Omniverse Chapter, Chapter 5: HHGTS

Everything was peaceful until some strange anchor-like objects fell from the sky. When they plowed into the ground, they connected themselves by a laser to an unknown object. Without saying anything, Rook, Ben, and I flew to the source of the objects. “That is one big honking ship,” Ben said, his jaw dropping. Rook turned up the radio. “I cannot hear any honking,” Rook innocently said. Ben groaned. “Rook, it’s an expression,” Ben said.

“Ah, right…” Rook said, trying to hide his embarrassment. “That honking ship has anchored itself to Earth.”  We suddenly got loud and piercing feedback. “How’s it going up there Ben?” Grandpa Max asked over the radio.

“We’re on approach now,” Ben said. “How’s it going down there?”

“It’s nothing a little seasoning won’t fix,” he replied. “Remember, we don’t know what’s on that ship, so be careful!” Ben scoffed. “Come on, Grandpa, you know me!” Ben said. I shook my head. “That’s why I said it,” Grandpa Max told him.

“Okay, I promise we’ll call if Dawn, Rook, and I find anything weird,” Ben said. Rook and I noticed a large hole in the bulkhead of the ship. “Weird like that?” Rook asked. Acknowledging that this ship and whatever made that hole was a threat, the three of us boarded the ship and walked around to investigate. “You can take off the mask,” Ben said. Rook and I removed our gas masks. “How did you know there was a suitable atmosphere?” Rook asked.

“It’s never been a problem before, and since I’m still upright—“ Ben said before tripping on some bubble wrap. Rook had a fascination with the sheet of bubble wrap and placed it in his pocket before we continued on. “Here’s another!” Rook said as he picked up another sheet of bubble wrap. “What does it do?” Ben popped one of the bubbles, causing Rook to jump before trying to pop more bubbles.  I suddenly heard footsteps. “SHHH! Do you hear that?” I asked. We all got quiet to hear loud footsteps coming up towards us. We hid behind the two large pillars next to us. As soon as the footsteps got to us, we jumped out and shouted “Freeze!”

“The Vreedle Brothers?!” Ben shouted in shock. The Vreedles were surprised to see us as well. “Ben Tennyson! And associates…” Octagon said. Rook aimed the Proto-Tool at them. “The two lowest beings in the galaxy,” he said. I couldn’t help but ask why, that was, until they started shooting at us. “As much as I really want to know Rook’s quarrel with Vreedledum and Vreedledumber, I think we should do something,” I said. Rook nodded as he fired shots back. We were then caught off guard by Ben becoming Grey Matter, who had little to no use as far as I could tell. At least I thought so until Ben climbed onto the ceiling and used some pipes to freeze the Vreedles in their place.
“You’re both beneath contempt! The worst villains in the galaxy,” Rook said. I stepped forward. “I really hate to ask this, Rook, but why? These two are total blockheads!” I asked.

“Yea, since when? I thought you two became plumbers!” Ben asked the Vreedles.

“Ooh, about that…” Octagon said.

“These two vermin destroyed the Plumber Academy’s ammunition dump!” Rook said angrily.

“And the academy proper!” Octagon said.

“We blowed it up real good! We couldn’t help ourselves,” Boid said.

“I had to take my final exam on a temporary trailer on an ASTEROID!” Rook roared, his patience wearing thin. I never saw Rook so angry. It was scary, but all the while alluring. “The plumbers have been hunting us down ever since!” Boid said.

“Is that why you hijacked this cruiser? To get back at the Plumbers?” Ben asked. The Vreedles stared at each other. “That had not occurred to us,” Octagon said. “We was merely scavenging this here random derelict vessel for weapons.”

“AHA!” Rook shouted. “Which was when you blew that hole in the bulkhead!”

“That does indeed sound like something we would do, but, oddly enough, we did not,” Octagon said. We were interrupted by an alarm sounding and an image on the screen of the Proto-TRUK being lifted. “My ship!” Rook said. I glared at the Vreedles then back at Rook. “That ain’t us neither!” Boid said. Ben then looked at the console for anything to bring back the Proto-TRUK. “AH! Tractor Beam!” Ben said. After pushing the button, he turned back to normal. “Come on Rook, let’s see who tried to jack your ride!”

“These two abominators are coming with us!” Rook said, pointing the Proto-Tool at the Vreedles. When we got to the door to the hangar bay, we prepared to attack whoever tried to steal Rook’s ship. “Argit?!” Ben asked as Argit walked in.

“Ben? Dawn? AW, BUDDIES!” Argit said, hugging me. “Did either of you cut your hair?” I tried to push Argit off of me angrily. “Drop it and let her go, space vermin!” Rook said angrily. He let go of me. “Hey, back off, tough guy! I have the Annihilarrg! And I ain’t afraid to use it!”

“The Annihilarrg?!” Rook, the Vreedles, and I said in unison.

“The whataharrg?” Ben asked. “Spill.”

“The Annihilarrg is just an ancient legend, like Alien X!” Rook said.

“Oh, it’s real alright,” Argit said.

“So is Alien X!” Ben added.

“Look around you! I recognize this tub from the bedtime stories my mom used to tell me!” Argit said. Yeah, before you got top dollar for her. “I know those stories as well, but that is what they are! Stories, fantasy!” Rook said in a calmer tone.

“And yet, here we are, on the very ship of legend!” Argit said. “I swiped a ride and flew up here as soon as this thing appeared in the sky!”

“You’re the individual who smashed into side of the ship,” Rook said.

“That, uhh, was a parallel-parking error in judgement!” Argit said, hiding his embarrassment. “I don’t do a lot of docking. I’m sure you understand, Dawnny!” I turned away from him. “Yeah, right, you little needle rat!” I growled. “At least I don’t steal ships for a living!”

“That there was some mighty fine pointless destruction, son,” Octagon said to Argit.

“I wants the Annihilarrg, Octagon, so’s we can do some pointless destruction,” Boid said.

“You know what would be great?” Ben said, getting everyone’s attention. “An explanation. Because some of us did not grow up in outer space.”

“Well, there was an ancient pan-dimensional civilization, the Contumelia,” Rook said. “Their favorite pastime was flitting from parallel universe to parallel universe, scaring the locals”

“If they liked the universe they threatened, they would move on to the next one,” I added.

“But things went poorly if they came to dislike a Universe.”

“Then, they would whip out their piece of resistance, the Annihilarrg!” Argit added.

“Who comes up with these names?” Ben asked.

“It’s full names is longer,” Octagon told him. “But once it goes off, you only have time to say the first part.”

“So, where are the Contumelia now?” Ben asked.

“They died off eons ago,” Rook said. “The legends say their deserted ship drifts from cosmos to cosmos, bearing a weapon that can in fact, destroy the universe. Apparently the stories were true, about the ship at least.”

“And the Annihilarrg!” Argit said

“A ghost ship with a doomsday device on board? Puh-lease! What kind of dimwit would believe that?” Ben asked. The Vreedles raised their hands. The entire ship was then shaken by an explosion. “Don’t tell me someone else is on here!” I said angrily. We then saw an Incursean ship trying to board. “We cannot let them get the Annihilarrg!” Rook told us.

“I’m not sure that whatchamacallit’s real. But the Incurseans are, and they’re bad news!” Ben said. “And guess who is going to help us!” He then looked at Argit and the Vreedles. “You are not serious!” Rook and I said.

“Three petty crooks, one froggy dictator? You do the math!”

“Four or two? Are-are we adding or subtracting?” Rook asked. Ben glared at him. “Oh, an-an expression, right.” He began to blush. Ben then suggested we split up. I went with Rook. “We should do a surprise ambush together,” Rook said. “We should be able to combine your magic abilities with my acrobatics.” I then heard some Incurseans coming. “You should hide higher up,” I whispered. “Then it would be more unexpected.” Rook nodded as we hid out of sight. Our plan managed to work as I used a charm on Rook to improve his armor and luck and Rook took them down by making them shoot each other. “What would Ben say?” Rook asked, looking at me. I shrugged my shoulders. “Something clever?” Rook then thought of something. “Lying down on the job, are we?” Rook said. “I rather like that!” I couldn’t help but giggle a little. We then joined Ben. “Where’s Argit?” Rook asked.

“Well? Where are the Vreedle Brothers?” Ben asked back. Argit was then brought in by some Incurseans. “You double-dealing salamander!” Argit snarled at Milleous.

“Leave us discuss this matter later!” Milleous said.

“No, ‘leave us discuss this matter’ now! We had a deal, frog legs! You said you would buy the Annihilarrg from me! Now in light of your little attack here, I’m guessing you didn’t plan on honoring your commitments?”

“I conquer worlds for a living! What did you expect?” Ben then grabbed Argit by the collar. “Where is the Annie, uh Annih--“
“Annihilarrg!” we all said to Ben.

“Funny you should ask,” Argit said. “The Vreedle brothers have left the building.”

“With what might be the most destructive device IN THE UNIVERSE?!” Ben roared. “And they’re heading to Earth with it! Argit!” He then turned back to normal after throwing Argit. “We’ve got to stop the Vreedle brothers before they set off that, that…”

“Annihilarrg!”

“Whatever! I still say it’s not a real threat. But I don’t wanna take any chances when it comes to the Earth!”

“What about the Incurseans?” Rook asked.

“Argit, you keep Emperor Milleous from escaping. Emperor Milleous, if you escape, don’t hurt Argit…too much!” He gave Argit the Incursean blaster as we left to fly back to Earth. “Dawn, can you put up a shield around the ship as we fly back into the atmosphere?” Rook asked. I became uneasy. “Well, I’ll try, but I don’t know if I’m good at…“ Rook placed a hand on my shoulder. “You can do it. I have seen how good you are,” Rook said. “Believe in yourself.” My face turned red, but I used my powers to surround the Proto-TRUK in a protective aura. As we were flying back, shots were being fired at us by the Incurseans and the Vreedles, and we were firing back. The problem was though, was that my shield was failing.

“Dawn!” Ben said to me.

“Ben!” I said. “Rook!”

“Dawn!” Rook said to me.

“Rook!” Ben said to Rook.

“Ben!” Rook said back to Ben.

“We can’t keep this up,” Ben said. A shot from the Incurseans hit the TRUK. “You’re right about that!” Rook said. “We’re going down! Hang on!” We all landed at the Mr. Smoothy. “Next time, I drive,” Ben said. We then watched as the Incurseans landed right next to our ships. They came out with guns loaded, pointed at Argit. “This looks bad,” Rook said.

“And it’s about to get worse.” The Vreedles had the Annihilarrg in hand, ready to do anything they wanted. “Attention, amphibians. My brother, Boid, and myself hereby suggest that y’all surrender your weapons or we shall be obliged to use this.”

“That’s it?” Ben asked.

“I admit,” Rook said. “It’s far less impressive in person.”

“Not a very convincing Doomsday device.”

“Ben, do something!” Argit pleaded.

“Please, put that thing down before it goes off!” Rook said, drawing the Proto-Tool.

“Well, sir, that there only further piques our interest, seeing as how what we enjoys most is blowing stuff up,” Octagon said. We soon began to fight over the Annihilarrg, which caused it to go off and get ready to detonate. “Why are you all standing around?!” Argit asked in a panic. “Somebody has to stop this from happening! The Universe is where I keep all my stuff!” Argit tried to get Ben to use the Omnitrix, but Ben threw him off of his shoulder. “Okay, Omnitrix. I don’t want Goop, I don’t want Stinkfly. Just give me something to diffuse this thing so we can all get on with our lives,” Ben said. I grabbed on to Rook’s hand as Ben turned into Alien X. “Alien X! It IS real!” Rook said. We tried to see if he would do anything, but he just stood there as the Annhilarrg went off.

Ben stood motionless in his Alien X form as the universe corroded around us. The very ground we stood on was fading under my and Rook's feet as we looked at each other. "Rook..." I said. Rook saw me shaking. "Yes Dawn?" he asked back. I then got closer to him as the place I was standing faded away. "I don't know how much longer you and I will have together before we face our impending demise, but there's something I have to tell you," I said as I became misty-eyed. This was my only chance to tell him, especially now that we were dying. "Rook," I said, clutching him. "I... I LOVE YOU!" As he and I were about to kiss, we faded away from Ben’s sight.

I could feel myself falling into oblivion, satisfied that I could at last confess my feelings to Rook before he and I were separated permanently. “Dawn! Come back to me, Dawn!” I heard Ben calling. All I could do was close my eyes, only to wake up to how Rook and I were before the Annihilarrg went off. “Nothing happened,” I said, shaking off the memories of the near death experience I just had. Rook nodded. He and I then looked down to see that we were holding hands. We shyly disconnected our hands as the Vreedle Brothers crushed the Annihilarg. “Well, well, well! Too bad about that!” Argit said. “But I did get it for you Milleous, and a deal’s a deal. So, how about that half ton of Taydenite you owe me?” Milleous had his guards take aim at Argit. “Or we could just call it even.” Before he could slip away, Rook stopped him and we arrested him.

“That is… Difficult to believe,” Rook said.

“I know right? I was too late to save the Universe, so I constructed a whole new one!” Ben said.

“Yeah, not buying it,” Argit said. “Nothing’s different.”

“Yeah, Ben,” I said. “It all feels the same.”

“Of course not!” Ben said. “I made an exact copy!”

“Of everything?” Rook asked.

“Yes everything!”

“In the universe?”

“Including you!” Rook, Argit, and I stared at each other. ”So you have said. I am sorry, Ben, but I have no memory of this,” Rook said. “What is more likely… that you had a panic-induced hallucination…”

“Or that oh so special you are the only thing that’s left of the entire universe?” Argit asked.

“Really, Ben,” I said. “You come up with the strangest things.”

“Fine, don’t believe me. I don’t care. I did it. I saved the universe…again! That’s all that matters. You should be thanking me.” We could only glare at him as he took a sip of his smoothie.