Expensive Mistakes

Expensive Mistakes is the third episode of Ben 10: Missing Pieces.

Plot
''The camera pans down from the red skies of the Null Void. A humanoid male figure jumps from one rock platform to a lower one and crouches when he lands. He continues running, carrying a wooden spear in his right hand. Upon closer inspection, we see that the figure is Phil, now sporting a messy beard and a scar over his right eye. His Plumber suit is torn in places, with some parts stitched over with other material. He is being chased by a maroon Vulpimancer. As it gets close to him, he throws his spear a few feet ahead. He lunges for it then swings around it. He bends the spear towards himself and, as the Vulpimancer approaches, lets go. The spear recoils and hits the Vulpimancer in the head, which knocks it out. Phil stands up and notices someone looming behind him, casting a shadow over him. Before he can fight back, the figure squeezes a spot on his neck, causing him to fall to the ground.''

''Phil awakens, strapped upright to a metal board, with cuffs around his wrists, waist, and ankles. The room he is in is dimly lit, and the walls and floor are colored varying shades of purple. Some distance away, a male mutant Cerebrocrustacean and a male Zaroffian, none other than Dr. Psychobos and Khyber, stand over a green table. Dr. Psychobos inspects a small circular device in his left claw. The sound of thunderstorms is heard in the background.''

[Phil]: (groggily) Where... Where am I? Who are you people?

Khyber casts a brief glance at Phil, then looks back at Dr. Psychobos.

[Khyber]: You're sure that this will work, Doctor?

'''[Dr. Psychobos]''': O-Of c-c-course I'm sure! The Nemetrix is a s-sophisticated piece of technology!

[Phil]: What do you want with me?!

He tries to break out of his restraints, but fails.

[Khyber]: Are you certain our test subject will cooperate?

[Phil]: Test subject?!

'''[Dr. Psychobos]': (cackles'') I h-h-have my m-methods, and I use the term loosely!

Dr. Psychobos lifts his arm up, and a metal claw drops down from the roof to grab the Nemetrix, heading straight for Phil.

''Max stands in a lake with a fishing rod, submerged from the waist down. He wears a brownish grey hat with a horizontal grey line, as well as baggy brownish grey pants held up by black straps and his usual Hawaiian shirt. Ben sits on the ground near the edge to watch him fish, while Gwen hovers on a mana platform a foot off the ground behind him. Mt. Rushmore can be seen in the background.''

[Max]: Sure you don't wanna join us, pumpkin? The salmon are biting!

[Gwen]: I'm trying to get the hang of my powers, Grandpa. I don't have time for fly-fishing.

The Tennysons hear a loud screech and look around for the source, only to find Terroranchula charging towards them, screeching loudly.

[Gwen]: What is that thing?

''Max waddles out of the water. As soon as he gets back on solid ground, he drops his hat and fishing rod and heads for the Rust Bucket 2.''

[Ben, standing up]: Punch first, ask questions later!

''Ben presses the button on the Omnitrix to make the dial pop up. Feedback's silhouette is displayed.''

[Ben]: Perfect!

''Ben slams his palm down on the Omnitrix and is engulfed in green light. He hovers in a dark green background with light green bubbles pulsating rapidly behind him. Ben grows taller and his skin turns black. His hands become more pronounced, with his ring and pinky fingers merging into one, and the end of each finger gaining gold sockets. His eyes merge into a single oval-shaped green eye and his hair disappears. Two long antennae and a tail sprout from the back of his head and his rear, respectively, with round plugs on their tips. The Omnitrix symbol pops out of his chest, and electricity crackles out of his fingers, completing the transformation.''

[Gwen]: (rolls eyes) Ugh. Don't you ever tired of that alien?

Gwen fires a mana disc at Terroranchula's. He stays still and draws a force field web in front of him, absorbing the disc.

[Gwen]: What the-?

[Feedback, smirking]: Step aside and let the pros handle it.

Feedback walks forward and holds his arms outward, absorbing the energy from the force field web into his fingers.

[Feedback]: Oh, that's the stuff!

''Angered, Terroranchula runs towards him. Feedback takes a few steps backwards. Suddenly, the Rust Bucket 2 rams into Terroranchula, stopping him in his tracks. Max lowers the window of the front passenger seat''

[Max]: You alright, Ben?

[Feedback]: (slightly annoyed) I had him, Grandpa!

Terroranchula uses his front legs to overturn the Rust Bucket 2, and climbs on top of it.

[Max]: WHOA!

[Feedback and Gwen, in unison]: Grandpa!

''Feedback shoots a blast of electricity at Terroranchula to knock him off the Rust Bucket 2. He jumps over the RV and begins to wrestle with him. Meanwhile, Gwen rushes to the RV to help Max out through the door.''

[Feedback]: Uhh, guy? You get that you're beating yourself up, right?

Character Debuts

 * Phil Billings (Missing Pieces debut)
 * Dr. Psychobos (Missing Pieces debut)
 * Khyber

Nemetrix Alien Debut

 * Terroranchula

Characters

 * Ben Tennyson
 * Gwen Tennyson
 * Max Tennyson

Villains

 * Phil Billings (first reappearance)
 * Dr. Psychobos (first reappearance)
 * Khyber (first appearance)

By Ben

 * Feedback

By Phil

 * Terroranchula (first appearance)

Allusions

 * This episode is named after the song Wilson (Expensive Mistakes) by Fall Out Boy, which is one of Ulti's favorite songs.

Trivia

 * Chronologically, Phil's appearance in this episode precedes his debut in Bonds.