The Tragic Incident of 1993

## Plot

It was a hot summer of the year 1999, Ben was only four and a half years old; he was playing with his cousin Gwen while Ben’s parents were busy gardening. Max had been helping them, and it wasn't until news outlets had been indicating more information about a convicted criminal named Nathan Dunlap. Sandra and Carl, as well as Grandpa Max had gossiped about the said topic, but they understood that Ben and Gwen were not to listen to their conversation.

Cut to approximately eleven and a half years later, or moreso, present day. Ben had been watching the cameras with Rook in Plumber HQ, and Ben had since remembered the conversation his parents and Grandpa Max had when he was young. He didn’t want to talk about it with Rook, but hinted to Max about it.

Max knew what he was on about, but still didn’t want to talk about it. But finally, when the time was right, Max told Ben about an incident that had occurred before Ben was even born. Max told Ben everything he learnt from the newspapers, to the very old news broadcasts from said date. This shocked Ben entirely, making him extremely pale. It wasn't until Max told him that one victim survived, and the perpetrator was given the death sentence, which had still made Ben feel like he was going to vomit. Rook didn’t particularly understand the situation, but understood that he is not involved in this.

Ben is called by Gwen as she tells him that a fight has broken out between a rogue Trumbipulor, and Kevin as a bootleg Atomix, known as DETON8. Trumbipulor had been severely injured in battle from Kevin’s nuclear attacks, almost defeating him entirely. Ben leaves Plumber HQ and enters the battle as Goop who finishes him off entirely. The fight had been short anyways, since Goop had to transform back into Ben as he tells Gwen that Grandpa had been keeping something from them. Shocked, Gwen asks about what it is, to which Ben tells her that Max was aware of the 1993 Aurora incident. She only remembered it vaguely, but she wasn’t at all familiar with it, being she was only the same age as Ben at the time Grandpa Max had gossiped about it with Ben’s parents.

Gwen takes them to the library where they began their research about the event. The three had all been upset about what had happened, but Ben had tried to explain later on that he could just go back in time and prevent this. Gwen countered the argument and told him that altering time would be bad for the future, making Ben disagree since they had only lived for a short period of time. There were no right or wrong answers, but Gwen knew she was saying the right things about altering time.

A few hours had passed, a cold gust of wind lightly blew in the night. Ben had been wandering around Bellwood in order to go back in time. As soon as he could, Ben dials the Omnitrix and transforms into Clockwork, who creates a time portal in which he goes back to the day the event was supposed to take place. He quickly transforms back, and tries to blend in with the crowd. It was surprisingly midday, the event hadn’t taken place yet, but Ben knew he had to wait, and waiting was the thing he hated doing. He tried not to stand out with the crowd, but came across one of the victims who, in this timeframe, would have been shot in a couple of hours time. His name was also Ben, he was seventeen, and wore glasses. Ben didn’t want to interact since it’d change the future, so he continued to wait.

A few hours had passed, and Ben had been eating pizza at Chuck E. Cheese. One worker walked toward him and told him that Ben was their first new customer, since other customers were previous visitors. She was a kind girl, roughly the same age as the man Ben had seen earlier. Ben then tells her that a break-in would occur at ten at night. He then explained that he’d try to stop it, and within further explanation, he told her that the police would have to be called in order to arrive at the scene. She was at first confused, but he told her that the perpetrator was Nathan Dunlap, a former employee. She agreed to this plan and told him that Nathan had been fired, and Ben had been aware.

A few minutes later, a shady man arrives at the restaurant near closing time and orders a sandwich. He was friendly at first, but Ben grew weary. Dunlap hung near the arcades he played. Ben introduces himself to Dunlap, who was unfamiliar with him. Ben explained that he moved in a few months ago due to his parents needing a place to work, giving the woman ample time to schedule Dunlap’s arrest at a certain time, being 9:59pm, one minute before the attack. Dunlap welcomes Ben to Colorado and explains his backstory in detail. With Ben leaving the restaurant, Dunlap tells one of the workers that he’d be using the restroom, with the worker understanding. Maybe they were a little too understanding.

Dunlap heads over to the restroom while Ben was waiting at the back, a fellow worker was in his break, and found Ben standing outside. With Ben shushing him, he later explains that the police had been called. The man reveals his name to be Bobby, who asked Ben if he wanted a drink. Ben accepted the favour as he went inside the kitchen and left the kitchen with a soda cup, filled with soda. With Ben taking a drink, he was thankful. He explains again that the police were on their way to arrest Dunlap for attemptive murder. The man nods his head, as Ben transforms into Big Chill and phases through the wall, at exactly 9:58, where Dunlap sprung into motion, where he was quickly halted by Big Chill.

Big Chill was held at gunpoint by Dunlap who was about to shoot his first victim, but Big Chill wouldn’t allow it. He started shooting ice, with Dunlap retaliating by shooting with his semiautomatic pistol. Sirens started getting louder as the police barged in through the doors and found Dunlap with a gun in his hand, and Big Chill who managed to turn intangible to prevent from being seen. The police take Dunlap away from the scene, as Big Chill phases into the kitchen and transforms back into Ben.

All the victims were alive, which was great, Ben had prevented a catastrophic event, but realised this would have changed the future. With Ben and the five victims that almost died walking out of Chuck E. Cheese and watching Dunlap getting arrested, Ben thanked the woman who called the police. Dunlap, who was in the car recognised Ben and had sworn to get revenge on him in the future. Speaking of the future, Ben tells them he had to head home, but was stopped by the store manager, Marge, who thanked him for saving their lives for something they didn’t know would take place. However, the worker then told Marge that Ben had explained to her what was going to happen. Ben transforms into Clockwork and reopens the time portal and, as soon as he is about to leave, tells him that the five were welcome to visit present day Bellwood and live their lives as normal. They had agreed, as they, along with Clockwork, entered the portal which closes.

The morning rose in present day Bellwood, and Ben was still happy that he prevented an event which took place. He didn’t think he was capable of doing it, but he was able to do it. Ben called the five and asked if they’d like to hang out, which they agreed. They all arrive at Ben’s house, where he called Gwen and asked if they’d like to hang out.

Later on, Gwen rang the doorbell of Ben’s house, to which his parents answered, the five had to hide, while Ben welcomed Gwen inside. With Gwen not knowing about the surprise, Ben reveals that he did something extraordinary. The five friends of Ben surprise Gwen, with Gwen asking what Ben did. Ben responded that he went back in time and prevented the death of the five who would’ve died if he hadn’t interfered. Gwen realises that, despite altering the future, Ben altered it for the better, she understood that Ben saved five lives from one man who was in prison forever. Gwen congratulates Ben about his mission, and the episode ends, with the five, being able to live their lives happily, and being free.

## Noteworthy Events

### Minor Events

* Since Ben had travelled back in time and prevented the event from taking place, Ben had also altered the timeline to which the event never happened, since the victims were still alive.

## Characters

* Ben Tennyson (flashback and present)
* Rook Blonko
* Max Tennyson (flashback and present)
* Gwen Tennyson (flashback and present)
* Kevin Levin
* Sandra Tennyson (flashback and present)
* Carl Tennyson (flashback and present)
* Sylvia Crowell (first appearance)
* Ben Grant (first appearance)
* Colleen O'Connor (first appearance)
* Bobby Stephens (first appearance)
* Marge Kohlberg (first appearance)

## Villains

* Trumbipulor
* Nathan Dunlap (first appearance)

## Aliens Used

### By Ben

* Goop
* Clockwork (x2)
* Big Chill

### By Kevin

* DETON8 (first appearance; off-screen transformation)

## Trivia

* This episode is based on the real life event known as the *1993 Aurora, Colorado Shooting* that ended up murdering four people, and injuring one. This incident took place because former employee of Chuck E. Cheese, Nathan Dunlap wanted revenge from being fired because he disagreed with the extra working hours he was given.
* This episode marks the 28th anniversary of said event, also taking place on December 14th. Surprisingly, this episode was not originally meant to be released on the exact date that marks the 28th anniversary.
* Since the incident didn't take place after the timeline had been altered, the five victims who are still alive live their lives normally.
	+ Ben Grant, Sylvia Crowell and Colleen O'Connor all attend Friedkin University with fellow classmates, Gwendolyn Tennyson and Kevin Levin.