A familiar chime echoed in Lucian's mind. He froze for a moment, then his heartbeat quickened uncontrollably.
He hadn't expected the ultra-rare reward to be—another Omnitrix!
The question was, how was this replica different from the original?
Suppressing his excitement, Lucian steadied himself and walked calmly into the restroom.
"System, give me a detailed description of the replica Omnitrix."
He spoke silently in his thoughts. Before deciding what to do with the watch, he needed to understand it fully. If it had any side effects that could endanger others, that would be unacceptable.
[Replica Omnitrix: Contains ten original Alien Force forms. Supports transformation, user protection, and DNA recording functions.]
[Note: This device is not under Azmuth's control and cannot be detected by radar.]
[Random transformations may occur but are limited to the DNA profiles already stored within the watch.]
Lucian nodded slightly, then summoned the replica Omnitrix into his hand.
"Looks identical to the original," he muttered, examining the cool metal surface.
Unlike the calibrated Omnitrix on his wrist—which had updated functions and a sleeker design—this one matched the first-generation model in every detail. For instance, his own used 3D holographic projections to select aliens, while the original used flat 2D icons.
"In that case," Lucian decided firmly, "I'll give this one to Ben."
Since it wasn't under Azmuth's control and couldn't be tracked by radar, there'd be no risk of alien criminals like Vilgax finding its user.
After weighing the pros and cons, Lucian pushed open the bathroom door and stepped out.
He walked straight up to Ben. "Ben, there's something I need to tell you."
Ben had been deeply focused on his Sumo Slammers game. Hearing his Cuz's serious tone, he immediately yanked off his headphones and turned toward him, attentive and expectant.
To Ben, his Cuz was the ultimate hero—someone who beat down alien monsters and always stood up for what was right.
Gwen glanced over too, curiosity glinting in her eyes as she studied her handsome cousin.
Lucian pulled the replica watch from behind his back and held it out to Ben.
"Cuz... isn't this the watch you had before?" Ben's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Oh my gosh, I must be dreaming," Gwen gasped.
Lucian cleared his throat and said slowly, "Actually, I didn't just find one watch that day—I found two. Now I'm giving this one to you."
"But why…" Ben hesitated, unable to finish his question.
Lucian understood what he meant. Ben was probably wondering why he'd waited until now to hand over such a powerful device. But Lucian already had an answer prepared.
"The Omnitrix's power is immense. If used carelessly, it could hurt you—or even innocent people nearby. But your recent actions have shown real growth. I can trust you with this now. Use it wisely—to fight evil, protect the innocent, and bring justice wherever you go."
Ben stared blankly for a second, then nodded slowly, emotion welling in his eyes.
"Dweeb, aren't you going to thank him?" Gwen nudged.
Snapping out of it, Ben threw his arms around Lucian, hugging him tightly. "Thank you! Thank you, Cuz!"
At the front of the Rustbucket, Grandpa Max heard the noise from the back and frowned.
"Ben, settle down back there," he called out, eyes still on the road. "Grandpa's trying to drive."
But Ben was too excited to hear him. Clutching the new Omnitrix, he dashed to the front seat, babbling about what had just happened.
Max raised an eyebrow. Something about this felt off, though he couldn't pinpoint what. Still, he only smiled, reminding Ben not to misuse the watch, then turned his focus back to driving.
In the back, under Lucian's guidance, Ben strapped on the replica Omnitrix.
"Cuz, what do I do next?" he asked eagerly.
Lucian pointed at the device and said evenly, "Over the next few days, I'll teach you how to use it—and how to master the abilities of each alien hero."
...
(Author's Note: Originally, I hadn't planned for Ben to receive the Omnitrix this early—probably not until the mid-arc. I even created the original character Blackfire to give Ben a temporary flame armor as a placeholder. But that would have prevented Kevin 11's appearance. So I scrapped the idea and gave Ben the Omnitrix sooner—after all, as the series' main protagonist, he deserves the spotlight.)
...
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