien capsule containing the Omnitrix was right on schedule.
Asher positioned himself near the projected impact site and waited. The meteorite's fiery trail illuminated the entire forest as it screamed overhead, finally crashing into a clearing about fifty meters ahead with a thunderous impact that shook the ground beneath his feet.
As the dust settled and the flames died down, Asher approached the crater. There, nestled in the center of the impact site, lay a sleek, dark pod that had split open to reveal its precious cargo.
The Omnitrix glowed with an alien green light, just as he remembered from the cartoon. But this time, there would be no accidental discovery, no childhood fumbling. This time, Asher knew exactly what he was asking for.
As he reached for the device, a thought echoed through his mind: Summer vacation is about to get very interesting.
The Omnitrix pulsed once as if sensing his approach, its green light reflected in Asher's determined eyes. Everything was about to change, and for the first time since coming to this world, Asher felt truly ready for what lay ahead.