Chapter 5 - Episode 5: Echoes of the Past

The hunting dog slammed into Ben, knocking him off his feet. He rolled across the ground, narrowly avoiding a blast of energy from Dr. Animo's mutated creatures. He scrambled to his feet, his body aching, his mind racing. He had to find a way to reach the villains, to break Malakor's control. But how? He looked at Zs'Skayr, the Ectonurite overlord, his eyes burning with an unholy light. He remembered their past encounters, their battles, their shared history. He knew that Zs'Skayr was a being of pure darkness, but he also knew that there was a spark of something else within him, a flicker of intelligence, a hint of regret. He focused his energy, channeling it towards Zs'Skayr. He reached out with his mind, trying to connect with him, to remind him of who he once was. "Zs'Skayr," he said, his voice echoing through the battlefield. "I know you're in there. Fight it! Break free!" Zs'Skayr paused, his eyes flickering with confusion. He seemed to be struggling against something, fighting against an unseen force. Malakor's control seemed to be wavering. Ben seized the opportunity, focusing his energy even more intensely. He reached out to the other villains as well, to Dr. Animo, to Malware, to Khyber, to Eon. He reminded them of their past lives, their past motivations, their past selves. He showed them the darkness that Malakor had inflicted upon them, the twisted versions of themselves that they had become. Slowly, gradually, the villains began to break free of Malakor's control. Their eyes cleared, their expressions softened. They looked at each other, confused and disoriented. Malakor roared in anger, his control slipping away. He unleashed a wave of energy, attempting to reassert his dominance, but it was too late. The villains had regained their senses. They turned against Malakor, their weapons raised, their eyes filled with defiance. "You will not control us," Zs'Skayr said, his voice filled with rage. "We are not your puppets." The villains attacked Malakor, their combined powers overwhelming him. He was knocked to the ground, his body writhing in pain. Ben watched the battle, his heart filled with hope. He had done it. He had freed the villains from Malakor's control. But he knew that the fight was far from over. Malakor was still a formidable opponent, even without his puppets. He would not give up easily. Suddenly, Malakor unleashed a wave of energy, knocking the villains away. He stood to his feet, his body glowing with an even more intense light. He was drawing power from the Null Void itself, amplifying his abilities to unimaginable levels. "You have interfered with my plans, Tennyson," he said, his voice filled with hatred. "Now you will pay the ultimate price." He raised his hand, and the Null Void began to collapse around them. The ground crumbled, the sky shattered, the very fabric of reality began to unravel. They were being pulled into a singularity, a point of infinite density and infinite destruction. Ben knew that they had to escape, but he didn't know how. The Null Void was collapsing too quickly, too violently. They were running out of time. He looked at Gwen and Kevin, their faces filled with fear. He knew that he had to do something to save them, even if it meant sacrificing himself. He took a deep breath and reached for the Ultimatrix. He didn't know what form he would take, but he knew that he had to try. He slammed his hand down on the device, and the green energy surged through his body. He transformed into…something different. Something unexpected. He transformed into Alien X. But something was wrong. He wasn't in control. Serena and Bellicus, the two personalities that resided within Alien X, were arguing, debating, disagreeing. They were unable to come to a consensus, unable to act. Ben was trapped inside his own mind, unable to influence their decisions. "No!" he screamed, his voice echoing through the void. "I need you! We need to stop Malakor!" But Serena and Bellicus were deaf to his pleas. They continued to argue, oblivious to the impending doom. The Null Void was collapsing, the singularity drawing ever closer. Ben was running out of time. He had to find a way to convince Serena and Bellicus to work together, to unleash the power of Alien X. But how? As the singularity loomed, threatening to consume them all, Ben glimpsed a figure in the distance. It was Professor Paradox, his eyes twinkling with amusement. He seemed to be watching the scene unfold with detached interest. "Paradox!" Ben shouted. "Help us!" Paradox smiled, his expression enigmatic. "I'm afraid I can't interfere directly, Ben," he said. "But perhaps I can offer a little…perspective." He snapped his fingers, and Ben's mind was flooded with images, memories, and emotions. He saw his past, his present, and his potential future. He saw the consequences of his actions, the lives he had saved, the mistakes he had made. He saw the potential for greatness within him, the power to change the universe for the better. And he saw the darkness that threatened to consume him, the doubt, the fear, the despair. Paradox's intervention gave Ben a newfound clarity. He understood that he wasn't just fighting for himself, or for his friends, or even for the universe. He was fighting for the very concept of hope, for the belief that anything was possible, for the power of choice. He focused his will, channeling his newfound understanding towards Serena and Bellicus. He showed them the images, the memories, the emotions that Paradox had revealed to him. He reminded them of their shared purpose, their responsibility to protect the universe. Slowly, gradually, Serena and Bellicus began to listen. They saw the truth in Ben's words, the urgency of the situation. They realized that they had to work together, to overcome their differences, to unleash the power of Alien X. They finally reached a consensus. And Ben Tennyson was once again in control. But what would he do? Could he possibly stop the collapse of the Null Void, or was it already too late? And what would be the cost of wielding such immense power? As Alien X opened his eyes, a surge of cosmic energy erupted outwards, pushing back against the encroaching singularity. But even as hope flickered, a new threat emerged from the shadows, a figure shrouded in darkness, its presence radiating an aura of pure malice. The figure whispered a single word, a word that echoed through the collapsing dimension, a word that struck fear into the hearts of all who heard it: "Diagon." The question hung in the air, unanswered and terrifying: who was Diagon, and what did he want? Ben Tennyson, as Alien X, was about to find out, and the answer could very well determine the fate of everything he held dear. But even with the combined power of Alien X, could he possibly stand against a force that seemed to embody the very essence of destruction? And what sacrifices would he have to make to save the universe, even if it meant losing himself in the process?