Chapter Text
It was simple to find a Chronosapien. Convincing them took a minor effort on Vilgax’s part.
The challenging part was choosing where to reenter the narrative. He would have to start at the beginning. The very beginning. If his reputation preceded him, it would be an arduous task to implement his plan.
In his past life, he had ruined the only thing he cared about, the boy Ben Tennyson. This time, he would not be so careless.
First, he conquered his planet; He challenged their greatest warrior to a battle — which he won with ease — and renamed it Vilgaxia, as was proper.
Next, he had to establish himself on Earth. Tennyson would hopefully respect another hero.
Rather than battling George Washington, he assisted him in forming the plumbers. As the years progressed, he stayed his hand. He didn’t deign to do minor work like alien control or patrols but kept his reputation at a high as a plumber.
He conquered a few more worlds — meager ones in need of a stable lord — in his free time. There was time to waste until his Ben would come around. He used this time to his advantage, gaining a reputation as well as wealth.
He modified his form much less than he had previously, this time remaining at a less than impressive seven feet tall, as opposed to his previous fifteen. He needed to be able to fit in human buildings.
When Maxwell Tennyson was in his youth, Vilgax restrained himself until he was of age. He was tempted to keep Max Tennyson as his prize, rather than wait for the one he desired, but he contained himself.
He had his fun with Maxwell, how could he resist? He was his partner, more than just watching his back as a plumber. He deigned to complete menial alien extermination, merely to reside in his presence.
He kept him company until it was time for him to meet his love, Verdona.
The thought of an underage Benjamin Tennyson revolted him, so he visited very few times in the other’s youth. He met the youngling shortly after their birth, holding them in his arms. The Tennyson was so… meager, nothing like the hero he grew to hate. He visited again when the boy was 10 years of age. How infuriating the thing was, Vilgax nearly discarded the plan then and there in order to destroy him. He had never been so disrespected by such a being in his life. It was only fitting when he thought about it. He visited once more to say farewell. He had to bide his time until the boy was of age. He held no interest in such immaturity.
Without his negative presence, other challengers took his place as Tennyson’s adversary. It took the majority of his willpower to resist intervening. He kept a close eye on him nonetheless.
With such influence within the plumbers, he was able to assign himself as Tennyson’s partner the day his cousin and friend moved away to college. It was serendipitous that such an opening was left when he was a perfect twenty years of age.
Maxwell insisted a “Rook Blanko”, a Revonnahgander, should fill the position, a suggestion Vilgax immediately shot down. Apparently, founding the plumbers deserved a higher status than working with a magister’s wildcard grandson.
His insistence on protecting the most powerful tool in the omniverse is what ultimately settled him for the role - not that he would have accepted any other response. It was ironic, this time around, he could not care less about the device, yet he had to feign interest to get close to his true desire.
Sure, he had spent years waiting for this very moment, but it seemed so… odd now that it was nigh.
Vilgax, a once mighty, omniversally, feared warlord, sat on a stool much too small for him, draped in a cloak, pretending to consume eat human food at “Mr. Baumann’s” grocery store.
When Tennyson arrived, it took all of his willpower to wait until he required assistance to step in. He attempted to eliminate his opponents with his Arburian Pelarota form; his “Cannonbolt” form struggled to take out his enemy, further hindered by the concerned clerk.
He had to admit, it was fascinating to watch a battle that was not against him. The conflict was much less impressive than anticipated. This was the all-powerful Ben Tennyson? Failing to disable a bomb while allowing the miscreants to escape.
He stepped in when Tennyson displayed his inability to contain the situation.
With one hand, he picked up the device broke a window, and launched it into space.
Tennyson was less than pleased at his assistance, “I had that! It was under control!”
Ungrateful.
Vilgax spoke, “There was no definition in which you had that ‘under control’. Now, go. Fetch the knave.”
“What?” Tennyson tilted his head at him.
Vilgax rubbed a hand down his face, ameliorating his words for the other, “Get the bad guy.”
“Yeah! Right!” He turned on his heel and bolted after them.
Vilgax took the liberty of taking two of his foes and launching them through a wall- to the clear displeasure of the store owner.
Ben returned shortly, his enemy incapacitated under his arm.
He huffed, “Thanks, but I could have got them.” Tennyson took another look at him as if seeing him for the first time again, “And who are you supposed to be? You look familiar, have I kicked your butt before?”
Did he just assume Vilgax was evil? Why did he bother becoming
“Perhaps in your past life, but certainly not in this one. I am a family friend and your new partner.”
“My new-? I don’t want a new partner! No offense, but I’m Ben Tennyson.” He spoke as if he expected some sort of applause.
“I am aware.”
Far too aware.
He gestured to his wrist, “Wielder of the Omnitrix, see? I saved the universe like a billion times. Well, I was kind of looking forward to being on my own now. You understand, right?” He attempted to dismiss him.
“Are you aware of who I am?” He asked.
Tennyson tilted his head at him, “Should I? I meet a lot of people in my line of work.”
“My name is Vilgax, Magistratus Vilgax to you. We have only met a few times prior, so your impudence is excused.”
The color drained from his face.
His eyes widened as he realized, “Magi- stratus, I- uh” He shook his wrist, imitating a phone call, “The Omnitrix is buzzing, I should probably take that- I’ll be back in a sec.” Tennyson stepped outside of the building, leaving Vilgax alone with the criminals and a fuming Baumann.
He phoned other plumbers to come and pick up the criminals. He could have brought them in himself, but he was much more interested in the conversation on the opposite side of the wall.
He didn’t need to peer around a corner, his superior hearing was adequate.
On the other side, he spoke through clenched teeth, “Grandpa Max! I don’t need a partner or a babysitter, nonetheless the Magistratus. You’re friends with him, right? Can you ask him to find someone else to bother?”
“No can do kiddo, he specifically assigned himself to you. He’s been static for years; he’s probably just antsy to start helping out again. Vilgax can be a bit tough to warm up to but he’s the best partner I’ve had - saved my life more than a few times. Give him a chance, let him watch your back.” His grandpa reassured him.
“But-”
“Going through a tunnel, talk to you later, kid.” Max feigned static sounds before hanging up the call.
Why did he bother going through all the trouble of gaining a reputation if the boy did not even respect him for it? He should not have expected so much of him.
The sigh weighed heavily on him. Tennyson would learn to appreciate his presence, just as he had before.
He came back inside after a moment, appearing only slightly fazed by his grandfather’s response.
Vilgax let out a thoughtful hum, “I take it Maxwell had no good news for you?”
“How’d you-?” He tilted his head at Vilgax.
“Lucky guess.”
“I know people respect you and all that, but I’m still not looking for a partner.”
“You will not rid yourself of me that easily, Ben Tennyson.” He had not waited this long to allow his prize to slip away.
“You can just call me Ben, Dude, and we’ll see about that, Magist- Magi-” Ben thought for a moment, “Magic Marker.” he laughed at his own joke.
“It is Magistratus Vilgax to you. ” He thought about it for a moment before letting a smirk cross his face, “Or, if your human brain is unable to grasp my proper title, I will accept ‘master’ — as I am your superior — or ‘sir’”
Ben tsked at his request, “Nice try, I don’t really even work for the plumbers - I’m more of a freelance hero, ya know?” He glanced around, clearly searching for an out, “Looks like everythings taken care of here. Thanks for sticking around until the rest of the plumbers get here, but I gotta get going.”
“You dare leave while I-”
“Catch ya later, Vilgy!”
Before he could convince him to stay, he had already skittered around the corner. Had he no self-preservation?
Vilgax took a deep breath.
He had waited years to see him again. What was another day?
Ben was naive, disrespectful, infuriating, disobedient, selfless, and vehemently charming.
Oh, how he missed him.
Vilgax could manipulate or beat him, but he could do that with anyone or thing; Such an injustice to a unique creature was a crime in itself.
Sure, it took skill to mold another creature, but what was violence but a cheat code? All intelligent creatures responded to brutality in the only way they knew how: by learning and adapting and surviving.
Anyone could use cruelty the same way that anyone could succumb to it.
Not just any creature could woo another.
He would win Ben on his terms, on his home turf.
It had been eons since he had come across a challenge.