Calling of the DNA

Chapter 10

Well, here it is. After forever of putting this off, the first part of my series is finished. I still haven't come up with a name for the series, so if any of you have a name then I will be very happy to here your ideas.

Ben walked quickly down the hall, practically running till she got to the doors that led outside to the health trailers. She took a deep breath and pushed open the doors. She quickly spotted the person she was looking for. Only a few people were out there but all of them except one was heading inside. She made her way over to the figure leaning against the trailer.

"Julie." she said, anticipation wafting off her in spades.

She look up, "Ben, I-,"

"Listen, Julie, I really wish this didn't happen and I am so sorry that it did. But I don't know what to do about it and I am sort of stuck this way and I really don't want to end what we have even if it is…different." Ben blurted out before she could stop herself, though slowing to a halt at the end.

Julie quickly interjected, "Ben, I know. I just don't see how it can be the same. We can't really just keep dating. I mean, how would it look, dating Ben one week then his female cousin a week later? You get it, don't you Ben."

"I know I just…maybe we could just, well, still…I don't know." Ben could think of anything to say despite having said so much previously. Every time she opened her mouth, it all got so much more confusing.

"We can still be friends and we can still hang out but this kind of change is just too much. I'm sorry, Ben er uh, Brinnley, Brin. If I had time, then…I don't really know. It's just too much and too sudden. I'm sorry, I need to get going. I have to make up a test before lunch is over. Bye, Ben." She said then walked away leaving Ben alone.

Ben felt unsteady. He sat down against the trailer. He realized that everything she had said was true. Things would be different, in fact, nothing would be the same. Her relationship with everyone would be different. His grandmother and mother had seemed to be around her much more. Her dad had completely gone emotionless and barely ever talked or looked at her. Her and Julie were now 'just friends' and were most likely not going to remain close. She knew that and most likely Julie did too. It was only a matter of time.

She buried her head deep into her arms that she had crossed over her brought up knees. It all just gave her a headache to think about. Despite herself, she began to cry. Ben cursed the stupid emotional thing that was happening to her. It was all the Omnitrix and Anodite heritage fault. She wished that she had never found the Omnitrix and that she hoped to never have it again and was glad that it was broke. As soon as she could she would give it back to Azmuth. She could care less what happens to the universe.

She was brought out of her thoughts as a hand fell on her shoulder. She jumped slightly and looked up to see concerned green eyes.

"Ben, are you okay?" Gwen asked, her voice shaking slightly at the site of her cousin.

Ben wiped away the tears and stood up. She nearly tripped as she came to her feet. For one noticing the bangs that fell way beyond her face. She brushed them out of the way and noticed that her hair was very much so past the ground, being the thing she had tripped on.

She let out a sigh, "I'm sorry, I just lost track of time. When does class start?"

"Actually class started ten minutes ago. I asked to be excused so that I could find you." She said then pointed to her hair, "Do you want me to fix that."

She let out a laugh that sounded closer to a sob of utter frustration, "It would be appreciated, thanks."

"It would be a lot faster this way." Gwen said holding up her arm with a pink glow to it. Ben nodded and with a flick of Gwen's wrist a whole chunk of her hair was lopped off. Then she began to work on the bangs till they wore at their proper place, "There! That should do it. Come on Ben, we should get to class." But she didn't move, "You know. This isn't all bad, Ben. Grandpa said he was going to be staying around awhile longer. He told me this morning before school. He really wants to help you get through this. Grandma also. Now that she has two Anodite grandkids."

Ben looked into her cousin's eyes at the joy and sincerity, "I always wanted to get to know grandma Verdona but she was always vanishing. And plus, Aunt Sandy is really excited about this. I mean, she is still a bit shocked and all but she is still very excited about the whole thing." She took a minute to take a breath, "I think it's also better."

Ben gave her a strange look, "What do you mean? Having my entire life turned upside down in a single day?"

"No, Ben." She said with enough exasperation to drown any protest from Ben, "When was the last time you actually had time to yourself without some weird alien coming out of the woodworks to get at you and the Omnitrix, or saving the universe. With it gone, who is going to come for you now. For once, you are actually safe from life threatening, intergalactic criminals, hell bent on taking over the universe." She closed her eyes, her head bowed, "I just want you to be happy Ben. All of this was forced on you when you were just a child. You could never actually be you when you had the Omnitrix. It may not be any different with your Anodite powers, but I just hope it will be better. Just know that I love you Ben, no matter what."

He was taken aback by his cousin's words. This was the first time someone had actually given her a reason not to consider her predicament as all bad. The others, of course, gave her support and words of comfort, but never given Ben this much hope about what her future might hold. It was almost enough to bring a tear to her eyes. Stupid hormones.

It was then that Ben realized that not everything would be different but it would be best to start changing now so that she could accept it.

"Gwen, I think it would be best to call me Brinnley from now on." She said, thinking for a moment, then added, "You know, just so no one over hears or something like that. But of course you can just call me Brin."

"Alright then Brin, I think we should get going. We don't want to keep the class waiting." The two girls walked down the halls.

The newly dubbed Brinnley felt that maybe this wouldn't be all bad. She still had powers that she could fight aliens with, really, how could she stop kicking ass now. And, despite some major changes, she still had family. If ever she needed help she could always turn to Grandma Verdona or Gwen and even her mom. She would definitely need to learn how to cut her own hair better along with get control of her Anodite powers but she was almost looking forward to it.

A new life, a new start, new powers. Yup, it was definitely not all that bad. She would just have to deal with the flirting. Maybe she should just say that she was gay and get all of the jock idiots off her back. She could discuss it later with Gwen maybe. She now found a lot of things that she had in common with her cousin. Brin found that this was another benefit about the whole thing. She could get closer to Gwen. After the years they had not been as close since they had been 10 and with their grandpa but maybe this could help.

Once they walked into the class, the teacher looked up. She could see the reddened face so she let go of whatever she had been about to say and told the two to take a set at the computers. They both sat down next to Josh who, unsurprisingly, had the same class. This class so far had to be Brin's favorite. Everybody was so focused on their computer screens that they barely noticed her or when they did, the whisperings were quickly extinguished by the teacher. With Gwen's help she was able to finish the problems assigned early and was able to play online computer games. Of course there was still the bother of Josh but Brin got over it.

When the bell finally rang, the two cousins walked out of the door and headed down the hall along with Josh at Gwen's side. Brin couldn't help but think that this guy was pretty good for her cousin. He was nice to her and was almost as smart, almost. He was also a plumber so there was nothing to hide.

As the three past Gwen and Josh's next class they said their goodbyes, and Brin headed off to her own class. She didn't really want to go on account of Julie but she couldn't just not go. She had to so she walked into the class room, she quickly looked around and spotted her. It looked like Julie hadn't notice her as she frivolously wrote down the warm up in her notebook that was written up on the board.

It was only after the bell rang did she notice Brin but they both quickly averted their eyes. After the introductions were over, Brin took the seat that was far enough over from Julie as to keep her distance. It was also in the back so she was able to sleep through most of the lesson. There weren't as many whispers on account of most of what was said about her had already been said throughout the day.

She barely noticed the class pass by before the bell was waking her from a nice nap. As Brin headed out the door and watching as Julie all but ran out just before, she felt pretty good. She had felt way too many feelings that day and really wanted to get home and relax. Or just take a really long nap, it really didn't matter to her. She walked out of the school and headed to her car. Today wasn't the best first day of school she has ever had but it also wasn't the worst. Okay, maybe it was but that was beside the point. The point was that she would just have to deal with this. Her grandpa had always said she could adapt to any situation and she was definitely going to adapt to this one.

SOMEWHERE ELSE IN THE UNIVERSE

"Sir, there has been an anomaly. It is some sort of power, an Anodite. A powerful one at that." The unnamed soldier said to the commander of their ship. He was a burly, grey creature, built like a rock, "It may just be what you are looking for."

The grey skinned, trailing black haired, eight foot man looked thoughtful at what the other had said, "Set course for the source."

The others in the room heard there commander and began to change direction on the space ship to their new destination.

"It says that it is on a planet called Earth, Lord Magra." The soldier said as he hand Lord Magra the chart on the newly discovered power source.

"Earth, that will be a good starting planet for my conquest. Once that planet has been drained of its energy, we will go after Anodyne and I will have my revenge against my sweet Verdona." Magra says the last part almost to himself. The soldier hears but chooses not to say anything, wise as it was to stay silent, "How long before we get there?"

"It will be nine, maybe ten months, my Lord." The soldier said.

"That will be all. You are dismissed." He said waving his hand in a dismissive gesture. His dark smirk gracing his handsome features. Looking down at a brilliant pink stone attached to a marvelous gold ring engraved with beautiful alien loops, dangling almost with care around a thin chain over his neck, "So very soon, sweet Verdona."

END