As soon as Ben opened the door, his mother rushed toward him, wrapping him in a tight hug. "Are you alright? Why didn't you pick up your phone? Do you know how worried I was?"
Ben returned the hug, patting her back reassuringly. "I'm okay, Mom. My phone was on silent. I didn't hear it."
She pulled back slightly, her eyes scanning him for any injuries. Satisfied that he was unharmed, she sighed deeply and guided him to the living room. His sister had the TV on, and the news was blaring.
The reporter on-screen stood amidst the chaos, the camera panning over scenes of destruction—damaged buildings, overturned cars, and smoke rising into the sky. "Earlier today, the city was thrown into turmoil when monstrous lizard-like creatures appeared, wreaking havoc. Spider-Man and another unidentified creature intervened, battling the lizards in an attempt to mitigate the damage. However, the situation has left a tragic mark. Twenty people have been confirmed dead, fifty-one injured, and six others were transformed into lizard-like monsters themselves."
Ben clenched his fists as the words sank in. His jaw tightened, and he looked down, trying to process the devastation.
His mother was on the phone, her voice a mix of concern and relief. When she ended the call, she turned to Ben. "That was your father. He's out there helping to contain the fire. He said he'll be late."
Ben nodded silently, still staring at the TV. The reporter continued, her tone somber. "In related news, another incident occurred simultaneously at Oscorp. Reports suggest a break-in where several pieces of equipment were stolen, including the highly sensitive Ganali Device. This device, designed for large-scale atmospheric dispersal of medicine, could potentially be weaponized. The question remains—why would the lizard creatures target Oscorp, and what are their intentions?"
Ben's fists tightened further as he listened, his mind racing. This isn't over. If they have that device, it's only going to get worse.
He stood abruptly, pulling his thoughts together. "I'm heading over to Peter's house," he said, breaking the silence.
His mother looked at him, concerned. "Now? It's already late. Are you sure you're okay?"
"Yeah, I just need some air... and to talk to Peter," Ben replied, trying to sound casual. He grabbed his jacket and moved toward the door.
His mother watched him, her expression a mix of worry and trust. "Be careful, Ben."
"I will," he promised, closing the door behind him. As he walked into the night, his mind was focused. He knew he couldn't stand by any longer. It was time to act.
Peter was hunched over a cluttered desk in Dr. Connors' lab, the faint glow of a makeshift serum illuminating his determined face. His hands worked swiftly but carefully, mixing chemicals and adjusting formulas. This has to work, he thought. I need to save Dr. Connors before it's too late.
Suddenly, a familiar voice broke the silence. "I knew I'd find you here."
Peter froze, the vial in his hand trembling slightly. He turned slowly, and his heart skipped a beat. Standing at the doorway, arms crossed and an expression of calm curiosity on his face, was Ben.
Peter gulped, setting the vial down. "W-what are you doing here?"
Ben stepped into the room, his eyes scanning the disheveled lab. "Helping you speed up the process so our Spider-Man can save the day."
Peter's eyes widened. "You… you know?"
Ben nodded, a small smirk playing on his lips. "I've known for a while. I saw you run into the bathroom during the lizard incident and change into Spider-Man. Plus, your sudden disappearances whenever Spider-Man shows up? Not exactly subtle."
Peter stared at him, a mixture of shock and panic on his face. "Ben, you can't tell anyone."
Ben raised a hand to reassure him. "Relax, I won't. Your secret's safe with me."
He stepped closer and, without warning, pulled up the sleeve of his jacket, revealing a strange, watch on his wrist. Peter blinked in confusion. "What's that?"
Ben tapped the side of the device, and a flickering holographic projection disappeared, displaying the unmistakable green-and-black emblem of the Omnitrix. Peter's jaw dropped.
"You're…" Peter trailed off, his mind racing.
Ben nodded. "Yep. I'm the guy who helped you fight in school as Wildmutt, and the same guy who turned into Diamondhead and XLR8. Those are their names, by the way."
Peter's shock only deepened. "That was you?"
Ben grinned. "We've all got secrets, Parker. But we're both on the same side here. We've got powers, and it's our responsibility to use them."
Peter shook his head, still trying to process everything. "This is insane. An watch that turns you in alien? Shape-shifting? And you just… didn't think to tell me?"
"I could say the same about you being Spider-Man," Ben shot back with a teasing grin. "But hey, we're here now. And we've got a bigger problem to deal with."
Peter glanced back at the serum he was working on, then at Ben. His initial apprehension began to melt away. "Alright, fine. You've got powers, I've got powers. But this isn't about us—it's about Dr. Connors. If we don't act fast, things are going to get worse."
Ben nodded. "That's why I'm here. Let's stop Dr. Connors. Together."
Peter nodded, adjusting the serum vial. "Alright, let's finish this and get it to Dr. Connors. We need to stop him before things get even worse."
Ben raised a hand, his expression thoughtful. "Actually... I think I might have a way to fix this without the serum."
Peter stopped, narrowing his eyes. "What do you mean?"
Ben tapped the Omnitrix on his wrist. "This watch—it has a function to repair damaged DNA and restore it to its original state."
Peter's jaw dropped. "You're telling me that thing can fix Dr. Connors?"
Ben shrugged. "In theory, yeah. But there's a catch. To use it, I need to scan them first. And let's be real—are those lizard monsters going to stand still long enough for me to do that?"
Peter rubbed his temples, pacing back and forth. "Wait, hold on. You're walking around with a piece of tech that can repair DNA, and you didn't use it earlier? Why didn't you tell me this before?"
"Wow, cool down, Parker," Ben said, holding up his hands. "First of all, I didn't know if it would work on this. Second, we've both been a little preoccupied fighting giant lizard monsters, remember?"
Peter crossed his arms, clearly still processing. "Okay, fine. But how does a watch like that even exist? Did you make it? And if so, how?"
Ben laughed, shaking his head. "Me? Build this? I might be smart, but not that smart. This thing... it just appeared one day. I woke up, and there it was, on my wrist. Along with some fuzzy memories about how to use it and why it's here."
Peter blinked, incredulous. "You woke up one day with an alien watch on your wrist, and you're just... fine with that? No questions, no panic?"
Ben smirked. "Oh, I had questions, alright. Still do. But look around, Peter. This world? It's messed up. People turn into giant lizards and guys like you swing around in tights fighting crime. After a while, you just... roll with it."
Peter stared at him for a moment before finally letting out a laugh, shaking his head. "You've got a point there."
"So," Ben said, tapping the Omnitrix, "do we go with your serum plan, or do we figure out a way for me to get close enough to scan him?"
Peter sighed. "We'll work together. If your watch can do what you say, it might just be the better option. But let's keep the serum ready as a backup."
Ben grinned. "Sounds like a plan, partner."
Peter hesitated, then smirked back. "Don't call me partner."
"Too late, partner," Ben said with a chuckle. "Let's go save the world."