At exactly 7:30, a car pulled up at the curb outside his house. The low hum of its engine faded, then the sharp click of car doors opening filled the silence. Ben peered through his bedroom window just in time to see Gwen and Kevin step out of a sleek, green Dodge Challenger—Kevin's pride and joy.
Gwen looked effortlessly poised as ever. Her auburn hair framed her face perfectly while her keen emerald eyes swept the area as if solving five problems at once. She carried herself with an ease that suggested she was always a step ahead.
Kevin sported his usual smug expression, hands deep in the pockets of his black leather jacket. His every gesture exuded a confidence bordering on cocky, casual yet deliberate.
Ben exhaled slowly, rolling his shoulders. He had spent the last ten minutes testing his grip strength, ensuring he wouldn't accidentally rip off another door handle. For now, control was tenuous.
A sharp knock on the door broke his thoughts.
"Yo, Tennyson, you gonna make us wait out here all night?" Kevin's voice rang through the wood, laced with impatience.
Ben couldn't help but smirk at the familiarity of it all. Hastening downstairs, he reached the entrance and opened the door carefully, mindful not to crush the handle this time.
"Let's go," he said, locking the door behind him with deliberate caution.
Kevin shot him a scrutinizing glance, his brow furrowing as if something was amiss. Without a word, he turned and headed back toward the car, gesturing for Ben to follow.
The drive commenced in silence, the steady hum of the Challenger's engine enveloping them. Outside, streetlights blurred into amber streaks as they cruised toward Kevin's place.
Seated in the front, Gwen suddenly turned to examine Ben. Her gaze, filled with curiosity, scanned his face with the precision of someone piecing together a puzzle.
"You okay?" she asked, her tone balancing concern and intrigue. "You look… different."
Ben froze, surprise flashing across his face. Gwen was swift—perhaps too swift. In mere minutes, she had detected something unusual.
A ripple of panic surged through him and, before he could stop it, his thoughts accelerated. The world blurred, each detail coming into focus with unnatural clarity as time slowed. His eyes widened in shock.
"Oh… it kicked in instinctively," he thought, the initial shock softening into a small, knowing smile.
These were the effects of the third alien he had chosen—XLR8. Like Way Big and Jet Ray, XLR8 was an essential part of his plan, a cornerstone in his ambition to rival the Viltrumites. While Way Big provided raw strength, speed and reaction time were equally vital.
Jet Ray granted high-speed flight, yet XLR8 provided rapid ground movement. It enhanced his combat agility, reaction time, and close-quarters maneuvers. Without it, he would be no match against foes moving too swiftly for the naked eye.
Beyond that, there was an unexpected gift. The moment his abilities awoke, every capacity was instantaneously installed in his mind—knowledge that felt inherent, as if it had always resided there. All he had to do was learn to use it.
Surprisingly, XLR8 had an additional power—Tribokinesis, the ability to manipulate friction. With this, every facet of the alien's capabilities fell into place.
It explained how the alien executed sudden turns and sharp maneuvers at impossible speeds, unaffected by momentum, inertia, or the build-up of kinetic energy. It all made sense now. There was still much left to explore.
Ben drew a slow breath, focusing as he willed his senses back into harmony. Gradually, the world resumed its normal pace, the sluggish, frozen motions accelerating until time flowed naturally once more.
His eyes met Gwen's. She continued to study him, arms crossed and frown deepening, her green eyes probing his face as if unraveling a mystery.
"Why are you spacing out? Ben, are you sure nothing's wrong?" she asked, her voice edged with concern. She had been observing him for a while—how he closed the door with extra care, as if wary of slamming it too hard; how he deliberately tested the car handle. This wasn't like him. Something was off, and she sensed it.
Ben snapped out of his reverie, blinking as if roused from a daze. He hesitated before answering, "Yeah… I'm fine," though the pause betrayed him. After another beat of silence, he added, "We'll talk about it later."
Gwen arched a skeptical eyebrow, her gaze narrowing. Her initial concern shifted to suspicion, then curiosity.
Kevin, however, remained uncharacteristically silent. Gone were the sarcastic quips and casual remarks—only an unsettling quiet filled the car. His hands stayed firmly on the steering wheel, eyes fixed on the road with unusual intensity. The absence of his typical banter made the ride feel… off.
Before long, they arrived at Kevin's house. Nestled at the end of a quiet suburban street between two towering oak trees whose branches stretched over the sloping roof like protective arms, the house was modest but charming.
Yet it was as quiet as it usually was. Almost every visit found Kevin alone. He lived with his mom, but she was rarely home. Kevin had never elaborated; it was one of the few subjects he avoided.
Shoving the thought aside, Ben followed Kevin and Gwen into the house. They headed straight for the basement.
Kevin switched on the lights, revealing a sophisticated space. Ben froze in surprise as he inspected the repurposed basement—a makeshift lab. It wasn't an over-the-top lab, but it was more than sophisticated enough; it had all the necessities a lab required.
"What's this place?" Ben couldn't help but ask, curiosity lacing his voice as he stared in awe at their surroundings.
Kevin paused, a flicker of indignation flashing in his eyes. His fists clenched, muscles tightening—but just as quickly as the anger surfaced, it faded. He exhaled deeply, unclenching his fists. "It belonged to my old man," he muttered.
Ben hesitated, carefully measuring his next words. "What was he doing down here?" he asked, his gaze darting around the dimly lit space.
"I don't know, Tennyson," Kevin replied, folding his arms. His expression hardened, eyes narrowing slightly.
Ben sighed at the response, glancing around once more before shifting his focus to the real reason they were here. He went straight to the point.
"Just spill it already. What do you guys have to tell me?" he demanded, folding his arms. His gaze bounced between Kevin and Gwen before settling on Gwen, who unconsciously rubbed her palms together—a nervous habit.
"Well, you see... we've wanted to tell you for a long time now, but we didn't know how you'd react," she admitted, hesitating. She studied his expression, searching for any sign of understanding. He remained still, arms crossed, a contemplative look in his eyes.
"We have powers," she finally confessed, her voice barely above a whisper. Fearing he wouldn't believe her, she extended a hand, and a swirl of pink energy crackled to life in her palm, forming into a glowing circular disc. It lingered for only a moment before vanishing.
She shifted uncomfortably, her fingers twitching. Would he think she was a freak?
Silence stretched between them. No one spoke. Kevin and Gwen watched him carefully, bracing for his reaction. For a second, they almost thought he wouldn't take it well.
Ben stared at the dissipating glow in Gwen's palm, his expression unreadable. A thousand thoughts raced through his mind, yet none seemed to settle. His first instinct was disbelief, but the evidence was right in front of him, coupled with the fact he had memories of Gwen and Kevin being supes.
His gaze flicked to Kevin, who leaned against a workbench, watching him carefully. "You too?" Ben asked, his voice laced with curiosity.
Kevin smirked, pushing off the bench. "Yeah, but mine's a bit different," he said. He reached out, pressing his palm against a nearby metal stool. The moment his skin made contact, the stool's texture rippled like liquid before spreading up his arm, engulfing his flesh in metallic sheen. His fingers flexed, now solid steel.
Ben exhaled slowly, running a hand through his hair. He wasn't surprised—he had expected this. But what he hadn't expected was that they would keep it from him.
They had been friends for too long. If he were in their place, he wouldn't have hesitated to tell them. Even now, after awakening his own powers, the idea of keeping secrets from them hadn't crossed his mind. Instead, he had only been wondering how to break the news.
"Why didn't you guys tell me sooner?" he asked, his voice softer this time, though the disappointment still lingered.
Gwen sighed, guilt written all over her face. "Kevin wanted to tell you. I told him not to," she admitted.
Ben's expression shifted to confusion, his brow furrowing. "Gwen, you have powers. Isn't that a good thing?" he asked, puzzled by the hesitation in her voice.