ROOFTOP – MIDTOWN MANHATTAN (SECRET SHIELD BASE)
Swampfire's face froze, flames flickering uncertainly across his plant-like form. Odin's presence hit like a tidal wave—ancient, unyielding, and impossible to ignore. Swampfire's vines retracted slightly, instinctively recoiling from the raw power radiating from the All-Father. Tony now hovered a step back, his suit's systems whining as they struggled to process the energy readings.
While Thor's demeanor relaxed completely in the presence of his parents.
Back inside the temporary SHIELD base, Hill and the others watched the situation unfold through the drone feed. The previous tension in the air had eased somewhat after confirming the figures' identities, but everyone remained on alert for potential threats.
With a deep breath, Swampfire tapped the Omnitrix symbol on his chest. A green flash enveloped him, his body compressing and reshaping in a swirl of light. The flames extinguished, vines withered away, and he stood once more as himself—human, clad in his battered tactical suit. He reached up, unclipping his helmet with deliberate care, and set it down on the rooftop as a gesture of respect. The cool night air hit his face like a splash of water, but he met Odin's gaze steadily, no evasion in his eyes.
"King Odin," Ben said, his voice calm but laced with deference. "Queen Frigga. I... didn't expect a family visit. But if we're discussing this, I'll lay it all out. No secrets—lying to you isn't just stupid; it's pointless."
From what he knew that neither Odin nor Frigga had shown any mind reading abilities, they certainly could sense when someone was lying. And Ben wasn't exactly a great lair, add to that Loki's ability to sense he wasn't from this universe.
Meanwhile Odin nodded slightly at the mortal's words, Gungnir planted like an anchor in the concrete. Although he'd already investigated the human's origins and the source of his ability to shapeshift into various beings with unique abilities, he still had questions he wanted to hear directly from the mortal's mouth.
Frigga stepped forward, her expression firm but soft, as if inviting Ben to speak without fear, though her winged crown and sword reminded everyone she was no mere observer. "Speak, child," she said in a gentle yet firm voice, befitting a queen. "The blood of the Aesir calls to us, but we would hear your truth."
Thor watched silently, Mjolnir loose in his grip, while Tony stood a safe distance away, muttering under his breath. "This is the strangest family reunion in history."
Ben nodded, rubbing the back of his head as he organized his thoughts. "Okay. The short version: I'm not from this universe. Not this Earth, not this reality. Back home—my original home—I was just a normal guy living an ordinary life before I was forcibly transported here with this." He held up his left wrist, the Omnitrix glinting under the city lights. "The Omnitrix. It's a device created by a genius alien inventor named Azmuth. Think of it as a portable DNA library—it scans and stores genetic samples from different species across the galaxy, then lets the user transform into them. Optimized versions, peak condition, with all their natural abilities."
He paused, gauging their reactions. Odin's demeanor remained impassive, his expression unreadable, while Frigga tilted her head, intrigued. "It scanned Thor's DNA during our first meeting," Ben continued. "That's the baseline for my Asgardian form—the genetic template it used to build the transformation. In a weird way, it makes us... fraternal twins? Same bloodline roots, but twisted through tech. Not magic, not divine—just advanced science mimicking what you are naturally."
Everyone listened intently to Ben's explanation. Tony had already guessed how the Omnitrix worked, but he wasn't quite sure about the genetic modification details. Meanwhile, listening through Olivia's drones, Hill's eyes narrowed.
' So, he really wasn't lying back then,' she thought, recalling their conversation on the Helicarrier. 'Or maybe he's just a really good liar.' Though Hill remained suspicious about Ben's explanation, as she had been trained.
Bruce and the other scientists' minds buzzed with excitement. As geneticists in the field of DNA splicing, the Omnitrix intrigued them greatly. Even though Ben had already told him that the Omnitrix couldn't fix his condition with the Hulk, Bruce still held out some hope for finding a solution through it.
Frigga's eyebrows rose slightly. She was no stranger to advanced pieces of technology, but a device capable of capturing and even understanding the nature of divine blood was a first.
"Quite fascinating. This Azmuth—what sort of being is he to invent such an artifact capable of understanding the nature of divine heritage?" Frigga asked curiously, as a being capable of doing such a thing should rival entities like the Devourer of Worlds and the Celestials.
Ben shrugged before giving a simple answer. "He's just a tiny scientist who claims to be the smartest being in four galaxies."
Just as the words fell, the Omnitrix suddenly beeped and spun. "Ben Tennyson, access to select Omnitrix systems functions have been suspended pending notice."
Ben's eyes widened at this moment, and he couldn't help but shout out in alarm. "Wait, what! What did I do?"
Tony couldn't help but burst out in laughter at the scene, while Hill, Bruce, Natasha, and Clint watched on in surprise. Clint let out a chuckle after fully processing what just happened, looking at the panicked expression on Ben's face.
Meanwhile, Odin, Frigga, and Thor weren't too concerned and just found the whole situation a bit amusing. Clearly the creator wasn't too pleased by Ben's description.
Odin's voice then rumbled, deep as ancient stone. "Yes, a device that steals the essence of gods? Bold invention. But you, boy—your origins. My sight pierces realms, yet your past ends at a void. Speak of it."
Ben exhaled, now a little irritated. "Like I said, parallel universe. My Earth was similar—same history, mostly—from what I'm aware of. I'm not exactly sure why I was sent here, but I assume it might have to do with something that concerns the universe or even multiverse itself."
Tony chimed in, unable to stay quiet. "Parallel universe? Kid, multiverse threat? Are you being serious right now?"
Tony's mind began to turn with unease, not fully believing what Ben was talking about—potential universal or multiversal threats.
Ben shrugged. "Not really. Those are just some of my best guesses. I might just be gaining new genetic samples for all I know."
"Sometimes it is best not to be aware of entities strong enough to threaten the universe or even the multiverse itself," Odin said simply, his fingers tightening around Gungnir.
"What?" Tony questioned, his face full of disbelief at what he was hearing.
"Yes, my husband speaks truth. Simply being aware of such threats or entities without sufficient strength can easily draw their attention toward one. And you might find yourself erased from history without a trace," Frigga added, with a steely voice, gripping her sword.
As Trjegul, who'd been grooming himself all this time, looked up at his master, sensing her tension.
"While that's just the worst-case scenario, let's not get worked up about speculations," Ben said, sensing the tension as faint lightning sparks appeared around Thor, who stood beside him.
"Right, we should be taking our leave. Asgard cannot remain unguarded for too long," Odin said, tapping Gungnir on the roof. With a sudden golden light, the crate containing the Cube and scepter, surrounded by golden energy, appeared on the rooftop.
"We shall be taking our leave and return to Asgard. Thor, you shall remain on Midgard for the time being. I believe your brother will seek allies and attack once more." Odin continued, before reaching out with his hand. With his power, the crate opened, revealing the two artifacts.
Odin handed over the scepter to Frigga before grabbing the space cube in his hand, immediately opening up a hole in space on the rooftop—big enough for Trjegul, who was the size of a small house, to enter. Without another word, the three stepped into the portal.
Before Frigga stepped inside the portal, she turned back to her son. "Thor, try to bring your brother home," to which Thor nodded, squeezing Mjolnir slightly. Frigga then turned back to Ben, reaching into her robes. She pulled out a pair of black boots, tossing them to Ben.
Who caught the pair of boots instinctively. "Consider this a welcoming gift to the family. They shall aid you in your journey." She said finally before entering into the portal, with Trjegul following behind, letting out a hiss as if saying goodbye to Thor.
Who waved back at the giant feline with a smile, as Trjegul followed after his master.
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AZMUTH'S LAB – GALVAN PRIME (BEN 10 MAIN UNIVERSE)
On the distant world of Galvan Prime, where towering spires of crystalline tech pierced the emerald skies, Azmuth hunched over a holographic interface in his fortified research lab. The room was a symphony of whirring machines and glowing data streams, walls lined with containment fields holding vials of exotic DNA samples. Azmuth is a Galvan with grey skin. Stood at a height of around six inches tall. With whiskers coming out of his chin and the sides of his head. Manipulated the display with deft, three-fingered hands, his eyes narrowed in fascination.
Before him floated a 3D model of genetic code, swirling like a cosmic helix: strands from Ben Tennyson's variant, the one he'd dispatched to a parallel universe with the restored Omnitrix prototype with the help of an old friend and a being of incalculable power.
Azmuth had rebuilt the device after its destruction, upgrading to be on pair with the official Omnitrix. Now, he compared the boy's DNA to fresh scans: Thor's robust, lightning-infused structure; Frigga's elegant, huntress-sharp sequences; Odin's ancient, all powerful force.
"Fascinating," Azmuth murmured, his voice a high-pitched rasp. "These Asgardians... their genome isn't rigid. There's a mutable gene cluster—almost adaptive, like a canvas waiting for the artist's stroke. It expresses uniquely in each individual, manifesting abilities tied to their core identity. Thor's storms from his unyielding will, Frigga's cunning from her maternal ferocity, Odin's abilities need more indepth analysis. However, his seems to have limited reality manipulation."
He zoomed in, the hologram pulsing with light. If his hypothesis held, this "expression gene" could explain the species' divine versatility—gods not born, but forged by self. For his Ben Tennyson, the one in this Omniverse, an Asgardian transformation might yield something wildly different: from his variant perhaps amplified by human resilience or his creation whims.
A chime interrupted his reverie—the Omnitrix's comm link flaring to life. Azmuth glanced at the identifier: Benjamin Stewart Tennyson, calling from the other universe.
The old Galvan's expression soured. That boy had called him a "tiny scientist"—as if Azmuth, smartest being in four possibly five galaxies, was some diminutive curiosity. No. He ignored the call, suspending select functions with a flick of his hand. Let the child stew; lessons in respect were as vital as any DNA splice.
Azmuth leaned back, a rare smile creasing his features. This variant Ben intrigued him— a fresh twist on the Tennyson template. Pulled from a universe their stories and beyond where turned into entertainment. By individuals who happen to be able to see into various multiverse.
He returned to his work, the hologram spinning anew—the multiverse's secrets unraveling one gene at a time.
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SECRET SHIELD BASE – UNDERGROUND BUNKER, MIDTOWN MANHATTAN (MARVEL UNIVERSE)
Ben stared at the Omnitrix, its face blinking a stubborn yellow. "Suspended? What the heck Azmuth, really. "
Tony barked a laugh, clapping Ben on the shoulder. "Ouch. Your space watch just ghosted you. Want me to take a crack at it—free of charge, kid."
Ben shot him a flat look, batting the hand away. "No thanks, Tony. I can leave without you tampering with my watch." He'd rather not have Tony temper with a device that capable of destroying the entire universe in a week.
With the Tesseract and scepter off-world—safely whisked away by Odin and Frigga—and the Chitauri virus counteragent synthesized, Ben felt the day's weight lift slightly. But the city still needed him. "I'm heading back out. Search and rescue is still on going with Cap—people are still buried out there."
Thor nodded, Mjolnir humming in his grip. "A noble cause. With the artifacts secure, I shall join you. No longer must I stand guard against my brother's schemes—or whatever shadow pulls his strings."
Tony waved them off, already turning back to the lab. "Go play heroes. Bruce and I have the could dispersal system to finish—cloud-seeding the antidote across the quarantine zones. Should be ready in two hours time then I'll join you guys."
Ben tapped the Omnitrix, a green flash rippling over him. His body stretched, streamlined, accelerating into XLR8—a sleek, velociraptor-like alien with wheels for feet and a visor helmet. "Catch you later, Stark," he said, voice a high-speed buzz, before blurring into motion—gone in a streak of blue and black, wind whipping in his wake.
Thor spun Mjolnir and launched skyward, a thunderclap echoing his departure. "To the fray, then!"
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COMMAND ROOM – SECRET SHIELD BASE
In the command room, screens cast flickering light on Hill, Natasha, Clint, and Bruce as they replayed footage of the rooftop conversation.
Hill leaned on the console, arms crossed, her expression thoughtful. The conversation Ben had on the rooftop was nearly identical to the one the two of them had shared back on the Helicarrier before the battle. This only meant two things: one, Ben was truly telling them the truth about his identity and origins. Or that's what he'd been taught to believe by whoever sent him here.
Which seemed to be the case, judging by the fact that his watch had locked away certain functions from him—showing that he didn't have full control of the device called the Omnitrix. Which was scarier, since it meant that there were figures behind Tennyson.
Natasha and Hill looked at each other, obviously coming to the same conclusion. Sensing the shift in the room, Bruce hurriedly excused himself and left, while Clint went out to contain the chaos erupting where the containers holding the Tesseract and scepter had suddenly disappeared.
"So, what does this mean?" Natasha asked, already knowing the answer to her own question.
"Simple: Ben Tennyson is now labeled a priority level 12, if the information revealed today is true," Hill said, her eyes narrowing.
"Haha, didn't he already reveal this information back on the Helicarrier? Why move him up to level 12?" Clint said with a chuckle as he walked back inside.
"That's because we have yet to confirm him being from a parallel universe. However, if the Omnitrix is truly the source of his power and not a ruse—and there is in fact an individual behind his unexplainable appearance—we need to be ready for a possible invasion," Hill stated seriously, getting up to leave and compile a report.
" He just helped us to an alien invasion can we at the very least give him the benefit of the doubt, " Clint asked already knowing the answer.
Hill paused near the doorway, glancingback at Clint" That not on me or any of us to decide, I'm just following protocols and procedure. For the worst possible outcome. "
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ELSEWHERE IN THE CITY – FINANCIAL DISTRICT, 2:14 A.M.
Manhattan still smelled like ozone and burnt Chitauri metal. Half the streetlights were out, casting long jagged shadows between mountains of rubble.
A blue-and-black blur slammed into four armed smugglers before they even heard the signature crackle of speed. XLR8's clawed feet skidded across broken asphalt, kicking up sparks. One thug tried to raise a Chitauri energy rifle; the barrel was bent into a pretzel before his finger reached the trigger.
"Evening, gentlemen," the alien growled in a voice like gravel dragged across velvet. "New York's closed for looting."
In three seconds flat the four men were hog-tied with bright yellow rope stolen from a shattered bodega, stacked like cordwood against a overturned taxi. Sirens wailed somewhere distant—National Guard and SHIELD cleanup crews still combing the island block by block.
Olivia's crisp voice chimed through the Omnitrix. "Boss, incoming heads-up: Agent Maria Hill just pushed a motion to bump your threat level to 12 in SHIELD's database. That's one step below active gods and planet-killers."
XLR8's visor glowed brighter for a second as Ben scanned the skyline. Drone feeds scrolled across his HUD—heat signatures, structural integrity warnings, missing persons pings. Only fifty red dots left blinking.
"Don't worry too much, Liv," he rasped, kicking a loose Chitauri power cell into a containment crate. "Pretty sure turning an entire Midtown office tower into a glowing alien fortress already put me on their naughty list. Besides a dozen other things at that matter. "
He glanced back at the groaning pile of thugs, then at the faint green aurora still shimmering over Central Park where the portal had been.
"And also prevent unnecessary problems in the meantime." he muttered. "We'll deal with the spy games tomorrow." With that, Ben sped away, leaving a gust of wind behind.
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