{3rd Pov}
In the control room, clean for the first time in at least a century, a conversation was taking place between a Droid and Ben, who sought psychological assistance. The mechanical voice sounded gentle and compassionate.
"So, you're seeking help in dealing with an addiction, young Ben. I'm glad we can talk about it because dealing with addictions is a very serious matter, especially for someone so young," said the Droid, offering his support.
"Um, I think there's been a misunderstanding. I'm not addicted to anything," replied Ben, feeling insulted by the Droid's suggestion that he was an addict. He wanted to clarify any confusion.
"Of course, young Ben, of course. So, how do you feel when you use your 'Prypiatosian Bs' form?" asked the Droid, adjusting to Ben's correction.
"When I used the 'Prypiatosian Bs' form, or as I like to call it, NRG, it was like a surge of power coursing through my veins. It's as if all the nuclear energy of the sun is inside me, ready to be unleashed at any moment. But unfortunately, I completely lost control."
He swallowed hard, reliving memories of an event that could have been disastrous. "The planet is like a feast for my NRG form. Radiation is everywhere, in the air, in the water, in the soil. It was irresistible to me. I started feeding on this toxic energy, absorbing it in increasing amounts. The hunger for power grew inside me, and I couldn't stop. With every source of radiation I consumed, I felt stronger, enveloped in energetic flames."
A shadow of concern crossed Ben's face. "But the problem was that I couldn't control myself. The euphoria of becoming a being of pure energy was overwhelming. I started destroying ships, devouring engine parts, diving deeper and deeper into this insatiable quest for energy. It was a frenzy of unrestrained power."
He sighed. "And then, when I finally emerged from that frenzy, back in my human form, completely energized and ready to face the world, the realization of what I had done hit me hard when I stopped to rest and reflect on my actions. I realized that I caused mass destruction all around me. And if it hadn't been on a planet already in ruins, I could have destroyed and killed many people."
The Droid listened attentively as Ben shared his feelings. With its calm and understanding mechanical voice, the Droid responded, "I understand the gravity of the situation, Ben. It's difficult to deal with such immense power and the responsibility that comes with it. The fact that you recognize the potential consequences of your actions shows great maturity."
Noticing the conflict within Ben, the Droid knew that as a psychological assistant, it needed to provide appropriate support and guidance. Calmly, it continued, "Ben, the first step in dealing with this situation is to acknowledge and accept responsibility for your past actions. You've shown courage by admitting your mistakes. Now, it's important for you to focus on learning and growing from this experience."
Ben nodded, absorbing the Droid's words. He knew he couldn't change the past, but he was determined to find a way to control his NRG form and prevent similar incidents from happening again.
"I suggest we explore techniques and strategies to help you develop greater control over your Prypiatosian Bs form, Ben," suggested the Droid. "We can work together to identify triggers that may lead to a loss of control and develop healthy coping mechanisms to deal with these challenges."
The Droid continued the conversation with Ben.
"I understand that you don't consider yourself an addict, but it's important to address the sense of losing control that you experienced with your NRG form. How did it feel when you lost control? Is there any sense of dependence or compulsion associated with it?"
Ben reflected for a moment and responded, "When I lost control, I felt an overwhelming energy coursing through my body. It's as if I were overtaken by a powerful force that drives me to seek more and more energy. At first, it's exciting and rewarding, but it quickly turns into an uncontrollable compulsion. I felt addicted to that sense of unrestrained power, and now I feel it's dangerous."
The Droid nodded, processing Ben's words. "Now I understand better, Ben. There seems to be a constant search for that intense feeling of power that led you to lose control."
Ben agreed with a nod. "Yes, exactly. I don't want to lose control anymore. I want to find a way to master my NRG form and use it in the best possible way."
The Droid nodded, conveying a sense of understanding. "That's a good goal, Ben. I believe we can work together to develop control and self-awareness strategies. A gradual and focused approach can help you gain more control over your Prypiatosian Bs form."
Ben looked at the watch on his wrist, feeling a mixture of determination and apprehension. "I'm willing to try, but I feel like it's a difficult battle. That energy inside me is so powerful and seductive."
The Droid placed one of its metallic hands on Ben's shoulder, conveying comfort and support. "I understand it's challenging, but you're not alone in this journey. I'll be here to guide you and offer support along the way. Additionally, there are techniques available that can help you strengthen your willpower and control the compulsion. Together, we'll find a solution."
The Droid, with its mechanical face transmitting a sense of optimism, concluded, "I believe in your potential, Ben. With effort, determination, and the right support, you can overcome this difficulty and learn to control your NRG form. We're together in this journey of self-discovery and growth."
The conversation continued for a while. To understand this scene, it's necessary to go back in time a bit.
"Cough! Cough!"
What's the worst thing about waking up? Well, many would say it's the sunlight or the lingering feeling of drowsiness, but for him, it's looking around and seeing a filthy place. He hadn't noticed it much before due to the adrenaline, but this place is filled with dust and rust, truly filthy.
Okay, the whole factory is in this state, but since he's going to be here indefinitely, he better ensure a minimum level of decency, especially with one of his sneakers missing and his white sock already turning gray.
While exploring the area, he quickly comes across a kind of storage room filled with parts and strange objects. There, he finds a surprisingly functional high-tech vacuum cleaner. He immediately starts cleaning up his living space.
After cleaning as best as he can, he returns to the storage room, puts away the vacuum cleaner, and looks for anything else that could be useful. He finds some white clothes and a few masks, but unfortunately, none of them fit him. However, he manages to find a replacement for his missing sneaker. It may not be the exact same size, but it will do.
Among all these things, he discovers some broken robots. He had seen them before throughout the factory, but these ones are different. They appear more advanced with a more human-like appearance. Letting his curiosity guide him, he starts taking them apart and placing them on a table.
He had two robots—one with a missing torso and the other one seemingly in good condition. Upon examining them more closely with the tools available in that place, he discovers that the power source of the first robot is fried, and the other one has several melted components.
Hours and hours pass as he tries to repair the robots. He makes several mistakes, causing one of them to explode. Fortunately, since they were produced according to a standard design, he manages to salvage parts from the exploded one and connect them to the intact torso. By connecting a few wires here and there, he manages to bring it to life.
"Initializing... main memory damaged... accessing backup memories... Loading personality package..."
"Yes, finally!"
He can't contain his excitement as his efforts bear fruit. If this robot could provide him with information about this place or, better yet, how to escape, it would be even better. But wait, is it speaking English? Is this the future of America? Hmm, the Omnitrix must be translating.
"Initialization process complete..."
"Hello, I am a specialized protocol droid for psychological assistance, designated V10-B2. Pleasure to meet you, young man. Could you please provide me with your name?"
Okay, so it's not a robot but a droid? What's the real difference? Is it the outer shell? Or is a droid a type of robot? Anyway, it's better to respond.
"Hello, my name is Benedict Tennyson, but you can call me Ben. Nice to meet you, V10-B2."
"Pleasure to meet you too, Ben. Now, how did you arrive here? This is the first experimental processing factory for IL23, and you're not in the records."
So, he really is in a factory. What is IL23? It doesn't matter for now. It's better to come up with a lie to avoid raising suspicion. After all, people don't just emerge from caves.
"Well, my spaceship crashed on this planet and melted in that green liquid river. Unfortunately, I got trapped here and have no means of communicating with the outside world."
"I started exploring this planet in search of help, and the only civilized structure I found was this factory. On the way, I was attacked by some orange dogs and lost the rest of my equipment. But despite everything, I was lucky enough to find this room. I found you and I need help to get out of here."
These pieces of information seem to have affected the droid, who takes a while to respond.
"I understand, I understand. The factory has been abandoned."
It responds with a somewhat shocked voice. Does this thing have feelings?
"Of course, Ben, I will assist you to the best of my abilities as a protocol droid. However, I don't possess technical knowledge; I only have information about the general location of the facilities. As you can see, I lack mobility to assist you further."
Maybe he can try to solve the mobility issue later. After all, he still has the intact torso of the other droid that exploded. But for now, what he needs more than anything is information.
"I understand, but can you provide me with more information about the factory and the planet itself?"
"Sorry, but as a non-team member, I am not authorized to disclose information about the factory's operations, objectives, or extensive details about the planet. All I know about this subject is its name, 'Vulpin,' and that in the past, it was used as a dumping ground for hazardous substances by various planets and spacefaring nations."
If he doesn't have authorization, he could try to tamper with the droid's programming and gain access. No, he doesn't have the confidence to do something like that. It's better to wait for the Omnitrix to recharge and use 'Brainstorm' for that. But for now, the droid is useless.
"So, you're a droid specialized in psychological assistance."
"Yes, I was programmed to provide psychology services to the factory workers, but given the current situation, I can make an exception. Ben, is there something troubling your mind?"
"Do you see this watch on my wrist? It's called the Omnitrix, and it allows me to transform into different species. I became a 'Prypiatosian Bs' and ended up getting lost in absorbing energy, going into a frenzy."
{Author's note: The "V10-B2" was based on "C-3PO" from Star Wars. The droid thinks that the MC doesn't want to admit to being a drug addict and is using metaphors to seek help.}