"So…" Ben began, a thoughtful expression on his face as he processed the information. "You symbiotes can sense each other's presence, at least to a certain degree?"
Just a few minutes prior, he and Venom had forged a reluctant alliance to combat the impending Chitauri invasion. As part of their agreement, Venom had offered a method to locate the other symbiotes that had crashed on Earth.
"That's right!" Venom's voice, a gravelly and distorted echo, resonated from within the containment unit. "Just let me possess you. We'll take a stroll around their crash sites, and I'll sniff them out in no time." The black, amorphous blob quivered with excitement, its form twisting eagerly. "What are you waiting for? Let me out, and we'll go find my brothers!"
The creature couldn't have sounded more impatient, desperate for release.
There was just one problem. If symbiotes could indeed sense one another, then Ben didn't need Venom's help at all. He could simply become a symbiote himself.
"And when, exactly," Ben asked, arching an eyebrow, "did I say I was letting you out?"
"You're backing out of our deal?" Venom roared, a wave of disbelief and betrayal washing through its tone.
"I don't recall signing any contract," Ben countered dryly. He tapped his finger on the Omnitrix, and the holographic dial cycled through its alien icons before settling on a new, menacing silhouette within the recently unlocked parasitic playlist. He selected Overkill.
"Without me, you'd never be able to find them! What in the—" Venom's tirade cut off abruptly. Its white, jagged eye-patches widened in shock as it watched Ben's body erupt in a flash of green light. He didn't grow or change shape in a familiar way; instead, his form seemed to liquefy and reform, shrinking down into a new creature.
Before Venom's disbelieving gaze stood a head-sized, black symbiote. It was the spitting image of Venom himself, from the muscular, tar-like body to the maw of razor-sharp teeth. The only discernible differences were the Omnitrix symbol emblazoned on its chest and its piercing, white-green eyes.
"You're… you're a symbiote, too?" Venom's voice was a distorted whisper of confusion. "But… you look just like me! Did my progenitor have an affair I didn't know about?" The thought was so absurd that the creature almost seemed to slap itself. That wasn't possible. All symbiotes were born of the Klyntar hive, all descendants of the dark god, Knull.
It was a common trope for transmigrators in the Marvel universe to eventually get their hands on a symbiote. But Ben, as always, had taken a different path. He didn't just get one; he became one.
"I have this sudden, overwhelming urge to eat brains," Ben's voice, now a guttural snarl identical to Venom's, echoed in the lab. His mouth split open into a terrifying grin, revealing rows of needle-like teeth.
Hearing this, Venom's despair instantly morphed into manic delight.
"I knew it! I told you!" it shrieked with glee. "I knew there had to be another symbiote on this planet who understands! Brains, lungs, pancreases… so many delicacies, so little time! My brother, let me out! Let us go and sample this world's buffet together!"
Venom's excitement was palpable, a frantic energy radiating from its container. But a single, cold glare from Ben's new form silenced it immediately. In truth, Ben felt no genuine bloodthirsty impulse. The primary instinct humming through his new physiology was a powerful, overriding desire to find a host. To bond.
Spider-Man would be ideal, the instinct whispered.
A smirk played on his gooey lips. Well, lucky for me, I'm already Spider-Man.
The Overkill consciousness flowed, shifting the Omnitrix dial on its chest. As established, symbiotes could replicate the abilities of their hosts.
He planned to have Overkill parasitize another alien hero to permanently acquire its abilities.
He selected his target. In a flash of green, the hulking Overkill form vanished, replaced by a creature the size of a penguin, with stubby legs and distinctive fins on its head and cheeks. It was Ditto, a Splixson. This species was physically weak, almost useless in a direct fight, but possessed one of the most strategically powerful abilities in the universe: self-duplication.
That was the power Ben wanted Overkill to copy.
As soon as the transformation was complete, the Overkill symbiote, which had been dormant on the Omnitrix, exploded outwards, engulfing the small Splixson in a sphere of living darkness. A moment later, a hideous and terrifying new creature stood in its place: Overkill-Ditto.
Venom, who had witnessed the entire bizarre sequence, felt its mind reel. "What… what are you?" it stammered, utterly unable to comprehend what was happening. How could this being be a human one second, a symbiote the next, and then a penguin-alien that its own symbiote form possessed?
Hearing Venom's question, the new hybrid creature glanced at it. Half of its face peeled back, revealing the wide, green eye of Ditto beneath the swirling black mass of Overkill. Two distinct voices spoke in perfect, chilling unison.
"We are Overkill-Ditto."
The declaration sent a jolt of pure ecstasy through Venom. That introduction! The sheer coolness of it! He had already fantasized about the day he would find the perfect host and introduce himself in the same way. He had the line prepared and everything: We are Venom! It was perfect.
Ben, however, had more important things to focus on. He could feel two distinct consciousnesses within himself now—the predatory instincts of Overkill and the quirky, simple mind of Ditto. He was both, yet pulled in two different directions. Ignoring the internal conflict, he activated the copied ability.
His body split cleanly down the middle, and a second Overkill-Ditto appeared. Then the two became four, then eight, then sixteen, until the entire containment room was filled with the chittering, grotesque clones.
Venom watched, its astonishment growing with each new clone that popped into existence. It had no idea what Ben's ultimate goal was, nor could it even begin to guess what he truly was. It was clear, however, that the other being had no intention of explaining. Defeated, Venom slumped back into a quiescent puddle, its single wide eye staring out like a fried egg.
"Ability successfully copied," the voice of the original Overkill-Ditto announced.
Then, as one, all the clones' eyes widened and glowed green. They dissolved into light, merging back into a single form, which then transformed back into Ben's human shape.
The Overkill symbiote, however, did not vanish. It retracted, clinging to the Omnitrix and dyeing the back of his hand and forearm a slick, oily black.
"Time for a test run," Ben muttered. He took a deep breath. "Mask!"
Instantly, the black biomass surged over his entire body, forming a suit far more menacing than his simple black Prime costume. This was a living armor of writhing tendrils and shifting plates, with vicious, abstract patterns that seemed to writhe like a nightmare given form.
Possessing himself with the Overkill symbiote didn't grant Ben a significant boost in physical strength. This was its first bonding, after all, and the improvements were minimal. Fortunately, a simple power-up wasn't what he was after.
"Now, let's try the copied ability."
He focused, and in an instant, a perfect duplicate of himself stood beside him, clad in the same living, nightmarish suit.
"The Omnitrix itself can't be replicated," the clone noted.
This didn't surprise Ben. Overkill's copy ability was potent, but not powerful enough to duplicate an artifact of the Omnitrix's cosmic significance. Still, it was enough. Ben dismissed the clone, and the Overkill suit receded, flowing back to coil around the watch on his wrist.
With the first phase of his plan complete, he turned to the second, far more ambitious problem.
"Alright, next I'm transforming into Alien X…"
"Wait," the Overkill consciousness, a distinct voice in his mind, interrupted. "I cannot possess Alien X. It would be impossible to create a second one."
It was right. A Celestialsapien's body transcends time, space, and existence itself. It is both everything and nothing. It was not something a simple parasite, no matter how advanced, could influence.
"I know," Ben replied. "I just need you to come with me to the consciousness space."
Overkill understood immediately. Of course it did. It was, after all, a part of him.
Ben activated the Omnitrix again, transforming into the star-dusted silhouette of Alien X. Simultaneously, the Overkill symbiote tried to attach itself to the new form, but it was repelled as if hitting an invisible, absolute barrier. It splattered against the floor like a puddle of black water before re-forming into a vaguely humanoid shape.
"Alien X rejected me," it stated flatly.
Within the consciousness space, the infinite void shimmered with the light of a billion nascent galaxies. In the center of this boundless expanse, two colossal, ethereal female faces floated in silent contemplation.
Enara, the aspect of rage and reason, her face a void of starless black, still seemed to be nursing a grudge. When she saw Ben's consciousness appear, her voice was dripping with sarcasm. "Look who's here. The annoying one has returned."
Ouyana, the aspect of love and compassion, her form a nebula of brilliant white stars, was far more forgiving. "Do not be angry, Enara," she soothed, her voice like the chiming of cosmic bells. "At least this time, he is not attempting to be clever."
"I'm sorry," Ben said, offering a genuinely apologetic bow of his head. "I was wrong last time. I've come to discuss all future proposals with you properly, as equals."
Hearing his sincerity, Ouyana's voice warmed with affection. "Young Ben, you finally understand. You are one of the three pillars of this existence. Your voice must represent balance."
"Then let's begin discussing the motions right away," Enara said impatiently.
"Wait a moment," Ben said, raising a hand.
Enara's cosmic brow furrowed. "Ben Parker, what trick are you playing at now?"
"No tricks," Ben assured them. "I truly want to discuss things with you, but I have my own matters to attend to in the physical world."
"You wish to leave?" Enara's voice rose, laced with indignation. "Again?"
"No. I wish to let another consciousness in," Ben explained, pointing to where the Omnitrix would be on his wrist.
Realizing what he meant, Enara and Ouyana looked at each other, their silent communion lasting for an eternity and an instant. Then, they spoke as one.
"Motion: To allow the symbiote consciousness 'Overkill' to enter this space…"
Their unified voice then split.
Ouyana: "I agree."
Enara: "I veto."
The verdict fell like a hammer. Ouyana turned to Enara, her starry expression filled with surprise. "Enara, why did you veto?" she asked, a hint of sadness in her tone. "I was certain you would agree."
"Because it is not one of the Three," Enara stated, her logic as cold and absolute as deep space.
"Of course it is," Ouyana countered, beginning to argue. "It and Ben share the same consciousness. Is that not right, Ben?"
Ben nodded. "Ouyana is correct. Overkill is part of the Parasitic Sequence. It's a symbiote, but it's also me."
"And that is precisely the problem," Enara said, her voice sharp. "It is not purely you. Its mind is influenced by the base instincts of the Klyntar. That makes it unfit to participate in our judgments, and it certainly cannot represent the voice of balance." She delivered the final sentence with an air of finality. "Ben, you will remain. Overkill can be your proxy and handle your affairs in the physical realm."
After a moment's thought, Ouyana seemed to find the logic in this. The white, stellar face nodded, then looked at Ben with a pleading expression. "Please, young Ben. Just stay."
Ben scratched his head. "I think there's been a misunderstanding." He took a moment to formulate his words carefully. "I never intended for Overkill to take my place in the debate. My plan was to bring Overkill in, have it create a clone of me—a consciousness that is purely my own—and then leave that consciousness here to deliberate with you."
Hearing this new proposal, Enara and Ouyana exchanged another long, silent glance.
Then, they spoke in unison once more. "Motion: To allow the symbiote Overkill to enter the consciousness space for the purpose of cloning the consciousness of Ben Parker. Agreed."
"The motion is passed."
Back in the physical world, the puddle of Overkill was contemplating its next move when Alien X suddenly moved. It raised a hand and drew a circle in the air. A powerful suction erupted from the gesture, pulling the symbiote off the floor and into the swirling portal. Overkill felt like it was being flushed down a cosmic toilet. After a moment of dizzying vertigo, it found itself floating within the star-dusted void of Alien X's mind.
Before it could even register its new surroundings, Ben's voice echoed. "Let's get started, Overkill."
Without hesitation, the symbiote surged forward and merged with Ben's consciousness form. Then, with a thought, the fused being split in two. Two identical Ben Parkers now stood before the cosmic goddesses.
Ouyana's voice rang out, filled with delight. "Two young Bens! Does this mean we are now the Big Four?"
"Still the Big Three," the two Bens said in unison, pointing to their heads. "We share the same consciousness."
The Ben without an Omnitrix symbol on his chest stepped forward. "This version of me will remain here to discuss the proposals with you. The one with the watch will return to the physical world."
No one objected.
"Then I will stay," the delegate-Ben announced. "But in exchange for this arrangement, I propose that in moments of true crisis, our motions take precedence. Agreed?"
Enara: "Agreed."
Ouyana: "Of course, I agree."
The two Bens looked at each other and smiled. "Then the motion is passed."
"I'll be going, then," said the Ben with the watch. He gave a small wave, tapped his chest, and his consciousness vanished from the space.
The remaining Ben, the permanent delegate, turned to the two massive faces. Overkill's consciousness remained with him, a necessary component to ensure the clone's stability.
"Alright, let's begin," he said, rubbing his hands together. "What's the first motion? Are we resurrecting the dinosaurs?"
Enara scoffed. "The dinosaurs never truly went extinct. Why would we need to revive them?"
"Let us start from a time much further back," Ouyana said gently, her voice conveying the immense scale of their task. "The number of proposals we have accumulated is as vast as the stars in this universe." She paused, her expression turning somber. "The first motion concerns the revival of the Celestial who was slain, whose head now forms the port known as Knowhere. He was so lonely in the end…"
"Veto!" Enara snapped. "Garbage, once dead, should remain garbage when resurrected."
They both turned their gaze to Ben, awaiting his vote.
"I vote no," Ben said, siding with Enara. "There are countless beings living in Knowhere now. If we resurrected the Celestial, all of them would be annihilated."
Ouyana considered this for a long moment, then nodded sadly. "You make a valid point."
"The motion fails," Enara declared. "Next motion…"