In the RV Residential Area, not far from the housing complex where Ben, Gwen, and Lucy lived, life was peaceful and lively. The neighborhood was filled with friendly people, most of whom lived in vans or small moving houses—some by necessity, others by choice. Despite being a place full of vehicles, the entire area was surprisingly clean and neatly arranged. Each van had its own small spot, decorated with potted plants, folding chairs, or colorful awnings that gave the place a warm, homely feel.
Among the more than four hundred vans parked there, one in particular stood out—not because of its appearance, but because of the man who owned it. That van would one day become one of the most important vehicles in the world. It belonged to none other than Maxwell Tennyson, or Grandpa Max as his family called him—the grandfather of two of our main characters.
This wholesome, chubby grandpa with a beer belly and his signature red Hawaiian shirt—(of which he probably had a whole drawer full)—was well known in the RV neighborhood. Everyone liked him. He always had a smile ready, greeted everyone warmly, and could often be found laughing and playing chess with other residents, from youngsters to fellow elders.
To everyone there, Max Tennyson was just a kind old man living a simple, peaceful life. The sort of grandpa who'd help you fix your engine, share barbecue tips, or tell funny old stories by the campfire that often being Made in that neghberhood as gathering site of all of them.
But that was only what people saw. Because the truth was—Max wasn't just some retired man living in a van. In his younger days, Max Tennyson had been what you might call an proctector—no, not as police but something more.
He once worked for an intergalactic organization known as the Plumbers—and no, not the kind that fixed leaky pipes. These Plumbers were more like a Men in Black force of this universe: a secret defense network that protected Earth and other worlds from alien threats.
Max had spent his youth traveling across galaxies, meeting extraterrestrial species, fighting off invasions, and keeping peace between worlds. Now, he lived quietly on Earth, smiling like any other grandpa... hiding the countless journey that he already do and all thing he's been seen and battles he'd survived behind that cheerful grin and his bright red shirts.
With his high rank in that kind of organization—as a Magister of Earth and a former legendary Plumber—it's safe to say Max Tennyson had long since retired and was living comfortably. He'd made a lot of money over the years. Like, a lot-lot. But despite the fortune he'd earned, Max still chose to live humbly, traveling the country in his old and trusted RV that had been with him through thick and thin.
That RV—affectionately named the Rustbucket—was more than just a vehicle. It was practically a relic of his past life.
Its main body was white, though the paint had long faded and worn out from age, showing scratches, dents, and rust patches here and there. Two red and blue stripes ran down both sides, still visible but slightly chipped. On its roof sat several antennas and satellite dishes, hinting that this was no ordinary van—it was fully equipped for communication, tracking, and even intergalactic surveillance.
The Rustbucket's large, rugged tires looked built for any terrain—mud, sand, or rocky paths—and were caked in dirt from years of travel. It looked old, sure, but tough. Reliable. However… there was something a bit different about it this time...? Something Max had been working on quietly, under everyone's nose.
But that story would be for another day.
Right now, he was just an old man enjoying a peaceful nap under the warm afternoon sun, stretched out on his folding chair beside his trusty Rustbucket, snoring softly like a content bear.
RING RING RING!
"Eh? Wha—huh?" Max jolted awake, squinting his eyes as the sudden ringing echoed from inside the RV.
He rubbed his belly, let out a big yawn, and stretched his arms. "Yaaawn… haha, that was a good nap. But who's callin' me this time?"
Pushing himself up from the chair, he shuffled into the RV. The familiar creak of the old floor greeted him as he stepped inside and reached for the old wired phone sitting on the counter. He picked it up and spoke in his usual cheerful tone,"Hello? Maxwell Tennyson speaking! Can I help ya?"
On the other end of the line came a warm, familiar voice that Max hadn't heard in years."Well, hello, Maxy. How're you doin', old fella?" said the voice, carrying that same deep, friendly tone and the slight accent Max could never mistake.
Max's eyes went wide. "Gabb—Gabban? Gabban Danniel?! Is that really you?" he said, his voice full of surprise and disbelief. A hearty laugh came from the receiver. "Hahaha! Sharp as ever, ain't ya, Maxy? Yeah, it's me! It's been a long while, hasn't it, old friend?"
As that laughter echoed through the line, Max couldn't help but grin. The image of a big, bear-like man with snowy white hair, a long beard, and those deep wrinkles under his eyes instantly came to mind—Gabban Danniel, one of his closest partners back in his old Plumber days.
"Hahaha! Well, I'll be damned—it's been ages since you last called, old pal! How've you been? Still runnin' that company out in the Middle East?" Max said with his usual warm chuckle."Hahahaha! Oh, you old rascal, still bringing that up, huh?" Gabban replied, his laugh rumbling through the line. "Nah, I'm way too old to be dealin' with that stuff now. My second son-in-law's taken over the whole thing for me. So, just like you, I'm retired—double retired, you could say! From the Plumbers and from all that social work, eh? Eh?!"
Max snorted, shaking his head with a grin. "Still got the same bad jokes as ever, Gabban."max said while haking his head "Haha! And you still fall for 'em, Maxy!" Gabban shot back, laughing loud enough to make Max chuckle again.
"Well, let's cut the chatter, shall we? What made you suddenly call me, old friend?" Max asked, curiosity in his tone but no hint of worry.
"Haha, alright, Maxy, straight to the point as always," Gabban said, his voice warm through the static. "I was planning to head back to America—Bellwood, to be exact."
"Oh-ho! You're finally comin' home, huh?" Max chuckled, leaning against the counter. "Bout time you set foot back on your own soil again, buddy."
"Hahaha, you could say that. The Middle East's been good to me—great people, warm hearts, can't complain. But…" Gabban's tone softened as he picked up a picture frame from his table. "I really miss my oldest daughter over there—and my granddaughter, too. My only granddaughter, since my second daughter and her husband aren't planning on having kids anytime soon. You know how it is, grandpa stuff, right buddy?"
Max smiled faintly on the other end, and through the line—gabban, the faint clink of the photo frame could be heard—the photo showing baby Cooper Danniel in her grandfather's arms, both smiling wide and bright. As he sees it gabban start talking again with old friends.
"I really miss them, so that's why I'm coming back," Gabban said with a warm, proud grin as he set the photo down. "But I didn't tell them yet—I wanna make it a surprise. That's why I called you, old buddy."
"Hahaha, I get it, I get it!" Max laughed, his belly shaking with each chuckle. "You want me to pick you up at the airport, huh? Count me in, pal! For old times' sake, I'll help you pull off your little surprise plan!"
"Ey, I knew I could count on you, Maxxy, hahah!" Gabban replied, his tone full of the same playful energy he had decades ago. But then his voice shifted slightly—still casual, but with a hint of curiosity. "By the way… I wanted to ask you something."
"Ask away, buddy," Max said as he pulled out a small chair and sat down, half expecting some random old-man question."Do you," Gabban started, his grin still there but his words slower, "have any relation to a kid named Ben Tennyson?"
Max blinked. "...Huh?"
That caught him off guard. He never told anyone from his old Plumber days his grandkids' names—just that he had grandchildren, nothing more. The question made him sit up a little straighter, eyes narrowing in mild confusion and curiosity.
His first thought was, 'How the heck does Gabban know my grandson, Ben? Oh boy… did that kid pull off something bizarre again that I don't know about? I should've put a little TV in the RV just to keep up with the news.' Yeah, that's exactly what was running through Max's head.
"Yes, that's my grandson—Benjamin Kirby Tennyson, my grandchild from my Carl and his wife Sandra," Max replied, sounding curious but a little nervous too. He knew his grandson had a habit of doing some weird stuff now and then.
"Hah! I knew it! That kid had to be your grandson, Maxxy!" Gabban burst out laughing. "Don't worry, there's no problem at all! I just wanted to confirm it. My granddaughter told me about her new friend on the phone a month ago, and when she mentioned his family name, it rang a bell! Figured it had to be connected to you somehow, old buddy!" Gabban said in a cheerful tone.
Max froze for a moment, then let out a long sigh of relief, then chuckle Abit with a grin.'Phew… for a second, I thought that rascal got himself on the evening news again because he do something else with that cartoon of his like publish his real name of something,' he thought to himself with a chuckle. 'Maybe I really should install a TV in the Rustbucket—just in case.'
"So? Why'd you ask me that, old bud?" Max said, his tone sounding more relaxed now."Oh, I just wanted to say thank you, Maxxy—because your grandson became my granddaughter's friend," Gabban said warmly."Huh? I don't quite catch that, my friend. What do you mean by that?" Max asked again, curious.
"Well," Gabban sighed, "my daughter often told me that my granddaughter, Cooper, was having trouble at her elementary school in Bellwood. She had problems interacting with other kids and making friends." He took a deep breath before continuing. "She was outcasted, and… I heard sometimes she'd come home after being bullied—kids taking her lunch money and stuff like that."
"That's horrible, buddy. I'm really sorry to hear that," Max said sympathetically.
"Heheh, it's alright, old friend. But when I heard from my daughter that Cooper finally made her first friend, I was surprised—and honestly, relieved," Gabban said with a small, heartfelt laugh."I see," said Max, already kinda knowing where this was going.
"After I asked my daughter to put Cooper on the phone, I just wanted to make sure for myself... and she sounded really happy. That's something I was glad to hear. She kept going on and on about her first friend—and when I asked what the kid's name was, she said Ben Tennyson. Soon as I heard that last name, I thought, 'no way,' this boy's gotta be related to you, Maxxy," Gabban said with his thick accent.
"Heheh, seems my boy just can't sit still, huh? I'm proud of him," Max said with a chuckle.
"Hahaha, ya should be! Your son Carl and your daughter-in-law sure raised a good kid, ya hear me? So again—thank you, old pal."The two old men kept chatting over the phone, exchanging stories and a few laughs about their lives before finally hanging up.
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DOUGH: Hehehe just little extra chapter because i feel like it,anyway imma put some dumped ilustration arts i Made month back,just because i was bored.... warning it would cause blindes because horroble arts!