Chapter 21: 21
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Ben strode toward the wall at the far side of his lab. "Baymax, open the gadget compartment," he said.
With a quiet hiss, a section of the wall slid aside, revealing rows of gleaming devices. Each piece of tech spoke of endless hours of experimentation and problem-solving. They rested on illuminated shelves, a testament to his ingenuity.
Ben's eyes scanned the collection before he reached for a sleek, minimalist wristband. He slipped it on, its cool metal surface pressing against his skin. With a subtle press of its side, the band shimmered faintly before blending into a smartwatch-like interface.
He flexed his fingers, testing its responsiveness. "Time to start using these," he muttered. His voice was quiet, almost like he was convincing himself. "Never know when the hero gig might call."
The band emitted a soft glow before dimming entirely, indicating it was fully activated. Ben caught his reflection in the polished surface of the compartment. The Omnitrix was gone from sight, perfectly masked beneath the device's holographic projection.
Turning back to his workstation, Ben let out a breath. His mind wandered to Hell's Kitchen, the chaos, and the horrifying scope of what he'd uncovered. Human trafficking, organ harvesting—it was a stain he couldn't ignore. His fingers drummed restlessly on the desk.
"Baymax," he called out, his voice edged with frustration.
The holographic assistant flickered into view beside him. "Yes, sir?"
Ben leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk. "I can't figure this out. How could something this massive happen under the radar? Illegal shipments, lives on the line… and the government doesn't know? It makes no sense."
Baymax tilted his head slightly. "Would you like me to conduct a deeper investigation, sir? To identify potential governmental involvement or oversights?"
Ben nodded firmly. "Yeah, start digging. If there's something bigger going on, I want to know what—and why."
For hours, Baymax scoured encrypted files, tracing back fragmented leads and uncovering hidden connections. Ben watched the process unfold on the holographic display, his unease growing with every passing second.
Finally, Baymax spoke, his voice heavier than usual. "Sir, the data suggests a disturbing trend. Multiple government officials and prominent figures are either complicit in these activities or actively ignoring them."
Ben frowned, the words hitting him like a gut punch. "Complicit how?"
Baymax explained, his tone measured. "These individuals manipulate the system to their advantage. Illegal earnings are funneled into legitimate channels, inflated to falsely boost the country's GDP. Taxes are paid on laundered income, turning black money into white and shielding the operation under layers of legality."
Ben's fist hit the desk with a thud. "So they're selling out lives to line their pockets and make their numbers look good? That's… disgusting."
"Indeed," Baymax replied. "These operations are deeply entrenched, supported by complex systems of bureaucracy, corruption, and diversion tactics."
Ben leaned back, rubbing his temples. "This isn't just about Kingpin, then. This is a whole network, and cutting out one piece won't fix it."
Baymax studied him, his projection flickering slightly. "What do you intend to do, sir?"
Ben exhaled sharply. "For now? Nothing. If I expose this and drop all the evidence, it'll cause chaos. The economy could tank, people will panic… innocent lives would bear the brunt of it."
He shook his head, the frustration evident. "These people aren't just criminals—they're parasites feeding off the system. If I make a move, it has to count. It has to be strategic."
"Understood," Baymax said, his tone steady. "Shall I continue monitoring their activities?"
"Yeah," Ben said, his voice firm. "Keep digging, and let me know the moment something changes. We'll find a way to deal with this… without burning everything down in the process."
The late afternoon sun cast a warm glow over the school's courtyard as Ben walked alongside Peter, Gwen, MJ, and Ned. Laughter filled the air as they recounted the chaos of their final exams. Ben chuckled at one of Ned's jokes, but his mind was elsewhere.
He stopped near the lockers, turning to face his friends. "Guys, I need to tell you something."
The shift in his tone immediately silenced the group. Peter's smile faded as he studied Ben's face. "What is it? Did something happen?"
Ben exhaled, shoving his hands into his jacket pockets. "I've decided to drop out of school."
The words hung in the air like a sudden drop in temperature. Gwen's brows furrowed, her voice tinged with concern. "Wait, what? Why?"
Ben shrugged, trying to keep his tone light. "It's not like I hate school or anything. It's just… I've been working on some projects, and they're starting to take off. I need to focus on growing my business. School isn't where I'm learning what I need anymore."
Ned's eyes widened. "Hold on, what kind of business? Dude, are you secretly running a tech empire while we've been cramming for finals?"
"Something like that," Ben said with a small grin.
MJ's expression was unreadable as she crossed her arms. "So, that's it? You're just walking away? What about us?"
Ben's smile faltered. "It's not like I'm disappearing. I'll still be around. I just need to prioritize what matters right now. You guys mean a lot to me, but school… it's not where I'm meant to be."
Peter frowned, his voice cautious. "Ben, are you sure about this? I mean, what about college? Your future?"
Ben met Peter's gaze. "This is my future, Pete. The stuff I'm working on—it's bigger than anything I could learn here. I'm not giving up on education, just… doing it differently."
Gwen stepped closer, her tone soft but firm. "I get it, Ben. You're ambitious, and that's great. But don't cut yourself off from us. We're your friends. You don't have to do this alone."
Ben's voice softened. "I know. And I'm not. I'll keep in touch, I promise. You guys have been there for me, and that means a lot."
Peter placed a hand on his shoulder, a mix of understanding and concern in his eyes. "If this is what you want, we've got your back. But don't forget us when you're ruling the tech world, okay?"
Ben chuckled, some of the tension easing from his shoulders. "I could never forget you guys."
MJ rolled her eyes but smirked. "Just don't expect us to let you off easy if you go full evil genius."
"Deal," Ben said, grinning.
As they walked out of the school gates together, the weight of the decision settled in Ben's chest. He knew he was making the right choice, but leaving this part of his life behind wasn't easy. The world was calling, and he was ready to answer—but he'd carry his friends with him, no matter how far he went.