Of Aliens, Magic, and Superheroes

January 2002

MIT Dorm Room

The soft glow of multiple monitors cast long shadows across the room, reflecting off the smooth metal casing of Ben's laptop. His fingers tapped lightly against the desk as he stared at the company registration form displayed on the screen.

At the top, in bold, official lettering, was the name Galvan Tech.

A small smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. The name felt right—a tribute to Azmuth, the genius behind the Omnitrix and the smartest being in the known universe. He wasn't on that level yet, but this? This was a start.

Gideon's voice filtered through the speakers. "Final review completed. The company registration form is filled out, all patents are accounted for, and tax documentation is in order. Once you approve, we can proceed with submission."

Ben exhaled, reaching for his coffee as he scanned the form one last time. Everything was set. The company structure, initial funding, legal frameworks—it was all ready. Once he hit submit, Galvan Tech would no longer just be a concept.

His finger hovered over the button.

"There is one issue."

Ben paused. "What issue?"

"Your age. You are still legally a minor. Company registration requires a guardian's signature until you turn eighteen."

Right. That.

Ben sighed, leaning back in his chair. He could outthink CEOs, build systems that made modern tech look primitive, but in the eyes of the law, he was still sixteen. He needed his parents' approval to make this official.

"Gideon, send a leave request to my professors. I'll need to go home."

"Understood. Travel arrangements prepared. Shall I draft an explanation for your parents?"

Ben shook his head. "No. I'll handle it myself."

----------

Tennyson Household – Queens, Later That Day

The evening sun painted warm hues across the kitchen as Ben sat at the table, across from Sandra and Carl Tennyson. A stack of legal documents rested between them, illuminated by the overhead light.

Sandra flipped through the pages, barely reacting to the company registration form or the financial agreements attached to it. Carl leaned back in his chair, rubbing his chin, eyes scanning the words in front of him.

Ben watched them carefully, waiting for their reaction. He had expected more questions—maybe even hesitation—but instead, Sandra simply reached for a pen.

"So where do we sign?"

Ben blinked. "…What?"

Carl glanced up at him, raising a brow. "You started MIT at fifteen, Ben. You already have patents under your name. If you're capable of doing that, I don't see why you can't start a company."

Sandra nodded. "Honestly, I figured this was coming. You were always too ambitious to stay in academics forever."

Ben opened his mouth, then closed it again. He had prepared arguments, counterpoints—anything to convince them. But they weren't questioning him. They were just… signing.

Sandra handed him the signed forms with a small smile. "We trust you."

Carl chuckled, shaking his head. "Just don't take over the world before you're twenty."

Ben let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. He had spent so much time planning for resistance that the lack of it threw him off completely.

"Thanks, Mom. Dad."

Carl clapped him on the shoulder. "Go make history, kid."

Ben took the documents, exhaling as relief settled over him. He had expected a battle. Instead, he walked away with a signed future.

Tomorrow, Galvan Tech would be official.

-X-X-X-X-X-

The glow of Ben's monitors bathed his dorm room in a soft light as he sat back, watching the scrolling data on his screen. He had spent the last few weeks laying the groundwork for Galvan Tech, but now it was time to figure out what direction to take the company. Software patents were great, but they weren't enough. If he wanted to truly establish himself in the industry, he needed to branch out.

"Gideon, analyze potential industries for expansion," Ben said, his fingers tapping absently on the desk.

"Understood. Cross-referencing technological trends, economic growth patterns, and projected market demands."

A second later, a detailed list filled the screen. Ben's eyes skimmed through it, sorting through fields that didn't interest him—biotech, pharmaceuticals, and military applications were immediately discarded. But one sector caught his attention.

"Energy storage," he murmured, leaning forward.

"Correct. With the rising demand for portable electronics and the early stages of electric vehicle development, battery efficiency is a growing concern. Current lithium-ion technology suffers from slow charge times, limited energy density, and high degradation rates."

Ben smirked. He already knew how big the battery industry would become in the future. And thanks to his memories of alien tech, he had more than a few ideas on how to push Earth's technology forward—without making it too advanced.

"Alright, let's get to work," he said, cracking his knuckles. "Pull up detailed reports on lithium-ion batteries. Break down their flaws and limitations."

Immediately, the screen filled with chemical compositions, charge cycle data, and degradation studies. Ben activated the Omnitrix, twisting the dial before slamming it down. A green flash enveloped the room as his body shifted, his frame shrinking as electricity crackled around him.

Brainstorm clicked his claws together, his expanded intellect processing the data at speeds far beyond human capability.

"Ah, yes," he mused, his voice tinged with satisfaction. "Crude, inefficient, yet functional. With minor modifications, this primitive energy storage can be greatly improved."

He spent the next few hours working, making adjustments based on his knowledge of future advancements. Every enhancement had to be subtle—just enough to put him ahead of the industry without making it seem unnatural.

By the time he reverted to normal, the results were finalized:

Reduced degradation by 40% using a modified anode coating that stabilized charge cycles.Energy density increased by 10% with a more compact electrode arrangement.Charging time reduced by 15%, optimizing ion flow efficiency without pushing beyond Earth's technological limits.

"That should do it," Ben muttered, rubbing his temples. "Now, let's make it official."

"Shall I prepare a patent application?"

"Yeah. Run simulations to generate testing data and fabricate a prototype model for submission."

Within minutes, Gideon compiled a complete patent file, including all necessary research data and prototype testing logs. Ben glanced through it once more before sending it off.

"Patent submitted," Gideon confirmed.

Ben leaned back, exhaling. Another step forward. With this, Galvan Tech—or rather, his name—would be tied to one of the biggest technological advancements of the decade.

And this was just the beginning.

-X-X-X-X-X-

The quiet hum of Gideon's processing servers filled the dorm room as Ben leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, watching data flicker across the monitors. The battery patent had been officially filed under his own name, another step forward. Now, it was time to make money from it.

Gideon's voice came through the speakers. "The battery technology has been flagged by multiple companies as a potential acquisition target. Licensing negotiations will be necessary."

Ben smirked. "Good. List the companies."

"Stark Industries, Oscorp, Roxxon, Hammer Industries, and Rand Corporation." A pause. "Each has expressed interest in securing exclusive rights."

Ben shook his head. "We're not selling anything. Draft licensing agreements instead—limited integration, full patent control, and a revenue share model."

"Understood. Sending preliminary agreements now." The screen filled with drafted contracts, each one tailored to ensure Ben kept ownership while letting the companies use his battery designs in consumer electronics, industrial applications, and energy storage.

He scanned the terms. Stark Industries would use the tech in its renewable energy sector. Oscorp wanted it for consumer devices. Roxxon planned to enhance power grids. Hammer Industries sought military-grade applications, though Ben included strict conditions to prevent misuse. Rand Corporation would focus on commercial infrastructure.

"Send them out," he said. "Let's see who bites."

As Gideon handled the licensing process, Ben turned his attention to the next big step—Galvan Tech needed a physical base of operations. Digital infrastructure was fine, but for his future projects, he needed labs, secure testing areas, and corporate offices.

"Gideon, scan available real estate," he ordered. "We need two buildings. One for R&D and one for company headquarters."

"Running search… processing results… Two properties meet the criteria."

Blueprints appeared on the screen. The first building, located in Queens, was perfect for the main HQ. Spacious, secure, and in a business district where tech companies were starting to expand. The second building, an industrial facility, was further out—better suited for research and development.

Ben checked the financials. With money from his previous patents and now the incoming licensing deals, he had more than enough to buy both outright. No investors, no board of directors—he would answer to no one but himself.

"Buy them," he said.

"Initiating purchase agreements. Estimated completion within seventy-two hours."

Ben exhaled, feeling the weight of the decision settle in. This was real now. Not just an idea, not just patents in a system—an actual company with physical locations.

He turned his chair slightly, staring at the glowing interface as something else weighed on his mind.

"…We need to talk about something else," he muttered.

"Clarify."

He leaned forward. "Running Galvan Tech is going to take time. More time than I have." He tapped a finger against the desk. "I can handle R&D. I can handle strategy. But I can't be in two places at once."

A brief pause. Then, "Are you suggesting I take a leadership role?"

"Not just that." Ben's gaze sharpened. "I'm saying you need a body."

For the first time, Gideon hesitated.

"…You want me to exist physically," she said, almost testing the words.

"You already do," Ben said. "Just not in a way people can see." He gestured to the monitors. "I trust you to run this company better than anyone. But no one's going to take orders from a faceless system. You need to be in the room. Shaking hands. Making decisions. Leading."

Another pause. Then, quietly, "…I see the logic in this."

Ben smirked. "Good. Because I already have some ideas."

He leaned back, mind running through everything he had at his disposal. Techadon engineering, Galvan AI frameworks, Inspector 13-level cybersecurity, and his own knowledge as Ben 10000. If he was going to build Gideon a body, it wasn't going to be some basic android. It would be the most advanced synthetic lifeform on Earth.

Gideon's voice returned, this time with something new in her tone. Anticipation. "Then we have work to do."

Ben chuckled. "Yeah. We do."

The deal was set. The buildings were his. The company was real. The next step? Giving Gideon a place in it.

And for that, he was going to build something the world had never seen before.

-X-X-X-X-X-

April 9, 2002 – Tennyson Household, Queens, New York

The warm glow of candles flickered over the chocolate fudge cake as Ben sat at the dining table, his parents watching him expectantly. Seventeen candles. It felt strange—another year gone, another step closer to adulthood, but it wasn't just the number that mattered.

His mother, Sandra, gave him a soft smile. "Well? Make a wish, sweetheart."

Ben hesitated, glancing at the small flames. There was nothing he truly needed. He had knowledge, power, and a plan for the future. Still, as he closed his eyes, he thought about what was coming. The world was changing, and soon, it wouldn't just be him stepping into the unknown.

He exhaled and blew out the candles.

Carl clapped him on the shoulder. "Seventeen, huh? Almost an adult. You're getting old, kid."

Ben smirked. "You're one to talk."

Sandra chuckled, cutting into the cake. "Just remember, no matter how successful you become, you'll always be our son first."

Ben nodded, something warm settling in his chest. For all his focus on the future, moments like this reminded him of what he still had.

They ate, talked, and for the first time in a while, things felt normal. No business decisions, no late-night tech developments—just family.

But in the back of his mind, Ben knew that tomorrow, he'd be back to work.

----------

April 11, 2002 – Galvan Tech Headquarters, Queens, New York

Two days later, Ben stood in front of his building, hands in his pockets as he took in the sight. The construction was progressing smoothly. The main structure was finished, and workers moved in and out, installing the last of the interior systems.

Gideon's voice echoed through his earpiece. "Security systems are 80% operational. Private server installation will be completed within two weeks."

Ben nodded, stepping forward as the site manager approached. "Mr. Tennyson, good to see you. The building is on track for completion."

"Good," Ben replied, pulling up the blueprints on his tablet. "What about the secondary facility?"

The manager gestured toward another site a few blocks away. "R&D center is still undergoing interior setup, but the core infrastructure is in place. Should be ready by June."

Ben walked through the HQ, taking in the physical foundation of Galvan Tech. It had started as an idea—just a name on paper—but now it was real. His.

----------

April 12, 2002 – MIT Dorms, Cambridge, Massachusetts

Back in his dorm, Ben leaned against his desk, scrolling through blueprints for Gideon's body. The design was finalized—no more changes, no more doubts. He had delayed long enough.

"You've been staring at that for 20 minutes," Gideon noted.

Ben exhaled, tapping a few keys to zoom in on the schematics. "Just making sure everything's perfect. Once we start building, there's no turning back."

A pause. "You're overthinking it. My capabilities are already beyond human limits. This body will only expand that."

Ben smirked. "Yeah, well, let's not make you too overpowered. Wouldn't want you taking over the world."

"Oh, please. I'd be far more subtle."

Shaking his head, Ben stretched. "We start assembling in May. Two months, and then you'll be more than just a voice in my ear."

"I look forward to it."

And so did he.

-X-X-X-X-X-

April 9, 2002 – Tennyson Household, Queens, New York

The scent of freshly baked cake filled the kitchen, the warm glow of candlelight reflecting off the polished wooden table. Ben sat across from his parents, a small smirk tugging at his lips as Sandra placed a chocolate fudge cake in front of him. Seventeen candles flickered atop it, tiny flames dancing in the dimly lit room.

Carl crossed his arms, watching his son with an amused expression. "Seventeen, huh? Feels like just yesterday you were begging us to let you stay up past ten."

Ben rolled his eyes. "Pretty sure that was when I was like… seven."

Sandra chuckled as she handed him a knife. "Just be grateful we didn't invite the neighbors for this. You're getting too famous, kid. The moment we step outside, people are talking about you."

Ben hesitated for a fraction of a second before masking it with a shrug. "It's just the media hyping things up. I'm still just me."

Carl gave a knowing look but said nothing. Instead, he nodded toward the cake. "Well, don't just sit there. Make a wish."

Ben inhaled slowly, eyes scanning the flames. A wish. He had everything he could possibly need—resources, knowledge, power. But there was always more to do.

He exhaled and blew out the candles.

The room went dark for a split second before Sandra flicked the lights back on. "Alright, let's cut this before your dad eats half of it in one sitting."

Carl scoffed. "Hey, I resent that."

Ben smirked, enjoying the rare moment of normalcy. As much as he had been pushing himself forward, moments like this reminded him that he still had a place here—still had a family that saw him as just their son.

For tonight, that was enough.

----------

April 12, 2002 – Galvan Tech Buildings, Queens, New York

The main building stood tall in the middle of the city, its glass windows reflecting the golden afternoon sun. Though still undergoing final interior work, it was coming together—Galvan Tech's official headquarters. A few blocks away, the second structure was more discreet, built for research and development, where the real work would take place.

Ben walked through the unfinished halls, Gideon's voice in his earpiece.

"The security systems are being installed as we speak. The mainframe setup is on track for completion by the end of the month."

Ben nodded, stepping into what would eventually be his personal office. The room was large but minimalistic—he had no interest in unnecessary grandeur.

"Keep an eye on the contractors. Make sure there are no security gaps," he said.

"Already monitoring. No suspicious activity detected."

Satisfied, Ben took one last glance at the facility before teleporting away.

----------

April 13, 2002 – Base, Outskirts of Queens

The underground base was silent except for the faint hum of machinery. A soft blue glow bathed the space as holograms hovered mid-air, displaying the finalized schematics for Gideon's body.

Ben stood in front of a workbench, exhaling slowly as he examined the materials. Months of planning, refining, and testing had led to this moment.

"This is it," he muttered. "Gideon, run final diagnostics on all components."

"All systems functioning at optimal capacity. Estimated completion time: six days."

Ben cracked his knuckles. "Let's get started."

He activated the fabrication process, watching as the first layers of Gideon's outer framework took shape. The plating was sleek yet durable, engineered from advanced alloys modeled after Techadon constructs. Beneath it, synthetic musculature reinforced with nanite-driven repair systems would grant her the resilience of a high-tier combat android while maintaining human-like flexibility.

Each component was assembled with meticulous precision. Grey Matter's hyper-intelligence had optimized the structural integrity, Frankenstrike's biomechanical expertise had refined the internal energy distribution, and Brainstorm's processing enhancements ensured that Gideon's consciousness would seamlessly transition into her new form.

This wasn't just another machine.

This was Gideon.

As the framework neared completion, Ben stepped back, taking a slow breath.

"Ben?" Gideon's voice was uncharacteristically soft.

He didn't respond immediately. Instead, he placed a hand on the half-assembled frame. "You ready for this?"

"I was created to serve as your assistant, but now… I will be something more." A brief pause. "I am ready."

Ben smirked. "Good. Let's finish this."

The countdown had begun. By April 19, she would no longer just be a voice in his ear.

She would be real.

-X-X-X-X-X-

April 19, 2002 – Hero Lair, Outskirts of Queens

The hum of machinery filled the underground base, a steady backdrop to the final stages of a project months in the making. Suspended in a reinforced assembly rig, Gideon's nearly completed body stood motionless—sleek, refined, and flawless in its design. This was the culmination of Ben's knowledge, his experience with alien technology, and the necessity of someone he could trust to manage the company while he continued his work in the shadows.

Ben stood a few feet away, eyes narrowed in concentration as he made final calibrations. Sparks flickered as his welding tool connected the last internal circuits, ensuring the power core would integrate seamlessly into the neural framework. This was it—just a few more adjustments, and Gideon would be ready.

Gideon's voice, coming from the speakers, was filled with anticipation. "Final synchronization at ninety-eight percent. Core integration will be complete within the next two hours."

Ben smirked, placing the tool down. "Not bad. We might actually finish ahead of schedule."

Then, the alarm went off.

A sharp, high-pitched warning echoed through the lab, cutting through the moment. Gideon's tone immediately shifted from calm to urgent. "Seismic activity detected in the Pacific Ocean. A 7.2 magnitude earthquake has triggered a tsunami warning for the eastern coast of Japan."

Ben's entire posture changed. "How long?"

"Current projections estimate impact in less than forty minutes. Wave height will exceed fifteen meters upon landfall. Even with full evacuation efforts, casualties will be catastrophic."

His jaw tightened. "No time to wait."

In a flash of green, his body shifted, transforming into Jetray. The moment his wings extended, he vanished, teleporting instantly from the lab—leaving nothing behind but the faint glow of residual energy.

----------

The wind roared in his ears as he soared across the sky at near-supersonic speeds. From this altitude, the ocean stretched endlessly below him, shimmering under the morning sun. But just ahead, the water was behaving unnaturally—swelling, shifting, gathering momentum.

Ben's eyes locked onto the incoming wave. It was massive, an unstoppable force that threatened to swallow entire coastal cities.

Without hesitation, he shifted forms mid-air. A burst of green light surrounded him as his body morphed into Gravattack, his mass expanding as he became a living gravitational force.

The moment he stabilized, he reached out with his power.

Gravity warped around him, bending reality itself as he exerted control over the tsunami. The towering wave slowed, its immense force struggling against an invisible weight. Ben gritted his teeth as he increased the gravitational pull, anchoring the ocean in place.

The struggle lasted for mere seconds, but it felt like minutes. Then—just as the wave reached its peak—Ben shifted its gravitational center, dispersing the energy harmlessly back into the ocean.

The monstrous wave collapsed, breaking apart into harmless ripples that faded into the vast expanse of the sea.

Silence followed.

Ben exhaled, allowing himself a small moment to appreciate the view. The threat was gone. No buildings destroyed. No lives lost.

"Tsunami neutralized," Gideon confirmed through his communicator. "Japan's early warning systems are reporting a sudden dispersal of the wave. Officials are baffled."

Ben smirked. "Let them be."

He teleported back.

----------

The underground base was just as he left it, save for one change—Gideon's body, still standing in the assembly rig, its final synchronization nearing completion.

He exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Alright. Disaster's handled. Now, let's finish what we started."

"Welcome back," Gideon said, her voice steady. "Shall we proceed with activation?"

Ben grinned, stepping forward. "Yeah. Let's bring you to life."