Idleness (Open)

[bears-omnitrix.livejournal.com]

Lately Ben had been kind of restless, and thus had been buzzing around the city. It was way too quiet with everything going on, and as much as he hated being idle, there was really no helping it at times.

He had gotten a RideVendor remote from Philip and had taken out one of the cycles for a spin. A few false starts and he was roaring around the city at a breakneck pace before pulling up to the park. Removing his helmet, he brushed his hair of sweat. "I really like motorcycles," he declared to no one as he got off and began to do a few warm ups.

While training in the sensoriums was always fun, he was often finding himself preferring the city more and more, and he selected an alien from his watch, an old standby favorite.

"CANNONBOLT!" yelled Ben as he began to roll and bounce all over the place.

Comments

[bears-omnitrix.livejournal.com]

"As far as I can tell, I'm protected from disease when I'm in any form." Not to pregnancy, he added silently, remembering the Big Chill incident. "And I can head into space too. The only disease I've known to catch are earth-borne ones. Like a cold or flu, but that's normal for me."

[8wings.livejournal.com]

"Whoo," she blew out her breath. "A pan-species immune system? And the ability to duplicate biological powers? Whoever made your Ultimatrix must have had incredible knowledge! And for you to be entrusted with such a machine..."

Her look was frankly admiring.

[bears-omnitrix.livejournal.com]

"His name is Azmuth, and he's the greatest scientific mind in two galaxies, maybe more." replied Ben. "I could never come up to his level, so I just use this, and keep thinking about how good it'll feel to see everyone again."

[8wings.livejournal.com]

"To see everyone again would be wonderful. To bring everything back. And what a story we'll have to tell everyone back home."

Of course, whether anyone would believe her would be another matter.

[bears-omnitrix.livejournal.com]

"I know my mom and dad would be amused by the stories I'll tell them later," said Ben. "I mean, they accepted Grandpa Max's intergalactic cop thing pretty well."

[8wings.livejournal.com]

She really hoped that her family never showed up, here or anywhere, ever again. Ever.

"So, being a hero is a family tradition?" That sort of made sense. A grandfather as an intergalactic cop, a grandson in control of a shapeshifting machine.

[bears-omnitrix.livejournal.com]

"Well we don't plan on being heroes. It just sort of happens," replied Ben, grinning lightly. "My family's pretty extraordinary in their own way. Even without the alien bloodline."

[8wings.livejournal.com]

"It just sort of happens," she repeated, deadpan. "Like climbing up a tree? Just - suddenly, hero?"

[bears-omnitrix.livejournal.com]

"Yep. Happened to my grandpa, happened to me. Grandpa Max became a space cop from what I was told was a complete and utter accident, saving grandma from a slaver. The Omnitrix, at least the first one, crash landed near our camp when I was 10 when since my genetic profile matched grandpa's it latched on, causing me to gain the powers."

Ben shrugged. "Heroes aren't born in my world, they're made."

[8wings.livejournal.com]

"That's a little daunting, actually." Was this ship trying to make its crew more heroic?

Did Stacy really think that would work?

"I don't think I have anything like that in my background. I still get the feeling sometimes that I was just standing next to someone else who was important, and got snatched up with them."

Hopefully, not instead of them.

[bears-omnitrix.livejournal.com]

"Everyone's got something to contribute, even if it's not seen immediately," pointed out Ben. "Just gotta keep looking for it y'know?"

[8wings.livejournal.com]

"I'm definitely still looking. I thought it was a medical database, but that was incomplete. Then I thought it was helping out in Medical, but Stacy started sending me on missions."

She shrugged, hands out. "I wonder if I'll end up doing everything once. Like - what's the program called on Earth? Apprenticing, or work study, or something."

[bears-omnitrix.livejournal.com]

"Apprenticing is a good way to learn what you really want to do," said Ben, perching himself onto a low wall. "A lot of people do it, well into their 30s back home, and sometimes we change majors."

[8wings.livejournal.com]

Anwei sat down as well.

"My species has a sort of - compressed - adolescence," she said, gesturing with her hands as though squeezing time between them. "A very small window for learning things. And once you learn, you're not suppose to change." She put her hands down on the wall, and kicked her heels. "Well. I changed before. Time to change again."

The question was, would she ever be able to change back?

[bears-omnitrix.livejournal.com]

"Well, that's something you need to answer for yourself then," said Ben. "Changing will give you the opportunity to give a second chance at everything."

[8wings.livejournal.com]

She smiled. "A chance that many don't ever get. This is a very strange classroom to learn in, though," she said dryly, indicating the maze of mismatched buildings, and the artificial sun glowing overhead.

[bears-omnitrix.livejournal.com]

"That's life for you. Or for me at least. This is pretty old hat for me." replied Ben. "I haven't seen anything yet that surprises me."

[8wings.livejournal.com]

She blinked, surprised. He'd been here a long time, and nothing had surprised him? What sort of a life had he led before he got here?

She looked at him sideways. "Old hat? I can't tell if you're serious or not. If you are, I wish I could figure out how to get some of that equanimity bottled and distributed. It would make arrival here a lot easier."

[bears-omnitrix.livejournal.com]

"I'm just being oblivious to most things. It's not hard. I mean, if you're going to worry, then worry in general. But getting worked up about every little thing? Not worth it." And he leaned back, placing his hands on his head in relaxation.

[8wings.livejournal.com]

Anwei was definitely a worrier. But that wasn't doing her much good here.

"Any tips on deciding what are little things, and what are not? I'm used to have someone else keep track of things around me, and now that he isn't here, I'm trying to adjust."

[bears-omnitrix.livejournal.com]

"That's something I can't say for certain. Different people are always finding their own priorities and all," remarked Ben. "But finding what is important to you, often helps support the decision on what's important or not."

[8wings.livejournal.com]

"Trying to keep myself alive, and not harm others unnecessarily, was usually first on my list. After that..." After that, what was important to her? Keeping her oath to her God, she supposed. How else could she hope for her God to find her here?

"For a long time what was important was give the greatest happiness, the most life, to the greatest number of people. Hence, the medical database. And then the universe went away." She drew up her legs, propped her chin on her knees. "So now I work in Computing, and Medical, and hope that my efforts help support everyone else. A rather subtle and low-key flavor of heroics."

[bears-omnitrix.livejournal.com]

"We need heroes like that though," said Ben, serious again for a brief moment. "Without them, we wouldn't be in the state we were in now, able to fight when push comes to shove, and find what needs to be done."

[8wings.livejournal.com]

"You can be the arms and legs, and the brain. And I'll be the backbone, passing along the messages, and reminding everyone when to eat," she chuckled.

[bears-omnitrix.livejournal.com]

"That's pretty much the truth right there," remarked Ben. "Easy isn't it?"