Ben 10: Alien Force (2008) s03e11 Episode Script
Trade-Off!
[ crash .]
[ rapid footsteps .]
Darkstar! Just the creep I've been looking for.
And now that you've found me? I'm gonna put you out of my misery once and for all.
You're going back to the Null Void, where you belong.
Stand still! You got this beatdown coming! I'd almost forgotten how tedious you can be.
Pretty careless of you to let me track you down! Hardly careless.
Otherwise, I'd never have left a trail so obvious, even an imbecile could follow it.
I wanted you to find me, Kevin.
Both our lives depend on it.
If this is one of your tricks I assure you I am entirely sincere.
If I release you, will you at least hear me out? You got one minute.
Go! My question is a simple one -- do you like being trapped in your current hideous form? About as much as you like being a butt-ugly, energy-sucking vampire.
No offense.
None taken.
For that is precisely my point.
What would you say if I told you there was a way for both of us to become normal again? How? I'll show you.
This is the Dominus Librium -- an ancient instrument of extraordinary power and decidedly alien origin.
Looks like an oversized wishbone.
Legend has it that the Librium was actually a sophisticated power conduit, capable of transferring extraordinary energies from one vessel to another.
Thanks for the history lesson.
But it's history no longer.
After a great deal of effort and expense, I have managed to track the artifact to an isolated island recently risen in the South Pacific.
Losing interest.
You shouldn't, because I believe this relic can restore the two of us to normal.
Not that I don't trust you, which I don't, but why are you telling me all this? Because, quite frankly, I can't get to the artifact alone.
I require your unique abilities to retrieve the Librium, and I am willing to trade you the cure for your help.
Selfish motive.
At least that makes sense.
So, what say you? Are you willing to momentarily put aside our differences in order to be cured? Got a feeling I'm gonna regret this, but okay.
I'm in.
Excellent.
And your friends, the Tennysons? They'll just have to get along without me for a while.
Any luck? Kevin's Plumber badge isn't responding.
Try it again.
He should be here.
I'm not his babysitter, Ben.
If he wants to ignore us, that's his choice.
Fine.
Then he'll just have to miss all the fun.
The Forever Knights aren't gonna kick their own butts.
So, how do we get there without Kevin's car? Easy.
We improvise.
Jetray! Onward and upward! So, where are we -- Easter Island? Actually, Rapa Nui is several hundred miles from here.
This island has been submerged for centuries.
A recent undersea upheaval brought it to the surface.
Oh.
So it's more like "Groundhog Day" island.
Ugly suckers, aren't they? Who are we to throw stones? Good point.
Let's get what we came for and get out.
Tread carefully.
Those who built this temple did not take kindly to trespassers.
This isn't the first time I've done this, dude.
I know what I'm -- uh-oh.
This can't possibly be good.
We're getting outnumbered here! Inside! The statues are too large to follow us.
Well, that was -- Whoa.
And there is the prize we seek.
Impressive, isn't it? You see now why I needed your assistance? Fine.
I'll get it.
Man! Smells like a monkey's armpit up here! Quickly! The Librium! Got it.
Let's get gone.
Oh, great.
[groaning .]
Unh! Aah! Unh! Ungh! Oof! Are you all right? Better than ever.
[ rumbling .]
This gizmo must have been holding the place together.
Yaaah! Get this crate airborne now! [engine powering up.]
No one will bother us here.
It's time we put the artifact to use.
You sure you know what you're doing with that thing? Absolutely.
It's designed to balance our powers.
It allows me to absorb enough energy from you to make you normal again, while the influx of your energies restores me to normal, as well, effectively shutting down both our powers permanently.
So, where's the "on" switch? Just take hold of the opposite end of the Librium.
Do it! Okay.
Now what? Now the magic happens.
[groaning .]
Can't you feel it? The Librium is transferring your excess energy into me.
[straining .]
It hurts! [straining .]
Nothingworth havingis gainedwithout effort! Wait! Stop it! Stop! Aaaaaaaah! [groaning .]
What part of "Wait! Stop! No!" Didn't you underst-- Huh? M-my face.
I-I'm human again.
As I promised.
Can't morph, can't absorb.
I'm -- I'm cured! Now neither of us can absorb energy.
We're free to get on with our lives.
And I owe it all to you.
KEVIN: Okay.
Sure.
You're wel-- [grunts .]
Our association is hereby concluded.
It would be wise of you to never again cross my path.
BEN: Still no word from Kevin? Not a peep.
I'm really starting to get worried.
KEVIN: About me? I'm touched.
Kevin! Where have you been? What's with the black eye? Is that supposed to make you look tougher? Oh.
I feel your skin.
You're not wearing your I.
D.
mask.
Nope.
I'm back to human.
How'd you do it? Gwen's been working on a cure for months.
And I'm no closer than when I started.
Hey, what can I say? I, uh, wished upon a star last night and woke up this morning my old gorgeous self.
See? No transformation, no powers -- no nothing.
Really? Hey, I'm better.
What else matters? And that black eye you're sporting? [laughing .]
Oh.
That? I was so excited to be a human again, I, uh, walked smack into an open door.
Hey, small price to pay, huh? KEVIN: Yeah.
Right.
Whatever.
So, we got any Plumber business to take care of or what? Don't we always? Come on.
We'll fill you in on the way.
KEVIN: So, the Forever Knights are at it again, huh? Yeah, we got to the robbery too late.
They were already gone.
Not that anyone's pointing fingers or anything.
Fine.
Okay.
I should have been there.
GWEN: Not so fast.
Without any powers, you could get hurt in there.
You'd better wait here.
What?! But I -- I mean it.
Great.
So now I'm just a chauffeur? What happens when you two finally get your licenses? They're almost finished loading.
If we're gonna do something, it better be now.
Then I guess it's time for [ beeping .]
Big Chill? [sighs .]
Never what I ask for.
Never.
I hate a cold reception.
KEVIN: Hey, tin men! That wasn't very chivalrous.
I thought I told you to wait by the car! Yeah, like that was gonna happen.
Run away! Run away! Time to put you creeps on ice.
[engine sputtering .]
Good thing their engine wouldn't start.
Trust me -- they weren't going anywhere without their distributor cap.
Powered or not, Kevin, you're still an important part of this team.
We need you.
Hey, Gwen.
What do you say, uh, to maybe a movie or something later? I can't.
Uh, I've got anerrand to run.
Okay.
Your loss.
You noticed that I'm really good-looking again, right? [engine revs .]
I'll see you later, Kevin.
After I make sure you can live with whatever it is you've done.
Michael's manna led me to him like a beacon.
He's inside.
I can feel it.
Ah.
Lovely Gwen.
I've been expecting you.
I'll just bet you have.
Kevin's aura stinks of you.
Tell me what you did to him, and maybe I'll go easy on you.
Tell you? I'll be more than happy to show you.
Kevin has the Dominus Librium to thank for his current condition.
It absorbed his power and transferred it to me.
I can no longer absorb energy on my own, but the artifact can still do the job for me.
[gasps .]
[groaning .]
Finally, sweet Gwen.
Finally, all your power is going to be mine.
[ ringing .]
Still no answer? Nothing.
My calls go straight to voicemail.
And she has her Plumber's badge turned off, so we can't track her that way.
[speed-dialing .]
[ ringing .]
This is all my fault.
That Gwen had to run an errand? That she's gone to do something stupid.
Okay, stop staring at me like that.
You're creeping me out.
So talk.
Fine.
I made a deal with Michael Morningstar, okay? Gwen must have figured it out somehow, and now she's gone off to find him.
You what?! Then we'd better find her -- fast! Fastest way to track her down is as Jetray, so [ beep.]
Echo Echo?! That's getting old, Ben -- seriously.
Tell me about it.
I'll split up, check all over town for her, then -- No time.
Hop in.
I think I know where she's going.
[engine turns over.]
[grunts .]
[ Echo Echoes grunting .]
Then what are we waiting for? Go! KEVIN: You know, you could have done that before you got in my ride.
[tires screech .]
[gasps .]
[groaning .]
N-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o! I knew you'd come looking for me, lovely Gwen.
Kevin is too stupid not to have let something slip.
KEVIN: Hey! I resent that! You may look human again, but deep down, you're still the same miserable creep.
Sticks and stones, little man.
Haven't got any handy, so you'll just have to settle for Swampfire! Hey, the Omnitrix got it right this time.
Pat yourself on the back later.
Gladly.
Hyah! Thank you for giving me your power, lovely Gwen.
It tastes delicious.
And while we're at it, Benjamin, suppose I take yours, as well.
[gasps, groans .]
That's it, children.
Give me your power.
Give me all your power! N-no! N-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o! What do I do? What can I do? Without my powers, I'm useless.
Hang on, Gwen! I'm coming! MICHAEL: I wouldn't advise that, Kevin.
The balance of energy through the Dominus Librium is delicate.
If you interrupt the flow in any way, the consequences can be catastrophic.
[groaning .]
I don't care! Nothing matters as long as Gwen is safe! [weakly.]
Kevin don't.
Stop! You'll ruin everything! KEVIN: Like you said, "our association is hereby concluded.
" N-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o! [sighs .]
KEVIN: [ moaning .]
Kevin, are you all -- [gasps .]
What? What's -- Oh.
Figured that might happen.
I'm so sorry.
If it wasn't for me -- No.
Don't.
I did what I had to do.
And I'd do it again in a second.
DARKSTAR: No! Look! Look what you've done to me! You'll pay for this.
Someday, you will all pay! Think we should go after him? Nah.
He won't be a threat to anyone for a long time.
BEN: [groaning .]
Where am I? Kevin.
What happened to you? Call it karma, kid, and leave it at that.
Come on.
Let's go to Mr.
Smoothy's.
First round's on me.
[ rapid footsteps .]
Darkstar! Just the creep I've been looking for.
And now that you've found me? I'm gonna put you out of my misery once and for all.
You're going back to the Null Void, where you belong.
Stand still! You got this beatdown coming! I'd almost forgotten how tedious you can be.
Pretty careless of you to let me track you down! Hardly careless.
Otherwise, I'd never have left a trail so obvious, even an imbecile could follow it.
I wanted you to find me, Kevin.
Both our lives depend on it.
If this is one of your tricks I assure you I am entirely sincere.
If I release you, will you at least hear me out? You got one minute.
Go! My question is a simple one -- do you like being trapped in your current hideous form? About as much as you like being a butt-ugly, energy-sucking vampire.
No offense.
None taken.
For that is precisely my point.
What would you say if I told you there was a way for both of us to become normal again? How? I'll show you.
This is the Dominus Librium -- an ancient instrument of extraordinary power and decidedly alien origin.
Looks like an oversized wishbone.
Legend has it that the Librium was actually a sophisticated power conduit, capable of transferring extraordinary energies from one vessel to another.
Thanks for the history lesson.
But it's history no longer.
After a great deal of effort and expense, I have managed to track the artifact to an isolated island recently risen in the South Pacific.
Losing interest.
You shouldn't, because I believe this relic can restore the two of us to normal.
Not that I don't trust you, which I don't, but why are you telling me all this? Because, quite frankly, I can't get to the artifact alone.
I require your unique abilities to retrieve the Librium, and I am willing to trade you the cure for your help.
Selfish motive.
At least that makes sense.
So, what say you? Are you willing to momentarily put aside our differences in order to be cured? Got a feeling I'm gonna regret this, but okay.
I'm in.
Excellent.
And your friends, the Tennysons? They'll just have to get along without me for a while.
Any luck? Kevin's Plumber badge isn't responding.
Try it again.
He should be here.
I'm not his babysitter, Ben.
If he wants to ignore us, that's his choice.
Fine.
Then he'll just have to miss all the fun.
The Forever Knights aren't gonna kick their own butts.
So, how do we get there without Kevin's car? Easy.
We improvise.
Jetray! Onward and upward! So, where are we -- Easter Island? Actually, Rapa Nui is several hundred miles from here.
This island has been submerged for centuries.
A recent undersea upheaval brought it to the surface.
Oh.
So it's more like "Groundhog Day" island.
Ugly suckers, aren't they? Who are we to throw stones? Good point.
Let's get what we came for and get out.
Tread carefully.
Those who built this temple did not take kindly to trespassers.
This isn't the first time I've done this, dude.
I know what I'm -- uh-oh.
This can't possibly be good.
We're getting outnumbered here! Inside! The statues are too large to follow us.
Well, that was -- Whoa.
And there is the prize we seek.
Impressive, isn't it? You see now why I needed your assistance? Fine.
I'll get it.
Man! Smells like a monkey's armpit up here! Quickly! The Librium! Got it.
Let's get gone.
Oh, great.
[groaning .]
Unh! Aah! Unh! Ungh! Oof! Are you all right? Better than ever.
[ rumbling .]
This gizmo must have been holding the place together.
Yaaah! Get this crate airborne now! [engine powering up.]
No one will bother us here.
It's time we put the artifact to use.
You sure you know what you're doing with that thing? Absolutely.
It's designed to balance our powers.
It allows me to absorb enough energy from you to make you normal again, while the influx of your energies restores me to normal, as well, effectively shutting down both our powers permanently.
So, where's the "on" switch? Just take hold of the opposite end of the Librium.
Do it! Okay.
Now what? Now the magic happens.
[groaning .]
Can't you feel it? The Librium is transferring your excess energy into me.
[straining .]
It hurts! [straining .]
Nothingworth havingis gainedwithout effort! Wait! Stop it! Stop! Aaaaaaaah! [groaning .]
What part of "Wait! Stop! No!" Didn't you underst-- Huh? M-my face.
I-I'm human again.
As I promised.
Can't morph, can't absorb.
I'm -- I'm cured! Now neither of us can absorb energy.
We're free to get on with our lives.
And I owe it all to you.
KEVIN: Okay.
Sure.
You're wel-- [grunts .]
Our association is hereby concluded.
It would be wise of you to never again cross my path.
BEN: Still no word from Kevin? Not a peep.
I'm really starting to get worried.
KEVIN: About me? I'm touched.
Kevin! Where have you been? What's with the black eye? Is that supposed to make you look tougher? Oh.
I feel your skin.
You're not wearing your I.
D.
mask.
Nope.
I'm back to human.
How'd you do it? Gwen's been working on a cure for months.
And I'm no closer than when I started.
Hey, what can I say? I, uh, wished upon a star last night and woke up this morning my old gorgeous self.
See? No transformation, no powers -- no nothing.
Really? Hey, I'm better.
What else matters? And that black eye you're sporting? [laughing .]
Oh.
That? I was so excited to be a human again, I, uh, walked smack into an open door.
Hey, small price to pay, huh? KEVIN: Yeah.
Right.
Whatever.
So, we got any Plumber business to take care of or what? Don't we always? Come on.
We'll fill you in on the way.
KEVIN: So, the Forever Knights are at it again, huh? Yeah, we got to the robbery too late.
They were already gone.
Not that anyone's pointing fingers or anything.
Fine.
Okay.
I should have been there.
GWEN: Not so fast.
Without any powers, you could get hurt in there.
You'd better wait here.
What?! But I -- I mean it.
Great.
So now I'm just a chauffeur? What happens when you two finally get your licenses? They're almost finished loading.
If we're gonna do something, it better be now.
Then I guess it's time for [ beeping .]
Big Chill? [sighs .]
Never what I ask for.
Never.
I hate a cold reception.
KEVIN: Hey, tin men! That wasn't very chivalrous.
I thought I told you to wait by the car! Yeah, like that was gonna happen.
Run away! Run away! Time to put you creeps on ice.
[engine sputtering .]
Good thing their engine wouldn't start.
Trust me -- they weren't going anywhere without their distributor cap.
Powered or not, Kevin, you're still an important part of this team.
We need you.
Hey, Gwen.
What do you say, uh, to maybe a movie or something later? I can't.
Uh, I've got anerrand to run.
Okay.
Your loss.
You noticed that I'm really good-looking again, right? [engine revs .]
I'll see you later, Kevin.
After I make sure you can live with whatever it is you've done.
Michael's manna led me to him like a beacon.
He's inside.
I can feel it.
Ah.
Lovely Gwen.
I've been expecting you.
I'll just bet you have.
Kevin's aura stinks of you.
Tell me what you did to him, and maybe I'll go easy on you.
Tell you? I'll be more than happy to show you.
Kevin has the Dominus Librium to thank for his current condition.
It absorbed his power and transferred it to me.
I can no longer absorb energy on my own, but the artifact can still do the job for me.
[gasps .]
[groaning .]
Finally, sweet Gwen.
Finally, all your power is going to be mine.
[ ringing .]
Still no answer? Nothing.
My calls go straight to voicemail.
And she has her Plumber's badge turned off, so we can't track her that way.
[speed-dialing .]
[ ringing .]
This is all my fault.
That Gwen had to run an errand? That she's gone to do something stupid.
Okay, stop staring at me like that.
You're creeping me out.
So talk.
Fine.
I made a deal with Michael Morningstar, okay? Gwen must have figured it out somehow, and now she's gone off to find him.
You what?! Then we'd better find her -- fast! Fastest way to track her down is as Jetray, so [ beep.]
Echo Echo?! That's getting old, Ben -- seriously.
Tell me about it.
I'll split up, check all over town for her, then -- No time.
Hop in.
I think I know where she's going.
[engine turns over.]
[grunts .]
[ Echo Echoes grunting .]
Then what are we waiting for? Go! KEVIN: You know, you could have done that before you got in my ride.
[tires screech .]
[gasps .]
[groaning .]
N-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o! I knew you'd come looking for me, lovely Gwen.
Kevin is too stupid not to have let something slip.
KEVIN: Hey! I resent that! You may look human again, but deep down, you're still the same miserable creep.
Sticks and stones, little man.
Haven't got any handy, so you'll just have to settle for Swampfire! Hey, the Omnitrix got it right this time.
Pat yourself on the back later.
Gladly.
Hyah! Thank you for giving me your power, lovely Gwen.
It tastes delicious.
And while we're at it, Benjamin, suppose I take yours, as well.
[gasps, groans .]
That's it, children.
Give me your power.
Give me all your power! N-no! N-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o! What do I do? What can I do? Without my powers, I'm useless.
Hang on, Gwen! I'm coming! MICHAEL: I wouldn't advise that, Kevin.
The balance of energy through the Dominus Librium is delicate.
If you interrupt the flow in any way, the consequences can be catastrophic.
[groaning .]
I don't care! Nothing matters as long as Gwen is safe! [weakly.]
Kevin don't.
Stop! You'll ruin everything! KEVIN: Like you said, "our association is hereby concluded.
" N-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o! [sighs .]
KEVIN: [ moaning .]
Kevin, are you all -- [gasps .]
What? What's -- Oh.
Figured that might happen.
I'm so sorry.
If it wasn't for me -- No.
Don't.
I did what I had to do.
And I'd do it again in a second.
DARKSTAR: No! Look! Look what you've done to me! You'll pay for this.
Someday, you will all pay! Think we should go after him? Nah.
He won't be a threat to anyone for a long time.
BEN: [groaning .]
Where am I? Kevin.
What happened to you? Call it karma, kid, and leave it at that.
Come on.
Let's go to Mr.
Smoothy's.
First round's on me.