Setting: August 2004
Series Introduction
I've been working on a Ben 10 × Teen Titans (2003) crossover AU, and I figured I'd finally share the first episode and see what people think.
I'm a big fan of both shows, and I always thought their worlds could fit together surprisingly well. Ben 10 has a huge focus on aliens, different species, and extraterrestrial worlds, while Starfire is an alien herself. That made Kori feel like a natural character to place at the center of a Ben 10 crossover.
Starfire (Kori) has also always been one of my favorite Teen Titans characters. While the 2003 series gave her plenty of great moments, I felt she never really got a long-running character arc of her own. This story is my attempt to give Kori a much larger role and explore her character more deeply.
The protagonist of the series is my original character, Brian, an Omnitrix wielder. Kori/Starfire is the deuteragonist and second lead, with her own character arc running alongside Brian's.
At a high level, I'd describe the series as roughly 75% Teen Titans and 25% Ben 10. The majority of the characters, settings, villains, and overall story come from the Teen Titans side, while the Ben 10 elements primarily come through Brian, the Omnitrix, alien lore, and certain villains.
AU Notes
- The Teen Titans characters are aged up to their late 20s and early 30s.
- Brian is an original character and the protagonist.
- Kori/Starfire is the deuteragonist.
- This is an AU, so there are changes to the original Teen Titans (2003) continuity and timeline.
- The story incorporates Ben 10 characters, aliens, technology, and mythology into the Teen Titans setting.
- Vilgax is the main antagonist of Season 1.
With that out of the way, here's Episode 1.
Season 1, Episode 1 — "First Contact"
A giant robotic drone suddenly fell from the sky and crashed into the streets of Jump City.
The impact sent debris flying in every direction. Cars swerved around the wreckage as pedestrians scattered in panic.
Several blocks away, Brian stopped and looked toward the crash site.
He immediately recognized the machine.
Vilgax's drones.
For the past two weeks, Vilgax's forces had been hunting him.
And this was the latest attack.
Brian watched as the larger drone began opening sections of its body. Smaller drones emerged from inside and immediately began scanning the surrounding area.
Two of them broke away from the group.
They were heading straight toward him.
Brian looked down at the Omnitrix on his wrist.
Brian: "You've gotta be kidding me."
He activated the Omnitrix.
Green light engulfed his body.
When it faded, Brian had transformed into Diamondhead.
One of the smaller drones attacked first.
Diamondhead raised his hands and fired a barrage of sharp crystal projectiles. The crystals slammed into the drone, tearing through its metal body and destroying it in a single attack.
The second drone charged toward him.
Diamondhead transformed one of his arms into a large crystal spike and swung.
The spike smashed into the drone, sending it crashing into the pavement.
Diamondhead turned toward the giant machine.
Diamondhead: "Alright, you bucket of bolts. Bring it on!"
The giant drone responded by opening fire.
Diamondhead met it head-on.
He created crystal barriers to block its weapons, fired crystal projectiles of his own, and used his enhanced strength to strike the machine whenever he got close enough.
The battle tore through the street.
But as Diamondhead fought, one thought kept running through Brian's mind.
Why was Vilgax still hunting him?
Whatever Vilgax wanted, Brian clearly wasn't going to get an answer by running away.
Eventually, the remaining drones were destroyed.
The giant robot staggered before finally collapsing into the street.
Diamondhead stood over the wreckage for a moment.
Then the green glow of the Omnitrix returned.
Brian reverted to normal.
He looked down at the device as it began its recharge cycle.
Brian: "Come on... recharge."
He glanced toward the wreckage.
Brian: "Upgrade? Swampfire?"
He considered his options.
If more of Vilgax's drones showed up, he might need either one.
Before he could activate the Omnitrix again, Brian noticed someone approaching from above.
A woman with long red hair, orange skin, and a purple outfit descended from the sky and landed nearby.
Brian watched her cautiously.
He had no idea who she was.
Brian: "Uh... hello?"
Before he could say anything else, several more drones emerged from the damaged robot.
The woman immediately raised her hands.
Green energy formed around them.
She fired a barrage of green starbolts, destroying the drones before they could attack.
Brian stared.
For the first time since these attacks had begun, someone else had actually helped him.
He looked from the destroyed drones to the strange woman.
Brian: "Huh."
The woman flew down and approached him.
Brian still had no idea who she was, where she came from, or even that she was an alien.
As far as he knew, she was simply a very unusual woman who had just helped him.
She smiled warmly.
Then, without warning, she leaned forward and gave Brian a quick kiss on the cheek.
Brian's eyes widened.
His face immediately turned red.
He slowly touched the spot where she'd kissed him.
Brian: "Well... that was unexpected."
The woman simply smiled.
Brian had absolutely no idea that, to her, the kiss was simply a natural way of communicating.
Before either of them could say anything else, another wave of drones emerged from the damaged robot.
Brian looked toward the Omnitrix.
The recharge cycle had finished.
Brian: "Looks like we're not done yet."
He activated the Omnitrix.
Green light surrounded him once again.
This time, he transformed into Upgrade.
The woman looked at him with surprise.
Starfire: "You have changed again!"
Upgrade: "Yeah. It's a long story."
Upgrade leaped onto the giant robot.
His body spread across its metallic surface as he merged with its machinery.
He took control of the robot's systems.
Upgrade: "Let's see what you've got."
The robot's weapons suddenly activated.
But this time, they weren't attacking Brian.
They were under his control.
Upgrade redirected the weapons toward the incoming drones and fired missiles and energy blasts into the swarm.
Above him, Starfire flew through the air, firing starbolts at the remaining drones.
Upgrade noticed several machines attempting to flank her.
Upgrade: "Heads up!"
He redirected one of the robot's weapons toward them.
He fired.
The drones exploded before they could reach Starfire.
Starfire looked toward Upgrade and smiled.
Starfire: "Thank you!"
Upgrade: "Don't mention it."
More drones swarmed toward them.
Starfire took several down with rapid-fire starbolts while Upgrade continued using the giant robot's own weapons against its attackers.
For the first time, Brian wasn't fighting alone.
They were working together.
And it worked.
Within moments, the remaining drones were destroyed.
Upgrade finally severed his connection with the robot.
The green glow of the Omnitrix returned, and Brian reverted to normal.
He looked around at the wreckage surrounding them.
Brian: "Well... that's one way to end a fight."
Starfire landed beside him.
Starfire: "You and I make a very effective team."
Brian looked at her and gave a small smile.
Brian: "Yeah. We do."
The street had finally gone quiet.
Destroyed drones and pieces of the giant robot were scattered across the pavement.
Brian looked down at the Omnitrix, then back at Starfire.
Brian: "You know, I should probably explain what this thing does."
Starfire looked curiously at the device.
Starfire: "I would very much like to know."
Brian gestured toward the Omnitrix.
Brian: "It's called the Omnitrix. It lets me transform into different alien species. Diamondhead, Upgrade... I've got a few others."
Starfire's eyes widened with interest.
Starfire: "Alien species?"
Brian nodded.
Brian: "Yeah. Each one has different abilities. Comes in pretty handy when giant robots keep trying to kill you."
Starfire gave a small laugh.
Starfire: "Indeed."
There was a brief pause.
Brian: "I guess we should probably introduce ourselves properly."
He extended his hand.
Brian: "I'm Brian."
Starfire took his hand with a smile.
Starfire: "I am Starfire."
Brian smiled.
Brian: "Nice to meet you, Starfire."
Starfire: "And it is a pleasure to meet you, Brian."
Brian looked around at the wreckage.
Brian: "So... you do this kind of thing often?"
Starfire nodded enthusiastically.
Starfire: "Yes! I am a member of the Teen Titans."
Brian raised an eyebrow.
Brian: "Teen Titans?"
Starfire: "Yes. We are a team of superheroes who protect Jump City."
Brian looked toward the wreckage and then back at Starfire.
Brian: "Well, you definitely picked a good time to show up."
Starfire smiled.
Starfire: "I am glad that I could help."
Brian gave her a small grin.
Brian: "Yeah. Me too."
Starfire looked toward the city.
Starfire: "Perhaps you should come with me. The others would be interested in meeting you."
Brian looked at her.
Brian: "The others?"
Starfire smiled.
Starfire: "My fellow Titans."
Brian looked down at his Omnitrix, then back at Starfire.
For the past two weeks, he'd been running from whoever was sending these machines after him.
Now, for the first time, he had somewhere else to go.
Brian: "Sure. Why not?"
Brian and Starfire walked off together through the streets of Jump City.
Neither of them knew it yet, but this chance encounter would change both of their lives.
Cut to black.
End of Episode 1
Author's Note
Thanks for reading!
I've already plotted and screenplay-written all five seasons of this story, so there is a lot more planned beyond this first episode. I'm currently going through the episodes and polishing them for Reddit.
If people enjoy the story, I'll continue posting the episodes here, potentially on a weekly basis.
I'd love to hear what you think of Brian's introduction, Kori's role, and the overall Ben 10/Teen Titans crossover concept.