My name is Benjamin Tennyson. I was born in England and later migrated to the US. My life has been like all other teenagers. My father, Carl Max Tennyson died as an army officer during a terrorist attack as an honorable air force pilot. My mother, Pamela Ethan Levin was a housewife. She did everything she could to raise me well. I respected her a lot. When I grew up, I wanted to become like my father, an air force pilot, but due to my weak body and eyesight. When I was finally 18 years old, I went to enlist myself in the army but I didn't manage to pass the physical test.
I felt desperate for a time but my mother told me something that changed my life completely.
"My son! I know, you want to help people, you want to protect the weak, and therefore, you want to become a army officer or air force pilot like your father. You have to remember that with great power comes great responsibilities." She said looking at me for a while. "Ben, to become like your father, there is no need for you to be a pilot. You can become a good citizen to prove your worth." All the things she told me about eight years before I enlisted for the army as if she knew that I would face failure.
When I was 11 years old, the only person who cared for me died in an accident. It was raining that day. My mother wanted to pick me from school but she never came. My school principal took me to a hospital and there I realized that my mother had died in a car accident.
My life from that day onwards was like hell. I was brought to my aunt, Luna Hocket nee Levin. She didn't like me. She blamed me for my mother's death and so was I. Only if my mother didn't come to pick me up from school, she'd have been alive.
My aunt and her husband forced me to live like a slave. I was made to learn to housekeep. If it was not for the government, I believe I wouldn't be able to complete my education even. The time I had for myself was school/college time. Whenever I go to school/college I would take a bit of time to practice with my PT teacher and practice in the nearby park alone. Like going to school too early.
I lived with my aunt till I turned 18 and then she kicked me out, saying I was a disgrace to her family. I lived my life until 24 years. Somehow completed my education by getting scholarships from the government and some private companies. The stupid thing in my 24 years of life was, I didn't manage to find happiness. I felt like my mother had taken everything along. I lived like a living dead without making friends or becoming social. I engrossed myself in books and movies I could get my hands on.
Finally, the day came. I was lying in the middle of a cross-road in my own pool of blood. You might be thinking, what happened to me. The thing is, I was crossing the road and was lost in my own world of thinking. I didn't even realize that the traffic lights were green and got hit by a car. I could feel my soul leaving my body. My body was becoming numb second by second. I could my hands and legs becoming senseless. Then I drowned in drowsiness. I could remember my mother's voice, again and again, reverberating in my head, "Happiness can be found in the darkest of days, my son. But only if one remembers to turn on the light." I felt happy in hope that finally, I came to my mother. But suddenly I remembered something and I felt ashamed and guilty for not respecting my life. My mother wanted me to live a happy life. How could I ever face her? I was regretting not understanding the meaning of life. I wish!? I wish I could have another chance in life so I could live again. Fulfill the dreams my mother had for me, to become like my father and fight the evil.
After days of my death...
I was in a white-lighted room surrounded by walls. There was a chair in the middle. I had no idea what to do. I was still feeling sad from last time. The only memory I had was the mellifluous voice of my mother ringing in my ears and telling me how much she loved me. I realized this must be the afterlife. Everything around me was white. Until a loud voice resounded from the corner of the room.
["Take a seat, my friend!"] - A loud voice echoed. I looked where the voice had come from and saw a man wearing a long coat with black hair and shaved beard.
I sat down as told. I wondered if this is the realm between the world and heaven. I didn't do any good. Would I be sent to hell? I was panicking inside. I unconsciously started eating my nails. My hands were shivering.
[Calm down, my boy. You are not here to be sent to hell.]
I didn't answer the voice but kept repeating in my head, 'I don't want to go to hell.'
[Do not worry! If you're thinking that you didn't do anything good then rest assured. I don't have the authority to do anything to you. I am just here to send you to another world, in simple terms.]
I then calmed myself and asked, "But, sir! Why are you sending me to a different world? Wouldn't it be more beneficial if you sent me back to my own world since I'm most familiar with it?" If he sends me to a world that is completely different in geography and culture or maybe, technology. It would feel more chaotic than ever. Imagine, if Geoffrey Chaucer was revived in the modern world, he'd go insane by trying to understand the modern society that is completely different from the medieval one.
[A truly interesting person you are. But are you sure that you are familiar with that world of yours?] The voice said with a heartily laugh. I felt a little excitement in his voice. I felt sad again. What he said was true, I didn't even try to get along with anyone.
"By the way, who are you supposed to be?" I felt a little embarrassed but still, I asked him.
[I am the Paradox.] The voice said firmly.
'Paradox…!!!!' I was shocked to hear the word 'Paradox'. "You mean the one from Ben 10, right?" I said curiously. "There is no way that is real." I added further.
[Yes! My boy, I am that Professor Paradox. There is reality in everything; the only thing one can do is to look for it.]
"Nothing of what you say makes any sense to me, Professor. Just say what want to." I said because my head started to hurt.
["Now, you have calmed down so, let me come to the point, my boy."] The voice became serious. [There is a universe called the 'Marvel Cinematic Universe', where your alternate version was supposed to fulfill a major role in the future but he died, due to an unknown twist of time.] The so called professor started revealing mysteries.
[I just want you to live as that boy, and do what he would have done.] He continued further.
"But, who is that boy that you want me to take the position of. Wait! Isn't he Ben Tennyson, the wielder of Omnitrix." I enquired. Professor Paradox went silent for a while and then sighed.
[*sigh, Yes indeed but as I said before, due to a twist of reality and time. The Omnitrix which was supposed to be found by Ben ended up with Max Tennyson….]
"Now I understand. It was sent for Max not for Ben by Azmut but due to having Max's DNA Omnitrix mistook for Max and he got the Omnitrix. But how did Ben die?" I expressed my genuine curiosity.
[That story, you would definitely understand, but the thing you don't know is that Max wasn't able to survive the second coming of Vilgax. He killed all his family members and plumbers but he didn't give up the Omnitrix. He handed that over to me, to give it to someone who deserves its power.]
"What happened to him then?" I asked about Max, if he didn't gave the Omnitrix then what happened to him.
[After giving up the Omnitrix, he confronted Vilgax. When Vilgax found out that the Omnitrix was no more he killed Max Tennyson.]
"How are you able to do this revival stuff? Aren't your powers supposed to be time related?" I felt very bad about their deaths, the story which Paradox narrated felt very real and since it is an alternate version of me, I must have a connected feeling.
[Very true, Benjamin. My powers doesn't allow me to communicate with souls therefore I had to convince Serena and Belacus, the two consciences of a Celestiosapien; one the most powerful beings in the known universe.] Said Paradox with his overly dramatic voice.
"Ohh, Alien-X, right?" The only Celestiosapien I could think of was Ben 10's Alien-X.
[Absolutely, my friend.]
"OK so, can you make something for me since, I don't have the support of Grandpa Max, Gwen, or Kevin so, I need something get over. I need an enhanced mind. That could protect my mind from any type of damage or control. Second, I want Ben's Anodites blood line unlocked. Thirdly, I want Osmosian abilities like Kevin." I put forward all my wishes.
[Well… You have asked for pretty overpowered things, I don't have any problem with it since, I will have to extend my deal with the Celestiosapien, but one thing you must keep in mind that the world you are going is not a simple world. It exactly is similar to the world in MCU movies, not comics but still there are many powerful beings that can kill you. So, my advice to you is, be careful and train yourself well before you face something much terrible.]
He sounded his advice. It was pretty useful. More importantly, I don't even have another choice. If I deny, I would be passed for judgment and I am not sure if my good deeds has enough value to take me to heaven.
[It seems you made up your mind boy. Just take care and don't let your sorrows drown you. Protect your land from now. I am giving a note you can check it later. It will help you in understanding the situations for a bit.] I was lost in the clouds of my own thoughts when suddenly I was interrupted.
[It will guide you, farewell son!] He said those words and my head started to feel dizzy and soon my consciousness faded away.
Everything I see was darkness. Now I can hear my heartbeats.
"Oh..!"