Omnitranyl (Ben 10 Alien Force)

"Magistrate Tennyson, we are approaching the orbit of Galvan Prime," says the ship's computer.

"Wonderful" Max changes position and, sitting with his legs hanging over the side of the hospital bed, he begins to remove the electrodes from his chest.

"Sir, the treatment is only 14% complete. I recommend that you allow me to complete it before releasing you to your work."

"I appreciate the concern, computer, but it will have to be enough for now." With a slightly pained expression, Max removes the venous accesses from his arms "Request landing permission from Galvan Prime, please."

"Yes, Magistrate."

Max put on his Plumber's uniform and headed towards the main cabin. As soon as the access door opened, the computer began to tell him the news:

"Sir, our permission has been denied."

-What do you mean?" He quickened his pace and approached the command panel "Establish contact with Galvan Prime, I need to understand what is going on."

"Yes, sir."

Max checked the data and graphics on the ship's screens while he waited for the computer's response. Time was something he could not waste. After a few seconds, the answer came:

"Connection established with Galvan Prime, Magistrate."

"Put it on the screen."

The main screen was then occupied by the image of a Galvanian dressed in a green uniform, with a device attached to what would be the entrance of his ear canal.

"My name is Milzher, from the Galvan Prime Entry Control, how may I help you?" said the Galvanian.

"Hello Milzher, I am Magistrate Tennyson of the Plumbers, I would like to request landing on Galvan Prime."

"Spacecraft code, please."

"Computer, pass on the information."

For a few minutes Max could only hear the sound of keys being pressed, at an admirable speed, on the other side of the screen.

"Right, Mr. Magistrate. However, there are no reports in our records of any travel from Earth to Galvan Prime."

"I explain: I am on a mission, and unfortunately conditions have forced me to make this unannounced trip."

"I see…" his apathetic tone of voice showed no signs of understanding.

"Am I free to enter?"

"Unfortunately, Mr. Magistrate, we cannot release you for internal security reasons, and since there was no prior notice of your arrival, we remain-"

"What do you mean?" Max interrupted. He knew that the Galvanian bureaucracy often bordered on the absurd, but there was a limit to being absurd!

"As I said, Mr. Magistrate, for reasons of internal security we-"

"That I understand, young fellow, and at first I did not question the impediment, it is your protocol. But understand, I am not here as a civilian, I am here as a Magistrate on a mission, and Galvan Prime is under the protection of the Plumbers, for this reason, I ask you to reevaluate the request for entry, it is of utmost importance!"

Max, in the last few days, had already broken a few dozen rules, breaking one more, lying and abusing his power to gain access ― after all it was a much more personal mission than an official one ― would not make his situation any worse.

The Galvanian remained silent for a few seconds, then turned his head to the side and started talking to someone outside the camera frame. What he was saying could not be heard either, as the microphone was turned off.

The more the parallel conversation went on, the more Max became annoyed.

The conversation lasted about three minutes. Finally, the Galvanian resumed his attention to Max and said:

"Landing authorized. The coordinates are being sent to your ship right now."

"Thank you." He replied, trying to hide the uneasiness in his speech.

"You are welcome. And welcome to Galvan Prime." he said with the same apathy as before. "The First Manager, leader of the Galvanic Council, will be waiting for you at the landing area."

"Excuse me, what?"

***

The landing turbines made the ship approach the ground like a slowly falling tree leaf overcoming the resistance of the air. Two support points came down from the sides of the ship and touched the ground allowing the ship to rest. The boarding ramp was beginning to slide and Max was already at the exit of the ship ready to disembark.

As he descended the ramp, the Magistrate observed a Galvanian, standing on a small floating circular platform, approach the ship accompanied by six Galvanian soldiers, with jetpack-like equipment flying around the Galvanian leader.

"Magistrate Tennyson," the galvanian on the platform extended his arms toward Max as if to give him a hug that didn't happen. "What an honor to finally meet you!"

"Forgive me, Mr. First-manager, but I-"

"Fahtzi. Call me Fahtzi, please." The platform floated high enough for the First Manager to look Max in the eye.

"Okay, Fahtzi."

"May I call you Max?"

"Yes..."

"Tell me, for what reason did the hero of the Plumbers decide to visit our humble Galvan Prime?" With his hand he pointed to the imposing buildings of advanced technology that spread across the landscape.

"I'm sorry, First Manager-"

"Fahtzi, please."

"I'm sorry, Fahtzi... But I cannot reveal the reasons that brought me here today."

"I understand, I understand, you must be on a secret mission for the Plumbers, no problem." Fahtzi pointed to the entrance of the Galvanic Council building and moved his platform like someone offering passage to a guest. "But that doesn't mean I can't welcome you properly. Please, come in."

"First Manager, you don't have to-"

"Fahtzi."

"Mr. Fahtzi, it's not necessary."

"Just Fahtzi, there's no need for formality between us, Max."

"Okay. As I was saying, there is no need. I am very honored that you have come to welcome me, but..." Max watched the first-manager float away on his platform towards the entrance. "But, you're not even listening to me..."

"Come on, Max," from the entrance of the building, the Galvanian was waving. "I've asked them to prepare a meal especially for you. It's not necessarily a banquet, since your arrival took us all by surprise, but I'm sure it will be to your taste."

Max began to walk following the Galvanian leader and his train into the Council building. As soon as he stepped through the opening doors, they were closed behind him by two guards. The magistrate and the Galvanians continued walking down a wide corridor. Fahtzi kept talking, I don't know if he ever stopped talking at any point:

"I learned from the stories that you are a great connoisseur of gastronomy beyond the limits of the Yersen galaxy, so you will surely appreciate what our chef has prepared."

"Mister Fahtzi-"

"Just Fahtzi."

"Fahtzi" Max stopped in the hall. "Unfortunately I can't stay."

The leader and his soldiers also stopped and turned their attention to the magistrate.

"What do you mean, Max?" Fahtzi floated back "Have you stopped enjoying Yersinia's cuisine? Don't be, we'll prepare something different! Do you like flambéed tentacles in the esiadian sauce? I believe we still have some left in the-"

"Sir, I'm really sorry, but I won't be able to stay." Max cut through the first-manager's speech. "It is true that I am on a mission, and at this moment, the time factor is of crucial importance."

"No, no, no, don't worry, I'm sorry, I guess I got a little too excited too..."

"If it were under other circumstances, I would be delighted to accompany you to a banquet, first-manager, but unfortunately this time it won't be possible."

"Don't worry, Max, I fully understand. What's more, if there is any way that I can help you to make up for lost time."

The magistrate knew how difficult it was to establish contact with the great thinker Azmuth. He had been trying for days via communicator and had been getting no response. And from his previous experience, even if he was standing about one meter away from the scientist, with him walking around him, sometimes even tripping over his shoe, even then, the chance of not getting an answer from him was very high.

He decided to accept the galvanic leader's help:

"I need to find Azmuth."

"I'm sorry, Max, but that won't be possible," answered Fahtzi."

"Something has happened to Azmuth!?"

"No, no! Calm down, nothing happened to the great thinker Azmuth!"

"What happened then?"

"About two weeks ago, he went out into the galaxy on one of his researches. And when this happens, he becomes incommunicado for days."

"And why is that?"

"It is his way, we are not sure why. We believe he hates to be disturbed and takes it to an extreme."

Max looked away and stared at the ground. Finding Azmuth was his plan A, and his only plan, to tell the truth.

"And how long does he usually stay like this, incommunicado?"

"Last time he was gone for almost four galvanic months, that would be something... doing the calculations... something like seventeen earth years..."

It's over, Max thought.

"I..." Max was trying to formulate some sentence, but wasn't sure what to say.

"I'm sorry, Max. If there's anything else I can do. Anything at all, just say it!"

"Don't worry, Fahtzi. Unfortunately it was something only Azmuth could handle."

"I understand. We will keep in contact, if we have any news, we will let you know."

"Thank you. Excuse me..."

The Magistrate tried to disguise it, but his frustration was high enough to start leaking through his expression, speech, and even his breathing. He walked back down the corridor towards his spaceship. He went through the doors held securely by the guards and up the ship's access ramp.

Max entered the main cabin, being greeted by the automated computer voice.

"Welcome back, Magistrate. What are your orders?"

"Make the return trip to Earth."

"That's affirmative."

Grandfather Max walked slowly away and sat down in the captain's chair, watching the landscape that was beginning to move through the main window. The tops of the buildings on Galvan Prime were beginning to be seen as the ship gained height.

Max propped his right elbow on the armrest of the chair. With his hand he covered his eyes. His frustration was now beginning to overflow through his eyes.

The spacecraft reached enough height to leave the atmosphere of Galvan Prime. On the far horizon, the dark moon of the planet was visible, orbiting. The computer's voice resounded again through the cabin:

"Course set, Magistrate, activate hyperspace?"

Max uncovered his eyes, raised his head and said:

"In a minute, computer, hold on a moment. Now, who are you and how did you get in?"

Standing with her back to Max, a young blonde woman was watching the spaceship's screens. Realizing that the question had been directed at her, the young woman turned and facing him, said:

"Hello, Magistrate, my name is Eunice. I need your help to save Azmuth."