Of Aliens, Magic, and Superheroes

The end of August marked nearly two months since the first public sighting of the mysterious, shape-shifting creature that had been saving lives across the city.

In the Tennyson family's cozy living room, Ben sat at the dining table with his parents, idly stirring his coffee as the TV played a morning news segment.

"Good morning, New York. I'm Will Harangue, reporting live from New York Central. If you've been keeping up with the news lately, you've undoubtedly seen the viral footage circulating online—videos of an unidentified creature capable of shape-shifting into multiple forms, stopping robberies, rescuing people from burning buildings, and even preventing traffic accidents."

The footage on-screen cut to grainy clips—an indistinct figure emerging from fire and smoke, an armored beast stopping a runaway truck, and a shadowy blur taking down armed criminals.

"While the majority of the public seems to view this entity as a hero, there are some who disagree. Some call it a monster, something that should be taken down before it becomes a real threat. Theories are spreading like wildfire—some believe it to be a secret government experiment, others claim it's an alien. However, as of now, the government has made no official statement on the matter."

The broadcast transitioned to a panel of experts, each with their own opinion. One praised the creature, citing its repeated interventions in life-threatening situations, while another insisted that it was a dangerous unknown and should be captured before it posed a greater risk.

Carl scoffed, shaking his head. "I never thought I'd see the day when a monster played superhero in New York." His voice carried an amused edge, his lips curling into a smirk.

Sandra, however, wasn't entirely convinced. "It's a little scary, don't you think? A creature with that much power roaming around unchecked? Sure, it's saving lives now, but who knows what it really is?"

Ben took a slow sip of his coffee, listening to his parents discuss his own escapades without the slightest clue that their son was the so-called monster. The irony wasn't lost on him, and he had to hold back a chuckle.

His mind wandered as he half-listened to the debate on TV. He thought about the future. Even though he knew that groups like the Avengers would eventually form to protect the world, he wasn't sure if he saw himself as part of something like that. He respected their mission, but he didn't think he'd fit in—nor did he want to.

His thoughts were interrupted when his father turned the conversation toward him.

"So, Ben," Carl began, setting his fork down, "are you ready to head back to school? You did say at the start of the summer that you'd start taking your studies seriously."

Ben smiled slightly, setting down his coffee mug. "Actually, Dad, I've been hitting the books pretty hard. I thought a lot this summer and realized I haven't been reaching my full potential. I started getting into studying more, and… I think I've found a real passion for engineering."

Sandra raised an eyebrow. "Really? Just last year, you were dragging your feet at the thought of going back to school. And now, you're suddenly passionate about engineering?"

Ben chuckled, rubbing the back of his head. "Maybe I've grown up a little. I just think it's time I start focusing on my future. I don't have forever, and I figure it's better to take things seriously while I can."

Carl let out a barking laugh. "Oh my god, Ben. That's a good one. You? Growing up?" He grinned. "Next thing I know, you'll be skipping grades and heading off to some Ivy League college next year."

Ben's grin widened. "How about a bet? If I haven't finished high school by the end of this year, I'll do all the house chores for the entirety of next year. But if I do finish, you owe me a favor."

Carl smirked. "Deal."

Sandra sighed, crossing her arms. While she was proud of Ben's newfound dedication to his studies, she didn't expect him to actually follow through with something as ambitious as skipping grades. Given his past track record, she figured it was just a passing motivation.

Meanwhile, as his parents remained blissfully unaware of his plans, Ben was grinning like a madman. He'd already been planning to accelerate his education—this conversation had just saved him the trouble of convincing them.

While the Tennyson household talked about school and the future, the rest of the world remained fixated on the growing mystery of the shapeshifting vigilante.

-X-X-X-X-X-

The scene shifts from the warm, familiar atmosphere of the Tennyson household to the sleek, high-tech environment of Ben's hidden base.

The underground facility, once an abandoned warehouse, now resembled something out of a sci-fi movie. Metallic walls reinforced with advanced alloys gleamed under soft, blue Plumber-style lighting. Holographic screens lined the main control area, constantly displaying news feeds, security footage, and crime analytics. The hum of high-performance servers and the occasional flicker of digital projections gave the place an air of controlled precision.

At the centre of it all, Ben lounged on a curved, futuristic couch, a plate of chili fries resting on his lap. He popped one into his mouth, sighing in satisfaction. "Finally," he muttered to himself, leaning back. "The base is done."

Gideon's voice chimed in, smooth yet slightly sarcastic. "Correction: You finally finished it. I calculated an optimal build time of three weeks. You took two months."

Ben rolled his eyes. "Yeah, well, forgive me for wanting my crime-fighting lair to be perfect." He gestured vaguely around him. "Besides, I had other things to do—like actually stopping crimes. Pretty sure that takes priority."

"Excuses, excuses," Gideon quipped, her tone light but teasing.

Ben smirked but said nothing. He stared at the glowing blue interface in front of him, watching the scrolling data feeds with mild interest.

His mind drifted. When he first built the base, Gideon had been nothing more than an advanced AI assistant—a highly efficient tool designed to process information and manage logistics. But after upgrading her systems, she had started developing something else—a personality. Subtle, at first, but undeniable. Her quips, her mild sarcasm, even the way she phrased her observations—it all pointed to growth.

Ben didn't mind. In fact, he welcomed it. A little banter made things less monotonous.

Stretching his arms behind his head, he let out a content sigh. "Well, now that the base is done, I can finally start working on my other projects."

Gideon's response was instant. "Shall I open a task list? Or will this be another case of I'll get to it later?"

Ben snorted. "Hey, I just finished one major project. Let me enjoy my fries first."

He took another bite, feeling, for the first time in a while, a sense of real progress.