Ben twists his neck so the front of his sloped mug faces Chara and flares his gill flaps in irritation. Who does this kid think they are, bossing him around? He's saved the universe at least twenty thousand times; he doesn't need coaching from some brat. If anything, he should be coaching!

But that can wait until they deal with the pakler. The alien charges yet again but Ben's bigger and badder now. With one powerful tackle, it loses its balance and falls to the ground. When it rises to its feet, he's not surprised. The bad guys never stay down for long. He hits it again, and again, and yet again until the pakler, exhausted by the blows, is much slower to stand.

Growling, Ben turns and snaps his jaws at Chara as if to say, 'Hurry it up!'